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“Are you gay, handsome?” Petal asked.

Luka grunted in dissatisfaction.

I answered. “Labels aren’t important to me. I’m with both of you, so I’d say you and Luka are my boyfriends, but I don’t feel the need to define my sexuality.”

Understanding Phoenix’s protectiveness, I wrapped an arm around his waist. When he leaned back against me, I snuggled my shoulder against Luka’s wide chest and sighed when his arms enveloped both of us.

“Well, there you go,” Phoenix said.

Cindi’s face flushed a frightening red. I predicted she was about to go apoplectic when a gigantic, striking man stepped forward with a beaming, accepting expression.

“Congratulations, Phoenix! I’m happy you found not one, but two men to take care of you and keep you from working yourself to death.”

Phoenix scoffed, “You should talk, Gio. I’ve all but begged you to get yourself a partner. After all these years, both men and women pine for you and yet you never notice them.”

The adonis with black hair, scruff on his face that made him look debonair instead of disheveled, and a muscled, hard body accepted Phoenix’s move for a hug, wrapping our man in his arms, giving him a firm squeeze, before stepping back.

“Oh, you’re single?” Cindi’s voice piped up, making all of us turn to her with confused expressions.

Gio stepped behind me as I glared at the woman who, not even a minute before, had a fit when she learned I was with Luka and Phoenix.

“Mi dispiace, donna, I am very much gay. But thank you for your inquiry.”

Arthur came out of nowhere and grabbed onto Gio’s wrist. “And that’s why I invited Fergus here tonight.”

“Oh, no, Arthur, there’s no need...”

The man’s voice faded away as Arthur pointed out a cute copper-haired man with striking green eyes behind the cutest pair of blue rectangular glasses. The smattering of freckles along his cheeks stood out as he blushed, but I noticed his uncomfortable stance as he backed away from several men vying for his attention. And Jude, who did his best to protect him from the sudden onslaught of admirers.

Without a word, Gio started toward him, drawn by a gravitational force which was familiar to me because I experienced it when I laid eyes on Phoenix.

“Who’s he?” Phoenix asked.

“Fergus Regan, isn’t he cute? He opened the pottery shop two doors down and creates everything he sells, even teaching classes every Thursday night.”

We watched on as Fergus spotted Gio’s tall form as he strode across the bakery as if he owned the place. The younger man excused himself without taking his eyes off his target. As he walked around Jude, he tripped and fell right into Gio’s arms. The seriousness on Gio’s face as they spoke sparked a flame in Fergus. After a minor exchange of words and a nod, Gio turned back to us.

“I’ll get the plan from you later, Phoenix. But whatever you decide, we’re in.”

Fergus gave us a little wave before Gio draped his arm around the younger man’s back as they headed for the exit, disappointing all the other men in attendance.

“Now that my job is done,” Arthur grinned at us.

“Yes, now comes the simple part of coming up with several brilliant ideas to save our businesses from a ruthless real estate tyrant with a dead heart. But I can see how you’re exhausted from pointing out Fergus to Gio. You didn’t have to be a psychic to see chemistry between the two,” Phoenix retorted before he rolled his eyes and sashayed away. He changed directions when our parents arrived, and he fell into my mom’s arms as Luka’s mom rubbed his back.

“He’s such a bitch. I’m blaming you two,” Arthur growled. “He was cordial, timid even before he met you. But look what you’ve done! You turned him into a sassy warrior. What the actual fuck?”

Opening my mouth to answer, Jude swept in and rushed Arthur away.

Luka turned to me, his face a mask of pride, and I couldn’t stop myself from kissing his irresistible mouth.

“How is this our life now? It’s so much better. Hell, he makes us better.”

A booming laugh shook my entire form as the big man, who never showed emotion, held onto me and buried his face against my neck.

“Yeah, he does. We better help him bring out the trays before Arthur threatens to scratch his eyes out again.”

Various business owners and their families crowded the bakery, also people around the neighborhood who didn’t want the area changed. There was history surrounding them, including several generations with businesses passed down and who all lived in the same area. They told stories about the past and loved to show pride in the successes of their community.