Page 123 of Signature Of You

“Oh, it’s definitely filling the void. Far better than you ever could.”

I closed my eyes and grinned. “I miss you so much. You’re truly one of a kind.”

I sighed and leaned into Jaasir’s side. I hadn’t even realized I’d done it which made the gesture that much better. He was my safe space. I missed Val but there was no void I needed to fill because he had me wholly and completely.

“I miss you too and I’m coming to visit soon,” Val said softly.

“Good because it feels like an eternity since I’ve seen you.”

“It has been. I’ll call you tomorrow for all the details about tonight.”

“You better.”

“Promise, I will.”

I ended the call just as we pulled up to the front of the building. There was so much going on that my nerves splintered but I had this. I totally had this. After I tucked my phone into my clutch, Jaasir kissed my cheek.

“You ready?”

“No but I can handle anything as long as I’m with you.”

“And you better always remember that. I’m your foundation. All you have to do is build with me and we’re going to have it all. That’s my word, beautiful.”

He winked a few seconds before his door opened. Two big bodies appeared, blocking the outside from us. Jaasir lifted Gracie into his arms, while she pressed his phone to her chest smiling like this was an everyday occurrence.

I inhaled a cleansing breath and accepted his hand when he offered it to me. And so the games begin.

Let’s do this.

Sol.

“Cadence, Sol. This way please. Over here.”

I balanced Gracie in one arm, while the other held Cadence protectively at my side. She was tense but it didn’t show on her face. Each time I glanced down at her, she was smiling bright. My baby was so fucking beautiful and flawless.

The black sheer dress she wore hugged her body, exposing an outline of the fitted slip beneath it. She was on the fence about the dress, not wanting to draw attention but I said fuck opinions.

She looked damn good and more than anything exuded class. In her mind, she had to hide who she was, worrying that her past would always be there, with people judging the woman she was today.

Her past would always be there but we needed not give any fucks about people’s opinions then or now. Mine and those that loved her were the only ones that mattered. We lifted her up because she deserved to be adored.

I caught Journee out the corner of my eye as she stepped onto the red carpet. I wasn’t the least bit surprised when attention drifted to her then us.

“Sol, can we get a picture of you and Journee…”

“No.”

I shut that shit down. Cadence knew who she was. We’d had conversations about my past and hers. Although Journee was no threat to my current situation, industry or not, I wouldn’t disrespect Cadence by being captured on camera with someone who would ignite rumors.

My eyes drifted to Journee just in time to see her expression drop but she was every bit of the professional the world expected her to be. So without missing a step she plastered on a smile and made her way down the red carpet with confidence regardless of my rejection.

It wasn’t personal.

With Journee gone, they picked a new target.

“Gracie, can you smile for us?”

She offered the opposite and lowered her head to my shoulder. That meant it was time to end this. My girls were over this shit and so was I.

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