Chapter NOVA
NOVA
Losing interest in the movie, Boone and I started fooling around on the couch before returning to his bed. Eventually, I needed to clean up and head home. We finished our sexy fun with Boone joining me in the shower as I washed off.
Leaving his truck proved painful, with me returning twice for one more last kiss. I still felt Boone’s lips on my skin when I finally entered the house.
Most of the lights were off. I found Zodiac on the couch with his feet up on the coffee table.
A pillow sat in his lap with Elle’s head resting on top.
He lifted his finger to warn me that she was sleeping.
I tiptoed closer to find her eyes closed.
Zodiac’s hand rested on her head and played with her hair.
They looked so sweet together that I lowered my guard with Zodiac.
“Should I text your brother to announce you’ve gotten laid?” he asked, reminding me why I should never assume the best in the man.
“No,” I whispered angrily. “Why do you have to be so gross?”
“Hello?” Zodiac mocked and waved at Elle. “I’ve fallen in love and created life. It’s made me especially romantic. What do you expect?”
Rolling my eyes, I sat on a nearby chair and glanced at the baseball game playing on the TV.
“How did the girls do?”
“They’re asleep in your bed. I hope you wash up before joining them. They don’t need to smell Boone’s jizz.”
Ignoring his nasty talk, I asked, “Did the night light help with their fears?”
“Sure. That was a smart idea that totally fooled those little hellions.”
“Has Elle been asleep for long?”
“Since the third inning, so a while now.”
“How long do you intend to hang around?”
“Until the game is over.”
Rather than check on the girls, I studied Zodiac. I felt so happy and satisfied. Yet, underneath my happiness stirred a quiet panic.
“Do you ever fear you’ll lose Elle?” I asked despite my better judgment.
Zodiac replied immediately, “No.”
“You’ve never once worried she would end things? I find that hard to believe after how she avoided you for months.”
“Elle worships me. I make her come and put a baby inside her. There’s no reason for her to ditch me.”
“But don’t you ever worry she’ll get hurt or die?”
“Never.”
“Not even after the shooting?”
“I knew that would turn out fine.”
Of course, Zodiac was lying. Why would he share his feelings with me?
“Well, I worry about something happening to Boone.”
“Why? He isn’t even an important person within his club. No one’s going to target him. He’s, what, thirty years old? Not even old enough to have any health issues. What’s there to worry about?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Not for a mental case,” Zodiac said and frowned at me. “Are you mental? Should I be worried you’ll try to steal my kid or stalk me?”
“I’m not as good at change as you are.”
“That’s bullshit. You came to Baton Rouge right after your mom died.
You were really pregnant. Like, fifteen or sixteen months into that thing.
You had a crabby kid and a faded black eye.
Exile wasn’t any help. He’s too closed off emotionally.
You bought that rundown house and popped out your second hellion all within months of arriving.
That was a lot of change, and you did fine. ”
Though Zodiac made a good point, I couldn’t shake the panic stirring inside me. “I feel like I was scared a lot.”
“And you’re scared now?”
“A little, yeah.”
“Why not ask Boone to stay over?”
“Where would he sleep?”
“The couch or a chair. You could kick your hellions into their own beds, so your man had space to stretch out. If you had done that, would you be as scared?”
“I don’t know.”
“You always say you don’t know when you do. It’s an annoying habit that kept me from wanting to bang you.”
“Who’s banging who?” Elle asked and wiped her drool on Zodiac’s jeans. “What’s happening?”
“Nova’s missing her boyfriend, and I’m watching the game.”
“Oh,” Elle muttered and frowned. “I was hoping that damn thing was over.”
“The pitchers are on fire. It’ll be over soon.”
Elle rubbed her eyes and smiled at me. “Did you get laid?”
“We ate sushi.”
“Is that code for a sex thing I won’t do?”
“No,” I said and smiled at her. “Boone thought it would be fun for us to try something new.”
“Did you like it?”
“We got a few different kinds, and I thought they were good. Not my favorite new food, but I liked it. Boone hated two of them, but he did think one was okay.”
“Heartwarming,” Zodiac said while Elle grinned at me.
“I’m glad you’re getting Boone to try things. He’s so stuck in a rut. I bet he wouldn’t even think of knocking up a chick and then crying until she moved to a new city for him.”
Zodiac muttered, “There were never any tears.”
“Internally, you wept,” Elle said and patted his cheek. “I remember handing you tissues.”
“Whatever you say, human incubator.”
“Stop begging for my love in front of Nova. Your words of endearment are bound to make her nauseous after all the sushi she ate tonight.”
“I’m sure that isn’t all she’s got swimming around in her belly.”
Elle laughed at his gross comment, but I didn’t hold it against her. She was newly in love, so Zodiac was especially interesting to her. Of course, she also had a big mouth, meaning she didn’t think people required filters.
“Do you need to wash your, you know, coochie?” Elle asked as she fixed her hair. “Before you crawl in bed with your girls, I mean. I always make sure I’m jizz free before I cuddle with Sutter.”
“Mom of the Year over here,” Zodiac grumbled.
“That’s why you picked me to impregnate.”
“That wasn’t planned.”
“Not on your part,” Elle said and straddled his lap. “Want to fool around until the game is over?”
Zodiac frowned at her. “We’re only hanging out so I can finish the game.”
“Oh, in that case, fuck off,” Elle said and climbed off his lap. “Let me talk to my friend Nova about how I was knocked up by a dipshit with a limp dick.”
Zodiac chuckled at her taunts while I followed her into the kitchen. She poured herself orange juice and smiled at me.
“Boone’s a great guy.”
“I really like him.”
“Do you think you could love him? Boone’s so sad that Clint replaced him with Ivy while he was in jail. Double dates could help make his pain more bearable.”
“I feel like I do love him, but we’ve only been together in a real way for two days.”
“Logic and love don’t mix. If they did, I would have ditched Zodiac and stayed in Little Memphis. But our hearts write their own stories. I’m glad yours is writing one with Boone. He really is a great guy, and you deserve someone awesome.”
I startled Elle by hugging her. She adjusted so we could tighten our embrace without squishing her belly.
“Trust your heart,” she whispered. “You deserve good things, so don’t hold back or try to be overly sensible. Just enjoy life.”
Nodding, I smiled at her before glancing at the hallway leading to my room. “Do you need me to stay up with you?”
“No, I plan to cuddle up with limp dick over there and wait until the game is over. Do you need us to stay over tonight?”
“No, I’m good. Lula and Dan will be back in the morning. Everything’s fine.”
Elle hugged me again and sniffed my clothes. “You don’t smell like jizz at all.”
“Thank you. I showered.”
“I thought so. You smell like Boone’s body wash.”
I smiled at the thought of his scent on me. After thanking Zodiac, I tiptoed down the hall to my bedroom. I stripped down and crawled in next to Lyric, who slept with her arms over her head and her foot resting on Skylar’s back.
Everything was great. I was happy. Nothing was bothering me.
Yet, my growing panic followed me into my dreams, turning everything into a nightmare.