BOONE
Goldie showed up early at my condo with coffee. My sister only woke up before ten when she had an appointment or something was bothering her. I figured it was the latter. She sat on the couch and studied me while I blew on my coffee.
“What happens now?” Goldie asked. “Do you move those little girls into your place and hope they can’t hear you plowing their mom in your loft bedroom?”
“I do wish I had gotten one of the units with a closed bedroom. Plowing Nova would definitely be quieter that way.”
Goldie grinned. “If you knock her up, you’ll know she’ll raise the kid well. It’ll be cute, too. I get why you want this, but I’m not sure what happens next.”
“I don’t know. Nova and I plan to hang out tonight. Her brother and Lula will be around. It’ll be chill, I guess.”
“So you’re just dating then? I only ask because it seems like everyone is jumping right into living together and getting married.”
“Well, that was only a few of our friends. Most people date for a while before they commit. Longer still before they move in together or discuss marriage.”
“Is that how you see this thing with Nova playing out?”
“Oh, no,” I said and chuckled. “I’ll be looking for a better place to live soon. The girls won’t like living in this condo.”
“We grew up in the townhomes.”
“Yeah, but we had the backyard and the pool. Plus, we could hang out at different units in the complex. Can you imagine the girls feeling that way in this building?”
“No, especially not with Jokers in this place.”
“Exactly, so I won’t be living here much longer.”
Goldie eyed me before sighing. “That’s assuming Nova is on the same page.”
“What’s wrong with me that she wouldn’t be on the same page?”
“Nothing. You’re great. No one loves you more than I do.”
“Mom would beg to differ. I feel like Dad might, too. Then, there’s Clint.”
“Okay, I’ll give you Mom and Dad, but there’s no way Clint loves you more than I do.”
“Well, it’s probably close between the two of you.”
Goldie shook her head. “Why can’t people let relationships cook slowly and enjoy them for what they are? Why must it always be more?”
Studying my sister, I asked, “Do you not like Nova?”
“I’ve already told you that I do, but I feel like there’s a weird group hypnosis happening where everyone is suddenly in love and instantly living together. Slower might be best.”
“I agree, but I get restless when she isn’t nearby.”
Goldie grinned. “Like Dad does with Mom?”
“Yeah, and I’m ready to move things along to where I can see her all the time.”
Goldie sighed. “Does this mean I’m going to be an aunt?”
“To Nova’s girls, sure, I guess. We haven’t talked about having any kids. You did a good job yesterday.”
Ignoring my praise, Goldie asked, “Are you using protection?”
“She is.”
“You’re so lazy.”
“I don’t keep condoms at the condo, and I wasn’t expecting us to get naked here so soon. Leave me alone.”
Snickering at my irritation, Goldie mocked, “You’re a big, burly baby.”
“What if my baby is too big for Nova?”
“Those lady parts stretch.”
Grimacing, I shook my head. “No.”
“Your bestie Clint will one day make a baby in his tiny wife. That seems crazy to me. Nova carrying your super-sized baby ought to be easy.”
Looking around my place, I admitted, “It’s weird to talk about getting a new place and having a baby when I haven’t even introduced Nova to Mom and Dad. It feels like I’m skipping a step.”
“I’d wait on that. Mom will get attached to Nova. Then, if you guys don’t work out, she’ll get agitated over what went wrong.”
“Nova’s my woman. I know that with every fiber in my body.”
“Aww, you’re so gross,” Goldie mocked, giving me a wink. “But seriously, just date Nova for a few weeks before you ask Mom and Dad to drive up. Once Yarrow attaches herself to someone, she has trouble letting go.”
“She’s going to think Nova’s girls are hilarious.”
Goldie smiled. “I won’t mind being an aunt. I can buy them cute toys and sneak them candy when you tell them to eat healthy.”
“I plan to be as fun and irresponsible with your kids.”
“Never happening.”
“Have you ever considered being a single mom?”
“No. I liked having a dad too much to not give my kid one, too.”
“What if you made a kid with one of the club guys who doesn’t want to get married? Your kid could have a dad, but it wouldn’t be a gross rando.”
Drinking her coffee, Goldie mumbled, “I think that’s Cher’s plan after she gets better and travels the world.”
“I thought she wanted a bird?”
“That’s Stevie.”
“Oh, well, birds are cool.”
For the next hour, Goldie and I dicked around on our phones, looking at pictures of birds and their necessities. We both decided we didn’t want birds.
After breakfast, we rode over to the Sabine Women’s Center to deal with a drama related to a woman in one of our safehouses.
I scared off the guy by staring at him while Goldie made threats.
Though the guy looked like a dweeb, these situations were taken extra seriously ever since Elle was forced to shoot an asshole looking for his abused wife and kids.
As Goldie and I rode around town, I tried to picture Nova’s dead husband. I had no idea what he looked like. I assumed he wasn’t an ugly bastard since his daughters were beautiful, and they clearly inherited some of his looks.
Our ride was interrupted by my vibrating phone. No one called me unless something bad was happening. I picked up to find Exile on the line.
“Come to my house.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just get over here.”
If anyone else talked to me that way, I’d shove my foot up their ass. But I planned to play nice with Exile until he got over his aggressive behavior or I put a ring on Nova’s finger, whichever came first.
Goldie decided to join me. We rode outside of Little Memphis’s downtown area and toward Sleepy Eye Community.
