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I offer my hellos as people begin to filter in.

Fergus Fletcher, the owner of Market, seems to be locked in a lively debate with Miss Scarlett, who owns Adult Store. I don’t even want to know what those two are arguing about. I quickly look away before they notice me, afraid I’ll get dragged in to mediate.

Across the room, Hank and Big Dan are already retelling our footrace to Big Dan’s wife, Susan, the details growing more exaggerated with every word.

Hazel, Paige, and Lucy—the three widowed best friends who own the connected Coffee Shop, Bookstore, and Bakery—quietly take their seats in the middle of the room. Miss Lily, the owner of Flower Shop, joins them a moment later.

Once I see everyone is accounted for, I make my way up to the podium and call the meeting to order.

“Welcome, everyone, and thank you all for coming out tonight. I know we’re all busy and have places we need to be, so I’m going to make this meeting brief.”

“My brothers and I have finally come to a decision about this year’s Phantom Festival head, and I think you’ll be pleased to know that I’ve decided to give it another go.”

Heads turn as excited whispers and chatter ripple through the room.

“And now that I’m in charge, this year’s festival is going to be the biggest one yet.”

The room erupts into applause, whistles, and excited chatter.

“Thank God,” Miss Lily says, sounding genuinely relieved.

“Can you imagine how great it’s going to be with someone leading who actually cares?” I overhear Clyde telling Fergus.

“Hey…I’m literally sitting right here,” Luka calls out.

“Respectfully,” Clyde adds.

Luka just shrugs, sending me a knowing wink as he wraps an arm around his wife. He leans in and whispers something in her ear, and her cheeks immediately flush pink.

Their obvious affection for each other has my blood boiling.

I’ve never felt jealous of my brothers before, mostly because I’ve always lived a pretty charmed life. There’s nothing that any of them had that I couldn’t get if I wanted it. But now that my responsibilities at work are piling up, I’m so overwhelmed and stressed. I can’t even look at Luka, still oozing in his newlywed bliss, without wanting to punch him. At least Leo has the decency not to flaunt his happiness, though I’m sure that has more to do with his lack of proximity, not to mention his overall somber demeanor.

This isn’t me. I’m not the angry, jealous brother.

I think back to the other night—the conversation at the bar, how effortless it felt to talk to her. How she challenged me, gave me shit, and made me work for every inch of her attention. And, of course, everything that came after…

I need to get laid. I feel my dick getting hard just from the thought.

“Roman? Did you hear me?” Hazel asks, breaking through my thought spiral.

I quickly shake the thought away. This is not the time to regale in my highlight reel.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. What were you saying?”

“I asked what your plans were for the festival. How do you plan to top Luka’s live Phantom show?”

My honest answer? I have no idea.

I’m completely unprepared, stressed out of my mind, and terrified I’m going to disappoint everyone in town.

But somehow, I don’t think that’s the answer they’re looking for.

“Oh well…” I swallow hard, glancing around the room hoping to find something to trigger an idea. My eyes snag on the enamel pin of Dr. Drizzle’s smiling face fastened to someone’s cardigan in the front row.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and shake my head. “If I keep you much longer, we’ll all miss Dr. Drizzle’s weekly forecast. Why don’t we finish this conversation next time?”

At the mention of Dr. Drizzle, the room erupts with excited chatter, mostly from the women.