Page 1 of The Right Sign

CHAPTER1

the mistake

YAYA

I can smell love.

It’s one of my superpowers.

This wedding isteemingwith it. The fragrance. The scent.

It’s freshly cut-flowers, the earth after a rain and the heavy cinnamon tones of my sister’s chai latte curling through the air like a beckoning finger.

Watching yetanotherbillionaire fall for someone in Deej’s friend group was not on my bingo card this year, but I’m happy to be on the peripherals of so many happily ever afters—even if I somewhat disagree with the capitalist values that produce billionaires in the first place.

My eyes trail the fresh flower bouquets on either side of the aisle. The pillars are wrapped in a romantic white cloth.

Must cost a fortune.

Not that Cody Bolton’s pockets are hurting for cash.

I glance at the front where Deej and her friends are sitting with their husbands, cheering the couple on.

Sazuki stands out, being the only Asian guy in the group, but all the husbands share similar qualities.

Tall. Handsome.

Rich.

How many billionaires evenexistin this city?

Or more importantly, how many billionaires are left?

The farmhouse ladies are snagging them up one after another.

A domino effect.

I hope the last domino stops before reaching me.

Clarissa and Cody kiss, and the officiant turns red. He’s yelling something. I can tell by the veins straining in his neck. Other wedding guests start shuffling around in their purses or on their seats.

Henry taps me on the shoulder and shoves bubbles at me.

I forgot I’d given him mine. There was no way I was stuffing that bottle into my Chanel.

Not that the purse would fit anything but a tube of lipstick anyway. Deej is always teasing me about my impractical fashion choices but, in my life, style trumps function. Always.

I reach for the bubbles. Unscrewing the wand, I blow in the newlywed’s direction. The delicate little bubbles catch the sunlight. Glinting diamonds. Translucent circles made more beautiful because they’re fragile.

Around me, people are clapping. My hearing aids amplify the noise almost painfully, but my joy in the moment makes the discomfort easier to bear.

There’s so much energy in the room.

Hands clasped together. Big smiles.

I can feel it.

The happiness. The excitement.