Page 58 of Signs and Signals

Indya stops in between Van and Lyra, who have been giving her space, since they were scolded like children in front of everyone. The both look at her at the same time.

“Did you both learn anything today?” she asks them.

“Don’t fuck with you is what I learned,” Lyra defends.

“You can’t have dessert until you eat real food first and no fighting in front of the food and guests,” Van says, surprising us all with his response.

Indya sets a pan in front of each of them, there is foil covering the top, and she has written them both a little note on the foil in permanent marker.

“Mistakes are proof that you are trying,” Van says, reading his aloud.

“Confucius once said, ‘Wherever you go, go with all your heart’,” Lyra reads hers, then looks at Indya like she knows a deep dark secret she shouldn’t know.

“Van, I got your quote off Pinterest, I thought it fit you well, so I apologize it is not as cool as Confucius. You may both lift the foil to see the surprise inside,” Indya tells them, as she steps away, making her way to me, sitting in my lap.

Yeah, I definitely missed this.

My head jerks to the side, as Lyra squeals, well Van and Lyra squeals. Indya made them their own Bacon Caramel Toffeebrownies. They look at Indya like she just discovered electricity, single handedly. They run around the table hugging her and thanking her. I just shake my head.

“Don’t worry, Atlas, I made you two, since you will more than likely have to share with Haven. I have never seen her go to town on a brownie like that,” she laughs, apparently missing the part where Haven was gloating in front of Van and Lyra.

I kiss her cheek and tuck my nose into the side of her neck, inhaling her sweetness. Zander, me, Haven, and Indya are all staying here tonight, and once the rest of these lunatics are gone, I am taking my woman to bed.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Indya

Today is day one, of the World Series, Riverside Legends is playing against the Texas Rangers, who won the series last year, so I am told. All the guys are nervous, I could tell just by looking at them yesterday. This is a dream for a lot of these guys, so I am happy to a part of it and enjoy the ride with them.

I am just about to jump in the shower, before Haven wakes up from her nap, so I can get ready. The games for the World Series are all around eight in the evening and go by eastern time. But here in Oregon, it will only be five p.m. when they start the game, so I had Haven down about two hours after she normally takes her nap. By the time I wake her up, I will be dressed and ready to go, and I will just need to get her in her lucky outfit.

As I close the door, my phone rings, I don’t look at the caller ID, I just answer it.

“Hello?”

“Hi. Uh, is this Indya?”

“This is she. How may I help you?” Whoever is on the other end of this call sounds familiar, I just can’t place a name or face to the voice.

“I am sorry to call you again, so out of the blue, but can I ask you something?” I pause, is this person not going to address who they are?

“May I ask who is calling?”

“Oh, I am so sorry, this is Samantha. Samantha Kensington. Atlas’s mom.”

Oh, my goodness, why is his mom calling me again? I really don’t want to be the in between person in this war zone.

“What can I do for you Mrs. Kensington. I did pass along your last message, but I can’t make him do something he does not want to do,” I tell her, making sure that she understands, I am not going to be the gopher for her or for Atlas.

“I know you did, dear. I actually wanted to speak to you, if that is alright,” Samantha sounds nervous, which is freaking me out. I didn’t get the vibe from her that she gets nervous talking to people.

“If it has anything to do with Atlas, then I am sorry, I can’t help you with that. I underst—”

“No, no, dear, nothing like that,” she cuts me off, then continues, “I wanted to apologize to you. I understand that the way that I acted around you was not appropriate, professional, or called for. I am sorry for any hurt I may have caused you, in any of the actions that I have taken since you met my son. I wanted to meet in person and not do this over the phone because I feel as though apologies over the phone are not as sincere as they are when people are face to face,” she rambles on. I am actually shocked.

“I have seen how women are when they see or meet someone who has a wealthy lifestyle, the things they do to trap them, just to get a payout. I judged you prematurely, so I apologize for that.”

“I appreciate that, Mrs. Kensington, I really do, I accept your apology. Honestly, it is now water under the bridge,” I tell her truthfully,

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