“Um, duh.”
She chuckled, pulling something out of her dress pocket and showing it to me.
My eyes widened when she opened the tiny turquoise box, revealing a titanium ring with a huge pink diamond in the shape of a heart.
“Do you think she’ll like it?” she whispered, quickly hiding it in her pocket again.
“Are you serious? She’s going to scream so loudly we’ll be deaf for a week.”
Alyce bit her lip, love and excitement inundating her eyes. “I’m asking her tonight. After the party.”
“Oh! Your mom is finally going to get off my back and planyourroyal wedding instead!” I squealed.
Laughter burst out of her so hard that she had to hold on to me.
“What are you girls talking about?” Hannes asked from the other end, suspicious.
“Nothing.” I glared at him. “Mind your own business, will you?”
“When is your show again?” Alyce asked, so they wouldn’t suspect a thing.
“Next week. My first runway show.” I low-key squealed. “The designer asked me to create looks for his models inspired by the 1960s. I’m excited. I so killed that assignment.”
“That’s so cool! I already have tickets to go support you. I just didn’t remember the date, I swear.”
Never in my wildest dreams did I think that one day I would come out of that mountain in Colorado, and I would get to just be me… Now, I had both my parents back, three extra sexy mates, and an incredible family of supernaturals that made me feel blessed.
In the past two years I’d gotten my Cosmetology license, become a professional makeup artist, had a successful YouTubechannel with over ten million followers,andI was the lead makeup artist on my first fashion show.
“Here she comes!!” Isis urged, standing next to my Mom and Dad.
We all rushed to the edge of the balcony, and I took my place next to my dad, who was carrying a bouncing Baby Bjørn in his arms—dancing to the exhilarating music too.
André hugged me from behind while Hannes and Dante stood at either side of us, and we watched the biggest, most beautiful float roll down the street.
Vanessa’s Samba School float.
Dressed in gorgeous white and silver feathers one hundred of her students led the float on the street, dancing to the crowd while the band played right behind them.
I recognized the song immediately—it was the one their father used to sing to their mom, and André sang for me as we fell in love. Once a slow ballad, had now turned into a jubilant Samba.
Past the band, the beautiful float advanced slowly, extending three levels into the sky. About twenty Passistas occupied the first and second levels, nestled between giant flowers in a multitude of colors and dancing lights that projected toward the sky.
Hidden cannons shot flower confetti onto the crowd every so often, and the people rejoiced as the flowers showered them, making them an intimate part of the experience.
Still, the third level was the most beautiful.
Vanessa stood high on a silver pedestal that rose just for her. Made of stunning white, silver, and pink feathers, and adorned with thousands of rhinestones, that made her sparkle in the night as she danced.
Her body moved in perfect rhythm to the song. Her arms and shoulders graciously rolled, lifting and lowering as she turned. Adiamond crown sat on her head, filled with long white, pink, and silver feathers that seemed to reach the sky, and a voluptuous tail of the same feathers extended from her lower back.
Her outfit was far more luxurious than that of her students below, and it made her look like a magical bird.
She suddenly stopped with the drums, seeming surprised, shook her shoulders, and lifted her tail, throwing it back playfully before resuming her Samba. People cheered with her gesture, and she twirled for them, waving at the crowd.
Behind her, a large, fan-shaped wall stood tall, showcasing an image that made my eyes water. It was the picture she’d shown me of her, André, and their parents at their last Carnaval together. Her mother was dressed in a glorious Passista outfit… the same one Vanessa now wore.
“Go, Vanessa!” I yelled at the top of my lungs when she neared our balcony, waving at her desperately and hoping she could see us.
