Page 75 of Red Flags Only

Lyra

“We just invite anyone to meetings these days?” Mars asks, eyes narrowed on me as we sit at the Rogue family’s kitchen table. A pretty blue journal sits in front of him, holding up valiantly under his aggressively tapping fingers. “Is nothing sacred? You don’t see me inviting Ceres toourspecial and super rare meetings.”

Jove shrugs, munching happily on a bite of carrot cake. “We have news. Meetings are where we discuss news.”

Mars lifts his brows. “Oh, well, by all means. If you havenews.”

Jove takes a sip of his milk, then, casual as could be, says, “We’re getting married.”

I choke on my carrot cake. “Jupiter!” I chastise.

Mars’ eyes widen. “Already?”

Jove hesitates. “Is it too early?” he asks, frowning. “We planned for Flag Day.”

Mars’ eyes wander to the window, gazing distantly. “Too early? Of course not. It’s too late, actually. So late that I was possibly taking matters into my own hands. But it’s fine. Totally fine. No problem. It’s not like I planned an entire festival for you to have a big confession scene at or anything. Life’s not an anime, so why would I treat it likeone?”

Oof. “We were hoping you’d let us have the wedding there,” I put in. “Jupiter says you’re already planning to have someone ordained there, and we don’t want anything crazy,” I assure him when his eyes dart to me, mania sparking in their depths.

“Are you suggesting… a double wedding?” he asks, pinning Jove with his crazy eyes.

Jove nods. “And I’d like you to make the wedding cake,” he says. “If you’re not too busy. Getting married yourself, or anything.”

Mars puffs a laugh. “As if I’d let anyone else make either of our wedding cakes. We’re Rogues, not animals.”

Uh.

Sorry.

What?

“You’re getting married?” I ask Mars before turning to Jove. “Your brother’s getting married? And you didn’t say anything? How long have you known?”

Jove pokes at my frown. “I don’t know. A little while.”

“And you just… didn’t think to mention it?”

His brows furrow. “Mars said to focus on you. I was focusing on you.”

Oh. Well. Sure. Because that makessomuch sense.

Boys are so flaggingboy.

“Is there anything I can do in order to make this the wedding of your dreams, dearest brother and dearest bike buddy?” my soon-to-be brother interjects, eyes flicking between Jove and I, amused.

“Sunglasses,” Jove answers.

I blink. “Sunglasses?”

“Sunglasses,” Mars confirms. “Already in the cards. Don’t worry.”

“Why do we need sunglasses?” I ask, head swivelingbetween them. “For a wedding?”

One of Mars’ thick, dark eyebrows rises on his forehead. “Becauseit’s a wedding,” he says.

Ah. Right. Of course. Silly me.

“Any other agenda items you’d like to add?” Mars turns back to Jove. “Or was it just the wedding?”

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