Chapter 5 #2
“I’m not dad material,” I announced. “Those girls need someone better to play the daddy role.”
“Zodiac is having a kid,” Rowdy said while Rock frowned. “The man never even had a pet. If he can handle a kid, you can.”
Rock shook his head. “Well, let’s wait to see how well Zodiac handles fatherhood before we give him credit. No reason to think he won’t fuck up fatherhood once he’s got a crying little brat screaming at him all day and night.”
“Don’t assume Zodiac is pathetic like you,” Rowdy replied. “You stupid dum-dum.”
I snapped my fingers and pointed at them. “No wrestling. I just had the condo cleaned.”
“Maybe you don’t need to do the dad thing,” Nine suggested. “Doesn’t anyone just fucking date anymore? I swear I can’t turn around anymore without someone making a kid or moving in together. Can’t we slow down and have fun?”
“Why are you asking me?” Rock said. “I thought Clint was nuts to move that little woman into his condo. Now, they’re married.
I thought Lula only wanted Exile on account of her PTSD.
Now, they’re getting married. Elle didn’t even seem to like Zodiac.
Now, she’s ditched her family and friends to move to a swamp to be with him.
There’s a foul sickness rolling through our ranks. ”
“Do you think our enemies have spiked our drinks with love spells?” Rowdy mocked.
“I’m going to tear off your balls, man.”
“No!” Rowdy squealed, making everyone laugh. “I need them to create life. You know I plan to have seven kids when I’m fifty.”
“You might want to marry a woman who already has seven kids,” Farley suggested. “Old man sperm is faulty.”
“How dare you?” Rowdy hissed and then looked at me. “Do you think Nova is interested in dating? Like, does she flirt with you?”
“No.”
“So maybe she doesn’t like you at all,” Rock suggested. “She was flirting with Rowdy the other day.”
When I frowned at Rowdy, he insisted, “No, she wasn’t. I know because I flashed her my sexiest smile and her eyes got so big that they nearly fell out of her head. That’s not the normal response of a woman interested in my hot bod.”
“Look at his face!” Nine nearly yelled and pointed at me. “Boone’s ready to chop you up for flirting with his chick.”
Rowdy got close to my face and dared me to hit him. I just smiled and puckered up.
“Be careful. You don’t want to make Rock jealous.”
Rowdy grinned and sat back down. “If you like Nova, go for it. Her brother can’t do shit to you. My sister’s got his leash wrapped tight. I’ll just have Lula yank on it if he gets bitchy with you.”
“I don’t want to date anyone.”
“Lies,” Nine said and chuckled. “But seriously, if you like her, make a move. Life is short.”
“Goldie thinks it would be a mistake.”
“She worries too much. You’re a big boy.”
“I’ve never had a girlfriend. What happens after a first date? Because I don’t fucking know.”
“No, no, man, you’re thinking about this wrong,” Rowdy said, always willing to help. “Worry about the first date. See if you want a second one. Then, see how that goes. Don’t jump to you being anyone’s dad.”
“I normally date crazy women. I’m not sure how to date normal ones.”
“Nova’s got crazy in her,” Rowdy assured me. “But it’s the harmless kind like my sisters’ sort of crazy.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Aww, we’ve touched his heart,” Rowdy said and threw a pillow at Rock. “Except for you. Nothing helpful came out of your fat mouth.”
“If you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to run out of the room screaming like that lady you liked.”
“Hurtful,” Rowdy muttered and threw another pillow.
Before Rock could jump across the table and attack Rowdy, Farley sighed. “I think if Nova gave me a signal that she was interested, I wouldn’t care about her brother.”
Narrowing my eyes, I grumbled, “Are you into her?”
“Maybe, but I mostly want someone to cuddle with. Cordy was that for me, but she was bad news. So, it’s not really Nova specifically I’m craving. But if you’re into her and only her, you shouldn’t let other people get in your head.”
Farley’s forlorn words stuck with me. The need in his tone mirrored my feelings about Nova. I was lying to myself whenever I claimed I could turn off how I felt about her. Even if we never dated, Nova would always feel like mine.
At Lula and Exile’s wedding, I kept admiring Nova in her simple pale blue dress. Her long brown hair draped her back and shoulders. The sunlight shone against her tanned skin. The woman was so damn beautiful that I had to work to avoid staring at her.
During the reception at the Sorority House, I kept my distance. I mostly feared I’d be too obvious and piss off Exile on his wedding day.
Instead of lingering near the groom or his gorgeous sister, I stuck close to Goldie. She put me to work carrying Cher around. The green-haired fox’s body was still broken from the attack last spring.
A few times, I caught sight of Nova goofing around with the other foxes. I also saw her dancing with her pretty little girls. My mood soured as I accepted how I couldn’t shake my feelings for Nova.
Arriving home in a shit mood, I cleared out my pockets and dumped my keys and cash into a bowl near the front door. That’s when I saw it! Mostly hidden under a pile of twenties was the smiling face of Eddie Murphy printed on a quarter-sized paper.
My fears of Exile’s reaction and my dating inexperience were instantly erased. I could see Nova in front of me. Her lovely blue eyes were watching me. I could reach out and touch her. So many times, I’d imagine such a scenario without any hope of making it a reality.
But, if the smiling face of Eddie Murphy wasn’t a signal, I didn’t know what was.