Chapter Twenty-Three

Indya

I open my eyes, the unfamiliar room, makes me freeze, it is still dark inside the room, thanks to the black out curtains, but there is a sliver of light shining through where the curtain parts.

The bed is so comfortable, it's like sleeping on a cloud, and the size of this mattress has to be a California King, maybe something bigger if there is such a thing. I am looking around and nothing looks familiar. I sit up on the bed, leaning against the headboard, my cheeks instantly flush. Oh, now I remember where I am. Atlas's condo. This is the headboard he tied me to while he ate me out.

I throw the dark colored blankets and sheet off me, and grab the shirt closest to me. After pulling it on I realize it must be one of Atlas's shirts because it smells just like him. Looking around I take in the mahogany night stands, with a matching dresser and a chest of drawers. It seems as though his headboard and footboard are made from the same wood.

I go to the window, pulling open the curtain, the sun is shining brightly, and the view is beautiful, just as the one from his living room is. I make my way around the room, picking up frames that hold pictures of him, Van, and Lyra. After looking at the pictures he has on his dressers, I notice there are only a few of him with his parents.

What surprises me the most is the pictures of Haven and I scattered throughout as well. I go to look at the picture sitting on his nightstand, next to where he slept, I gasp. The picture is of the two of us on the night we first met, dancing. I can see the love in the way we stare into each other's eyes, even then.

The door creeps open, and I turn toward the door, frame still in hand. Atlas is trying to quietly close the door; he must not have seen me standing here.

"There is no need to be quiet, I am already awake," I say, making Atlas jump, which causes me to laugh.

"You scared the shit out me, Indy. Fuck, I think my balls are in my throat," he responds, rubbing his throat, as if he is making sure his balls are in fact not there.

"I'm sorry, I thought you would have seen me standing here, when you came in. Where did you get this picture of us?"

"Funny story actually. I got it from a journalist, I met her for the first time, when I was walking into the gala. Joey, the journalist, works at that shitty magazine, In the Know, where James works. She sent my agent an email and said she thought I would want this picture to keep for myself, instead of posting it so the world could see it," he says, taking the frame from my hand and rubbing his thumb over the top of the glass.

"That was a great night, for that moment, it was perfect," I tell him on a sigh, thinking about everything I felt during the moment our eyes first met.

"It was, wasn't it," Atlas replies setting the frame gently next to his bed.

"You look good in my clothes, Indy."

"I feel good in your clothes, Atlas," I sass, making him grab me around the waist and kissing my lips.

"I need to get back home before Haven starts to worry. I need to ask you something first before I leave, and I don't want you to get upset," I say nervously, unsure of how he is going to react.

"Go ahead," he replies, his body is tense, not knowing what to expect.

"Can we maybe get this between us for a couple of days, then tell everyone at the same time. Maybe have another cookout or just a casual get together. I just want to stay on high for just a few days, before I get bombarded with all the questions."

"Fuck, Indya. I was scared you were going to say we could be friends with benefits, but nothing more. Jesus, of course we can keep it between us. I kind of like the fact it is just for us right now, too. Telling everyone at the same time will be much easier, as well," he says, he looks relieved.

I kiss his lips again, and he follows me to the shower, then as I head home, he will head to practice.

I get home around noon, everyone is at the table eating what looks like burgers from the place around the block. Amara's face lights up, and Haven runs to me hugging my legs, wiping the ketchup from her face on my leggings.

I missed you so much, mama. Don't leave me again, unless I can come with you. Aunt Mar said you had to work. Did you do a good job? Haven asks as soon as she is finished wiping her face on my leg.

I give Amara, a thankful nod, glad she didn't give out information that could have gone either way. I tell Haven, I will keep that in mind and go and finish her lunch. She skips back to the table, where she is sitting next to Silas, and starts on her fries.

I make my way out of the dining room so I can speak to Amara alone, I don't want to have to sign, but I will not speak in the room without signing if she is there with us.

"Thank you for that, Amara. I appreciate it. Thanks for watching her last night and this morning as well. I'm sorry I am coming in so la—"

"Don't give me the boring shit, Indya. I want all the dirty deets. Spill them. Hurry up before someone comes in here and interrupts and I get nothing. I told everyone you got a call late last night to interpret for someone at the hospital. I didn't know what else to say," she says cutting me off, her excitement for me makes me happy.

"We just talked about everything. We laid it all out that way we both have the same information on everything. It is kind of sad his mom was behind this. Even if she has been nothing but disrespectful toward me. It is heartbreaking she could do something like this to one of her children. He cut off all communication with her, my heart hurts for him. Hopefully one day, they will work everything out," I tell her, leaving out what she really wants to know, purposely.

"Yeah, that does suck. What does she have against you anyway? You're beautiful, smart, a good person, what else does she want from you to make you worthy of her son? I just don't get it. Don't think I didn't notice you dodging my question, but I get it. I will give you your time," she says with a smirk.

I just shrug my shoulders and leave her standing in front of the couch. She will know soon enough, but I will say nothing until we have had our few days of nothing but us.

The two game of the Worlds Series is just days away. I can tell Atlas is nervous about going up against the Texas Rangers, who won the World Series last year. The last two days have been nothing but sneaking around with Atlas, if he has at least a half hour of free time, we are together, more times than not, he is inside me.

I didn't realize how creative someone could get, when they had little time, but wanted to fuck anyway. We have had sex all over the Legends clubhouse, if the room had a door and it was empty, we christened it with our love. We have fucked in both our vehicles, all over his condo, the elevator at his condo, and all over our apartment. I am unashamed to say when he was out of town overnight for a television appearance, we met each other half way and fucked at a rest stop, in the car, the bathroom, and the woods. Like I said, creative.