“I don’t need you to hold my hand,” I told Goldie as we climbed off our rides in front of Lula’s house.
“What if you need my big sister armor against Exile’s big brother hostility?”
I smiled down at my five-foot-four sister. Goldie wasn’t in the least bit intimidating. Her face was too pretty. No matter how many punches she threw, she couldn’t intimidate a man. They only saw a cute chick with a mean temper.
That was the look Exile gave her when she stepped in front of him and scowled.
“What did you need?” I asked Exile.
“Nova is upset.”
Frowning, I asked, “About what?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?” Goldie demanded.
Lula appeared from behind Exile and smiled at her fellow fox. “Let’s allow the men to wag their dicks while you and I talk about my upcoming honeymoon.”
“But you just had a honeymoon.”
“No, I went to a hotel for a few days. Now, we’re flying to an island off Spain.”
“La-di-da,” Goldie taunted, smiling when an irritated Lula bumped her hip.
Once we were alone on the porch, I asked Exile, “Did you upset your sister?”
“Why would I do that?”
“You seem like a cranky guy.”
“I’ve rarely seen you smile.”
“How often have you looked at me?”
Exile exhaled hard like a raging bull. “Let’s focus on Nova, okay?”
“Do you know what upset her?”
“You did. Now, she’s hiding in the girls’ closet.”
Shaking my head, I refused to let him mess with me. “She probably misses me.”
“She thinks you’re going to die or get locked up.”
Exile’s words got my feet moving. Once I was inside the house, I walked around him and toward the girls’ room. Nova sat in the closet, staring at the stuffed elephant in her lap. I lowered my ass to the ground and got comfortable.
“Goldie asked if she’s an aunt now,” I said, startling Nova. “She plans to feed the girls candy and be a bad influence.”
Nova’s expression shifted from shock to amusement. “Why are you here?”
“Your brother said you missed me, and I knew I missed you. This seemed like a good way to make us feel better.”
Nova’s smile lingered, yet I felt her fighting a bad mood.
“My mom used to hide in closets and corners when life became too much,” I said and leaned against the wall. “I would play nearby and keep her company. When I got older, I’d read to her. I liked it when I made her feel strong enough to face the world.”
“Do you think I’m like your mom?”
“No,” I said instantly. “I know you went through a troubled childhood and had a bad husband, but my mom survived hell. As much as I love Yarrow, I’m not looking to fall for another version of her.”
Nova’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know why I’m upset.”
“Your brother thinks you’re worried about me.”
“The world is dangerous.”
“Very true. You were in danger not too long ago when Elle faced off with that abusive fucker.”
“Plus, Lula was taken. Cher and Stevie are still healing. All that happened this year.”
“Are you afraid something will happen to you?”
Nova’s gaze moved around the bright, colorful room. I felt her considering my question.
“I’m not afraid for me.”
“Did you ever feel this way when you were living in Baton Rouge?”
Nova nodded. “After Dan bought the house and got us set up, he would be gone a lot. Things were changing in his club. He wasn’t ignoring me. But I felt nervous that he wouldn’t come back.”
“Is that because he ditched South Dakota for the military and only came back once your mom died?”
Nova’s face pinched. She was protective of her brother and had a strange history with him. My mom might have been crazy, and my dad was a killer, but I grew up in a rather normal nuclear family. Nova and Exile did not.
“Dan wasn’t happy in Bixby.”
“He wasn’t treated well by your stepfamily, right?”
“No, they thought he was like our dad.”
“And your dad dipped out and went to prison when you were little. Then, your brother took off when he got old enough to escape. Your mom died. You were all alone with Skylar and a baby on the way. You must have felt overwhelmed and trapped.”
“Dan came back.”
“Yeah, but it takes time to build up that trust again.”
Nova frowned at how I didn’t kiss her brother’s ass. “I always trusted Dan.”
“He left you and didn’t come back until the funeral.”
“Why are you attacking him?”
“Just because he eventually saved you doesn’t change how he hurt you when he left.”
Nova pouted at how I didn’t worship at her brother’s shrine. Her gaze flashed to the doorway, likely thinking he was eavesdropping.
“My point isn’t to shit on your brother. But when you first moved to Baton Rouge, you didn’t trust that he wouldn’t disappear again. That’s why you were nervous. Once he proved he would keep coming back, you learned to trust him. You and I haven’t built up that trust yet.”
“I do trust you.”
“You’ve lost most of the important people in your life. It’d be weird if you didn’t have separation anxiety.”
Nova wore an annoyed expression. I smiled at her until she grudgingly mimicked me.
“You’re crazy about me,” I said, making her smile wider. “But we’re new. Why wouldn’t you feel insecure in your new life when you’re going through these changes?”
“What do I do to feel better?”
“Be patient. I’ll keep showing up and flexing my muscles until you realize I’m not going anywhere.”
Nova smiled wider and shook her head. “I think that separation anxiety idea makes sense. Maybe I do have a hang-up about people leaving.”
“And you don’t know me well enough to trust that I’ll stick around.”
“Well, you can’t control everything, and your life is dangerous.”
“It’s okay to fear the world. It’s wild out there sometimes. So, let’s sit here and talk.”
Nova scooted closer, leaving her closet sanctuary.
I inched my ass toward her until I could take her hand.
We watched each other, enjoying the quiet.
After a few minutes, she crawled over to where I sat and rested hip to hip next to me.
I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and let her regain the confidence hiding under a lifetime of fears.