Page 112 of Red Flag, Green Light

He tugs extra on my helmet strap. “If there’s one thing I’m confident in, it’s my stamina, and, besides, Jovey is busy with his own fiancée.”

Yes, yes. Last I saw them, they were wandering around in a cloud of love, enjoying funnel cakes and fair rides—not prepping for a deathathon. “Why couldn’t we be cute like them?”

Mars flashes a smile and grips my own hand to force me to tug on my necklace. “Because, we’re demented, and they’reinnocents.”

As the metal pinches, I blush and can’t exactly argue.

“You’re lucky I let you outside at all around so many people. What a danger zone.”

“I’m lucky my mother’s and father’s flights haven’t landed yet. I’m hoping that heat stroke will make our reunion before the wedding more bearable…considering how Imightstill needsomepractice where it concerns not volunteering my energy all the time.”

“Things with your mother and father will be fine.” Mars kisses my nose. “If they’re not, Jove will slash their rentals’ tires, and I will find a way to destroy their professional lives without them ever knowing it was me. If theydarestart anything with each other atourwedding…I will end them. So, you see? Nothing to worry about.”

I sigh. “You derailed my thought. I wasn’t trying to back out of this pre-wedding torture.”

“Pre-wedding fun. Braden says it’s very important to appreciate all the phases of life together, and since our fiancé phase is so short, this is a very important time. But, anyway—” He swings onto his bike and kicks the stand up. “—what was it you wanted to say?”

“Flag Day is about America adopting the standard stars and stripes.”

He blinks at me.

“Despite that, there seriously aren’t any American flags here. Not a single one. Just red flags. Everywhere. I thought you were committing to the bit and not having me order any in the decoration list, but then—ha ha—I’d show up today and learn that you took care of it.”

Mars lifts a brow. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure I’m following. You thought I was—gasp, horror—jokingwhen I said we’d be focusing on the romantic side of Flag Day?” His smile unfurls,the most beautifully-unhinged thing I have ever seen. “Red flags only, little goddess. Because red is the color of romance. And Flag Day is the most romantic holiday of the year.”

My mouth opens, but I do not know how to reply. I’m marrying this man. This man who commits to a bit with a passion that I have only—ever—heard rivaled by Brian’s relationship with mail.

He laughs. “Don’t question it, darling. This festival was for Jove, and he only cares about Flag Day because he needed research for his book. In our genre, the flags aren’tAmerican. They’re red.”

Absently, I mount my own bike and hum. “I…guess that makes sense. It was a good book. I’m glad it’s doing well this week…all things considered. I just wish I’d caught on sooner. Or put fewer American flags on the propaganda we passed out.”

“Nah.”

“What do you meannah? I’m known for being fairly honest, and it feels like we’ve scammed the entire town into participating in ared flag festivalinstead of aFlag Dayone.”

His eyes twinkle. “It is a Flag Day festival. Just…adifferentsort of flag.”

Uh-huh.

“Because you know what book girlies love?” he asks.

Let me guess. “Flag Day?” I say, pinnacle of enthusiasm.

“Flag Day,” he concurs, setting a foot on his starting pedal. “And also…Grandparents’ Day.”

He pushes off before those words can settle inside my skull.

I blink at his back and the waving red flag attached to his bike a moment before I take off after him, yelling, “Mars.”

He zips. He zooms.

“Mars, what do you mean Grandparents’ Day?”

His laughter rises above the chatter and the starting horn that sends everyone else streaking into the road. The opposite ofreassuring, he says, “You’ll find out in August, Sara. You’ll find out in August.”

August. Great. I’m going to be editing aGrandparents’ Day dark romance.

Clearly, someone needs to stop these Rogue brothers before their nonsense schemes get way too out of hand. They can’t just keep doing whatever they wantandgetting away with it.

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