ELLE
Earlier today, Sutter had surprised me by asking to visit Baton Rouge. I assumed he was gunning to visit the city’s science museum. Instead, he hit me with logic about knowing we’d spend plenty of time in Baton Rouge in the future.
“The baby will want to know Zodiac,” he explained calmly.
“That’s true.”
“Also, Grandpa said Zodiac liked you more than he expected. He won’t just go away, so we should view him as part of our life now.”
“With Zodiac, I don’t know if we should assume anything.”
“He followed you around the entire time he was here.”
“Baby, he’s a complicated man with a bad childhood. I don’t think he knows what he wants from moment to moment. How can we understand him when he doesn’t understand himself?”
Sutter flashed a dark frown. He was clearly becoming attached to Zodiac, just like I feared.
But I totally understood why my boy wanted to know Zodiac better. I was itching to get back to Baton Rouge and spend time with my baby daddy. The next week couldn’t fly by fast enough.
The drive to Baton Rouge was relaxing this time around. Zodiac knew I was coming. I didn’t have to feel so far away from Sutter. Plus, I got to step into Zodiac’s life rather than only hide in his apartment.
Months ago, Lula and Exile had bought a luxurious house in an upscale neighborhood. There was space for Nova and the girls plus guests. Pax and Bebe had taken the foster kids down to Baton Rouge a month ago for a long vacation.
Sutter was mostly interested in the house’s pool. We were quickly in our swimsuits. I played with him in the water and worked on his swim techniques. Nova and her girls joined us while I assumed Lula and Exile worked on breaking in their mattress.
“Is it always hot like this?” I asked Nova as she stepped into the pool wearing her one-piece swimsuit complete with a little skirt.
“Usually, yes.”
“Was it difficult to get used to when you moved here from whatever Dakota you came from?”
“Yes, and I was also very pregnant.”
“Did you wear cute maternity clothes?”
“No.”
“How come?”
“I didn’t have the money.”
“Why didn’t Exile buy you any?”
“I didn’t ask. Also, Lyric was born soon after we moved here.”
“I bet you were gorgeous while pregnant,” I insisted. “Do you have pictures?”
Nova narrowed her eyes. “How come you’re asking me so many questions?”
“Barely anyone I know has created life,” I answered when she watched me full of suspicion. “I want a mom friend.”
Nova’s face flipped from an uneasy frown to a beautiful smile. “I would like to be your mom friend,” she said, bouncing closer while Skylar and Lyric played with their toys at the steps. “Are you planning to buy fun maternity clothes?”
Nodding, I smiled at her enthusiasm. “I only have a few baggy shirts left over from my pregnancy with Sutter. I gave away the rest of my clothes to the women at the safehouses. My baby stuff is gone, too. I never figured I’d have another kid.”
Next to us, Sutter dunked his head under the water. I loved how confident he was, even in new situations. I didn’t know if he would always feel so comfortable in his own skin. Clint had kept his confidence, and I hoped for the same thing with my boy.
As Nova and I made plans to shop once we returned to Little Memphis, I suggested, “While we’re out looking for maternity clothes, we should find you something sexy to wear for Cher’s birthday party.”
“Why sexy?” Nova asked and glanced at the girls.
“I’m looking to get you knocked up. That way, our babies can grow up together.”
“No.”
“Don’t you want more babies?” I asked and gestured at her girls. “You make such pretty kids.”
“I don’t want to get married again.”
“Then, be a single mom like me,” I said and winked.
“How would that work?”
“Plenty of the guys in my club would like to have a kid, but they aren’t looking to settle down. You’d have a nice baby daddy, but you’d also be running the show.”
Though I was screwing with Nova by suggesting getting her knocked up, she actually seemed curious about the baby idea. Before I could explore that topic, Sutter asked to race me. I checked his water wings and tightened the top of my sporty, slate bikini.
We swam from one end of the luxurious pool to the other. Sutter insisted I swim like normal rather than show him mercy. Even after I kicked his ass twice, he refused to have me slow down.
Skylar and Lyric were clapping for Sutter when the sound of motorcycles filled the air. We still finished our lap with my boy looking ready to pass out.
“You’re really fast,” he said as I held him up on the deeper side.
“One day, you’ll beat my ass in swimming.”
“Yeah, but today is not that day,” he said, still out of breath.
