Page 65 of Signs and Signals

Everyone looks stunning, from their updos to their heels, absolutely breathtaking, each one of them.

“Are you ladies ready?” Samantha asks, everyone agrees, and Haven is bouncing on her toes, excited to see the guys and dance her night away.

We all got in position, we decided to make our entrance like real queens, and princesses, by walking down the split staircase. The staircase banister is adorned with greenery, floral arrangements and fairy lights. Someone has laid a red carpet down each set of stairs giving the effect of a real-life fairy tale.

The girls start walking down one by one, Haven and I are going last, just to mess with Atlas a bit. As we wait, I see him standing at the end of the staircase. Watching. Waiting. He looks so handsome in his Tom Ford Herringbone suit. His shirt beneath is lavender in color, which doesn’t surprise me that he ended up matching me and neither of us knew what the other was wearing. He looks like a real-life prince.

I tap Haven on the shoulder so she can take a peek. She sees Silas in his navy Gucci suit and Zanger is his Versace Barocco Jacquard blazer, then her eyes land on Atlas, and she turns to me to sign,They all look like princes, mama. Just likein Maggie’s story, the princes have found us, after we saved ourselves. Do we get happily ever after now, mama?

Sometimes she acts so much wiser than her years. I tell her I agree they all look like princes. Then I tell her,We are living our happily ever after, right now, princess.I straighten her crown, taking a hold of her hand so we can make our way to our ever after.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Atlas

I keep waiting and waiting for my girls to make their way down the staircase, but every time I think it is their turn, someone else walks down them. First my mom, then Amara, then Asia, they all look beautiful, and I make sure to tell them as I lend my hand to help them off the stairs, but I want my girls now.

I think this is it, this next person is going to be the—Emerson, fuck, I thought she already came down. I give her the same treatment, giving her my hand, kissing her cheek, telling her she looks beautiful, then send her on her way.

Zander and Silas have made their way over, as they are Haven’s so-called dates. I told them to cut that shit out calling it a date, she is fucking four, and we do not need that right now. Let our baby stay a baby a little longer. They both looked at me with goofy smiles on their faces.

“What the fuck are you two looking at me like that for?” I snap.

“You saidourbaby. Not Haven, not princess, not Indya’s daughter. You saidourbaby,” Silas said, slapping me on theshoulder. My face relaxes and I smile, I did say that didn’t I. I just shrug because, she kind of isourbaby.

Just as I am about to say fuck it and go up there and get them myself, and enchanting melody begins to play. I know I have heard this one before, it sounds familiar. It is fromCinderella; the lyrics are filled with hope and the promise of dreams coming true. My eyes move up the staircase, and there they are. My princess Haven has her crown atop the bed of curls that are pinned up in a way that I know will take forever to take down. Her dress has wildflowers all over the top and there are some in the skirt that look like they are floating in the air. Layers and layers of that mesh material are in different shades of blues and purples that match her crown perfectly. As her foot hits the step below her I see her shoes. I begin to laugh, and Silas and Zander look at me confused.

“Check out Princess Haven’s kicks, boys.”

They both move their eyes to her feet, and they start laughing too. My girl is wearing a pair of high-tops Converse, which are a blend of every shade of blue. The best part—where the patch is located on the side has been customized, and there is a baseball bat beneath the Converse logo. She looks beautiful as ever. God, I hope she never changes.

“Get a peek at your girl, Atlas,” Zander whispers, then he and Silas get a little closer to the stairs as they both wait for Haven.

My green eyes meet clear blue ones which are even brighter with the stunning dress she is wearing. The top looks like white shiny satin, and it is tight, like a corset. At the waist, the skirt flares out, almost like a ball gown you see in the princess movies. Except her dress is made up of layers and layers of what my sister calls organza material with layers and layers of the mesh stuff. She looks breathtaking.

I hold out her hand to help her down the last stair, and I see her satin star dusted heels, which must be at least six inches high. She turns to the side, and I see the lavender satin ribbon lacing up her back. Jesus, she is trying to kill me tonight.

“You look breathtaking, Indy. I am actually speechless over your beauty,” I whisper, though I don’t mean to.

She just smiles and says I look like a prince, and we head into the ballroom.

After we have all ate and the speakers have spoken, my mother comes up to us and gives us both hugs.

“Where is Haven, I have barely seen her tonight,” mom says, looking around the room trying to pinpoint where Haven could be.

“She is with Silas and Zander. More than likely she is on the dance floor, shaking what her mama gave her,” I say laughing, just as Indya slaps me in the stomach.

“I was going to head out and wanted to see if she wanted to come along. I think I know the basics enough to get her into bed, without any communication issues, if you don’t mind,” mom says looking at Indya.

“I’m sure she will be passed out before you even get her back to the hotel, but no I have no problem with you taking her if she is ready to go. If you ask her and she says she isn’t ready, just let her dance a little more.” Indya tells my mom, and my mom goes on her search for Haven.

“Dance with me, Indya?”

She places her hand in mine, her head on my chest, and sighs.

“Have I ever told you that my mama knew I would find you when I was seven years old?” she asks, not moving her head from my chest.

“No, you didn’t. How did she know if I lived on the other side of the country from you?”

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