My phone pings with a message from Atlas, his ears must have been burning, as hard as I was thinking about him.

Atlas: Hey, Zander said we could use his house for another cookout, so long as we keep quiet on who it belongs to. I did have to tell him though.

Indya: That's great! I figured you would have to tell him why we wanted to use his house again.

Atlas: Want to plan for the day before the game? We play the first two games at home.

Indya: Sounds good. Will I see you tonight?

Atlas: Yeah, I will let you know when I am there. I love you. See you tonight.

Atlas: I love you. Be ready for me.

After my conversation with Atlas, I send a mass text to everyone informing them, Zander is having a get together at their friend's house the day before the first game in the series.

I did, however, give Zander a heads up I used him as the excuse of getting together before the game. I got a thumbs up.

Everyone responded they would be there and were excited for the game and to see everyone again.

I roll my eyes I swear, my siblings and Atlas's siblings act as if they haven't seen each other in years, when it has been maybe a month, if that. Atlas told me they were all together to come up with a plan, which none of them know I know about. Which is hilarious in its own right.

I start pulling things out for dinner later, and set off to find Haven in her room, playing tea party with her stuffed animals. I decide, I will join in, enjoying the afternoon with my daughter.

***

The day of the cookout arrives, Haven and I head over a couple hours before everyone to set up. Atlas gives me the code to the gate and the key to the house, since they have tapes to watch the first half of the day.

Haven is in the theater room watching a princess movie, no clue which one she is on, but Zander purchased every one he could find. So, I am in the kitchen making the sides for this evening, and some desserts for after.

For some reason, my mom has been on my mind a lot lately. Someone will say something or do something, and her image will appear in my mind. I think she is the one keeping the nightmares away.

I had a couple bad ones after I had talked to David, and when I brought it up to Atlas, he said that maybe David was a trigger. Then he said, your mom knew you were having a hard time, so she helped you slay your dragon. Now, she and your dad are keeping guard, making sure he doesn't return.

I feel like maybe Atlas was right, because it was around that time I began thinking of her more frequently.

I go to check on Haven, making sure she doesn't need anything, and she is cuddled up under a blanket Zander leaves here for her, fast asleep. He had the pink satin blanket customized, so it has baseballs, baseball mitts and bats, along with castles, crowns, and magic wands. He even had Princess Haven embroidered on it. In the Legends colors. To say the pink, red and black clash is an understatement. But she loves it, and that is all that really matters.

I go check the bacon caramel toffee brownies I am making, my phone is ringing and vibrating across the counter. It is a number not listed in my phone, from the sound that is coming from the speakers. I freeze, afraid to answer, terrified it is going to be David.

After a moment of silence, my phone notifies me of a voicemail. With shaking hands and a knot in my stomach, I listen to the message.

Hello? Are you there? Oh, well that's not embarrassing, this is the voicemail. Uh, yes, hello. Indya, this is Samantha. Samantha Kensington. Atlas's mother. I seem to be having trouble reaching him on his phone and need to speak with him as soon as possible. If you could pass along the message—

The message cuts off. No goodbye, nothing. Just hey, relay a message to my son he exiled me from his life. I will give him the message but there is no guarantee he will use it. I figure I may as well message him and let him know now before his mother shows up at the clubhouse and makes a scene.

About an hour later, Atlas messaged me and told me to ignore his mother, he isn't reaching out. He is determined to get her to learn her lesson this time.

Haven is awake just in time for Silas, Emerson, Asia, and Amara to walk in. Of course, she runs straight to Silas. I love how they all love her. It makes me love them even more.

Ten minutes later Van and Lyra walk in, both carrying a covered dish, following Van to the kitchen. I walk in to see what they have brought and to see where I need to put it. I have a system, and I will not let anyone screw it up.

As I turn the corner to the kitchen, Van and Lyra look like they are about to lose touch with reality. Van is moving a few feet at a time sniffing the air, and Lyra is sniffing all the covered foods.

"Uh, guys, what on earth on you doing?" They turn to look at me, eyes wild, I am almost afraid if I get too close, I will be attacked.

"Do you have some here? Where are they? I can smell them, I know you have some Indya," Van pleads, almost begging. His is pulling the ends of his hair, which is now standing up all over the place.

"Please just let us have one piece, Indya. That's it, just one," Lyra whines. Which is unlike her, which confuses me.

"I'm not sure what it is I have, that you want. Maybe tell me what it is first, then I will be willing to share," I tell them, seriously trying to come up with what they are searching for and think I have.

"The toffee!" They both yell at the same time. Then it hits me. The brownies. Atlas told me they were his favorite sweet, so I thought the bacon, caramel and toffee would pair well with the chocolate of the brownie. I didn't realize the candy was their favorite as well. I start to laugh.

"Wow, you all are really obsessed with those toffee's, huh. I didn't realize that or else I would have made more. I made bacon caramel toffee brownies for dessert," I laugh, watching their faces light up like children on Christmas morning.

Van seems to have found the pan of brownies on the counter and when he goes to lift the covering, I smack his hand and scold, "No, Van. Bad boy. Dessert after dinner, after you eat real food."

Lyra looks just as shocked as Van. He just stands there, mouth open, holding the hand I smacked to his chest, like I did actual damage.

"Wow, you are mean, Indya," Lyra astonishes, then walks out of the kitchen, Van following, both looking defeated. I just laugh harder.