Page 121 of Don't Make Me Beg
“…If you don’t want me to do anything, I won’t,” Luka says after he’s given me the rundown for what he plans on doing.
I shake my head, a fury of hurt burning through me. “No. Fuck him. I’m tired of him thinking he can manipulate me. He deserves to face the consequences just like every other criminal out there.”
Luka presses his lips together, trying to hold back his smile. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” He pulls me into his lap and clicks open the festival schedule. “All right, here’s what we are going to do.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Luka
A gentle breeze cools my skin. It’s a beautiful sunny day with the perfect amount of cloud coverage to shield us from the scorching sun.
I couldn’t ask for better weather or a better turnout. I can already see a crowd beginning to form as they wait for us to open the gates. Who would’ve thought this little town festival would become such a huge attraction?
All this festival needed was for someone to breathe life back into it, and the people of this town stepped up and did the rest. The day hasn’t even begun, and it’s easy to see we’re already off to a great start. I was lucky to have a leg up on the planning: Ivy was the one who created the template. All I had to do was follow it.
She’s been amazing over these past few weeks, helping me sort through the vendors and coordinate the schedule. After talking with Ivy, we’re pretty sure user error in reading the schedule was the biggest hurdle that impacted last year’s festival. Our volunteers aren’t exactly the most tech-savvy.
So that’s where I started. Automating the schedule was pretty easy, and surprisingly fun once I understood what I was looking at.
From there, it was as simple as following Ivy’s notes. L.O.K.I. helped me reach out to last year’s vendors and added a few new ones to keep things exciting.
Per Ivy’s suggestion, we did away with the petting zoo. I, for one, have no interest in chasing runaway ponies.
I let Miss Scarlett have her Kissing Booth, which I’m sure will draw a crowd, and Lucy’s hosting a pie-eating contest that anyone would be crazy not to enter. There are a few new experimental attractions this year as well. For instance, Fergus wanted to host a live The Price is Right game show with grocery items and paper goods from Market, and Clyde will be walking around the square performing magic tricks throughout the day.
I’m not sure how either will go over, but who am I to turn down volunteers who are eager and willing to throw it together? It’s no skin off my back if they’re willing to put in the work.
Last year, we wrapped the festival with a parade to celebrate my dad’s retirement, as he crowned Leo the new CEO of Kingsley Industries. But this year I may have taken a few creative liberties and planned something a little more exciting.
As for this year’s big attraction, I’ve got a few surprises up my sleeve.
Scout and I are seated at the entry gate, walkie-talkies in hand as we do a quick roll call.
“Looks like that’s everyone.” I look to Scout, who seems surprisingly calm, all things considered. “You ready?”
“Let’s do this,” she says with a smile.
I click on my walkie and say, “James, you can open the gate.”
The crowd of people slowly flood in as we scan tickets and stamp hands. Seeing all their smiling faces fills me with so muchgratitude, knowing I had a part in bringing this festival to life. Even if the responsibility was forced on me.
“Welcome to Phantom Fest,” I say as I stamp someone’s hand. I pass her a brochure with a detailed schedule. “Make sure you stop by Theater during one of the showtimes to catch a special performance from the Phantom.”
Her eyes go wide as she takes the brochure, flipping it open to read more. “The Phantom, huh? I’ll be sure to check it out.”
Scout looks at me out of the corner of her eye. “You didn’t tell me there was a Phantom performance.” She quirks a brow as she scans another ticket. “Does this mean you and Guy will be dressing up and reenacting the Phantom encounter, again?”
“How do you know about that?” I ask, genuinely surprised. Scout didn’t come to last year’s festival. I thought that secret would die with me and everyone else who was there.
“Your mom showed me the video of last year’s performance...” She admits, her cheeks turning pink as she tries to hold back her laughter.
“I knew I shouldn’t have left you two alone.” I shake my head, but I can’t even pretend to be mad, especially because she looks so fucking cute when she laughs.
“So are you going to tell me what it really is?” she finally asks.
“Nah. I think I want you to be surprised like everyone else.”
She shrugs as she scans more tickets. “I do love surprises.”
