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She smiles. “Frozen in fear it is.”
I straighten my back. “I’m not afraid.”
Terrified I’m going to lose my business – the business my mother dedicated her life to building? Yes. Terrified my mother would be utterly and completely disappointed in me? Also, yes. Afraid of a Winter Falls business meeting? Never.
She laces her arm through mine. “Let’s go. Harmony and Soleil are already waiting for us.”
As soon as we enter the meeting room, Moon makes her way to the front of the room to take up her proper place as mayor. I join Harmony and Soleil in the second row.
“Here,” Soleil says as she hands me a beer.
Beer may seem a weird choice for a town business meeting, but Winter Falls isn’t any old town. In addition to beer, there’s popcorn. And, sometimes, if we’re lucky, Moon will bring some new pastry concoction she’s working on.
I take a much needed sip of my beer. Harmony pats my thigh. “Don’t worry. The people of Winter Falls are behind you.”
“I’m not worried,” I lie.
Ashlyn turns around from her seat in front of us. “Liar.”
“Hush. You’re not supposed to say she’s a liar,” Harmony scolds.
“I don’t know why not. And the word of the day is ‘like’.”
Despite being a successful business owner, Ashlyn doesn’t take the monthly business meetings seriously. She devised a drinking game because ‘meetings are boring’. According to her game, whenever someone says the word of the day, you have to drink.
“I’m not playing your games today,” I tell her. Today’s meeting is too important. My livelihood is literally hanging in the balance.
She winks. “Sure, you are.”
Moon bangs her gavel on the table. “I now call this extraordinary business meeting for the town of Winter Falls to order.” She waits until everyone settles down before continuing. “We’re here this evening to discuss the expansion ofNaked Falls Brewing.”
“This is bullshit,” Miller grumbles. “The expansion has already been approved.”
“Holy crap,” Elder says. “The beast speaks.”
The beast speaks? Miller never has any problem speaking when I’m around. How else can he make his disapproval of me evident? And he’s made his disapproval of me more than evident.
Feather fans her face. “I do love me a grumpy hero.”
“Project Enemy is my favorite,” Petal declares.
Cayenne sighs. “You say every project is your favorite.”
“Is it wrong to love, love?” Petal asks.
“Is the betting open?” Ashlyn asks and I decide enough is enough.
I stand. “I will not tolerate any betting about me.”
“Tolerate?” Miller snorts. “Sounds like there are tons of things you don’t tolerate.”
“Drink!” Ashlyn orders, but I ignore her.
“I am the most tolerant person you will ever meet,” I tell Miller.
He snorts. “Tolerant? Do you know what the word means?”
“I do!” Ashlyn jumps to her feet. “Tolerant is a willingness to allow someone to have a different opinion than yours because you want to boink him.”