I hugged him to me and enjoyed how happy he seemed today.
I was still holding him when Zodiac strolled around the side of the house.
He wore a baby blue short-sleeved button-up shirt.
The heat glued the fabric to his chest, showing off the hard curves of his muscular chest. His blonde hair looked windswept from the ride over.
He pushed back his black sunglasses and smiled at me.
“You’re going to need to cover up.”
“Why?” Nova asked, immediately assuming he was scolding her.
“Ignore him,” I told her. “Such puritan thinking is common from bikers.”
Zodiac scowled. “The guys are here, and I don’t want you running around naked.”
“She isn’t naked,” Sutter said, looking at my bikini top. “She wears this at home.”
Zodiac wanted so badly to snap back at Sutter. I worried he might pop a blood vessel from fighting against his usual snarly self.
“Where’s your baby?” Skylar demanded when she suddenly noticed Zodiac.
“I refuse to argue with a little hellion.”
Shaking her head, she muttered, “There’s no baby.”
Zodiac took the bait and insisted, “I’m going to make you clean up the baby’s dirty diapers.”
“I won’t do it. I’m not qualified.”
Nova snickered at her daughter’s wording. Lyric looked at Zodiac and showed him her doll.
“I have a baby,” she told him sweetly before frowning. “Where’s your baby?”
“Nova, teach your daughters patience.”
“I’ll try, but I don’t know if I’m qualified.”
Zodiac exhaled roughly and frowned. “It’s a damn mutiny.”
I kissed Sutter on the forehead and walked with him to the shallow end. “Nova, can you watch my boy while I get Zodiac wet?”
Grinning, she looked at Zodiac like he was in trouble. He didn’t seem the least bit concerned as I walked up the steps. He was too busy molesting my body with his gaze to consider what I might do when I reached him.
“I missed you, lover,” I whispered and wrapped my wet arms around his body.
Zodiac planted his lips on mine and reached around to pat my ass. I moaned in his mouth, thankful to finally feel him against me again.
“You need to change your outfit,” Zodiac murmured once our lips parted. “I’m not kidding. I’ll lose my shit if the guys get an eyeful of your tits, ass, and belly.”
“But Baton Rouge is hot,” I whined. “The humidity is making me nauseous.”
Zodiac rubbed at his jaw and looked around. He frowned when he realized Nova, Sutter, and the girls were watching us.
“I’m not pushing him in the pool,” I told them, winning groans of disappointment from the girls.
Smiling up at Zodiac, I mumbled, “I missed you.”
“You already said that.”
Rubbing my belly, I explained, “I’m sharing feelings for two right now.”
“If I say please, will you put on some fucking clothes?” Zodiac grumbled.
Despite his irritated words, Zodiac was giving off playful vibes. I was very aware of his hands exploring my bare flesh.
“Will a T-shirt be enough or do I need to wear shorts?”
“A baggy nightgown that reaches to your ankles would be best,” he said and then exhaled deeply. “But a T-shirt will do.”
“Are you staying long?” I asked while squeezing water from my hair.
“Exile said he plans to grill. I brought a bunch of our bros to enjoy the free meal.”
“Where are these bros now?”
“Waiting patiently in the driveway,” Zodiac said and frowned at Skylar and Lyric. “Patience, girls. That’s something you need to learn.”
“Where’s your baby?” Skylar cried.
Lyric patted her sister’s shoulder and explained, “There’s no baby. He’s fibbing.”
I smiled at Zodiac. “I think Lula and Exile are banging, so you’ll need to wait for your free meal.”
“No, we’re done,” Exile said, sliding on his cowboy hat and exiting the house.
“Did you properly satisfy my cousin?”
“Left her wearing a smile,” he replied and gave Zodiac a head nod. “What’s the plan?”
Rather than let Zodiac answer, I explained, “I’m going to swim until Sutter is bored. Until then, I guess your bros will need to sit in the driveway.”
I smiled at Zodiac who shook his head. He muttered something to Exile while I returned to the pool and floated with Sutter at the deep end.
As thrilled as I was to see Zodiac, I had to put my son first. I’d show the same loyalty toward Wilbur.
I wish someone had shown Zodiac such care when he was a little boy.
Despite his huffing and puffing on the back patio, Zodiac understood my choice. He wanted me to be a good mom, even if that meant I refused to obey him.