NOVA
The original plan was to go grocery shopping with Ivy. When she came down with a headache, I figured Lyric and I would trek to the store alone. Instead, Goldie, Elle, and Dalisay decided to meet us at the grocery store.
“I was craving a few things,” Elle said as she shuffled over from her SUV while Goldie and Dalisay left their motorcycles. “Mom was busy helping people, Sutter and Ford were fishing, and Zodiac was busy dick measuring with Clint and Exile. That left me to care for myself.”
As she chose a cart, I asked, “Why didn’t you text me to pick up things for you?”
“Because I’m bored and needed someone to whine to. Now, I have an audience.”
Wearing matching double braids, Dalisay and Goldie smiled while I studied Elle.
“You look tired.”
“I’m fine,” Elle assured me. “The third trimester is when I get a rundown, melty look. Zodiac is going to fucking love that.”
“She was downright hideous with Sutter Cane,” Dalisay insisted, winning a scowl from Elle. “With this baby, she doesn’t look bad at all.”
Elle flipped her frown upside down. “You’re my favorite Tooker.”
“You’re my favorite Reed,” Dalisay said and hugged Elle.
Goldie smiled at Lyric and said, “While those two write dopey poems to each other, I’ll help you shop. What are you going to be for Halloween?”
“I’m a pink unicorn,” Lyric said and walked next to the cart. “I have sparkles on my face and a horn.”
“I was a unicorn when I was super little,” Goldie explained. “But then, when I was your age, I decided to be a witch for each Halloween.”
“The same costume?” I asked confused.
“No, I was a different witch each year. I really liked the idea of flying on a broomstick.”
“What is this conversation about?” Elle said, pushing her cart next to mine.
“Halloween costumes.”
“Sutter Cane is dressing up as an astronaut.”
“Wasn’t he one last year?” Goldie asked.
“Yes, but he’s a different one this year.”
Goldie smiled at Elle. “Your kid copies the best people.”
“I assume that means you’ll be a witch again this year.”
“What are you planning to be?”
“A pregnant woman. Zodiac will dress up as my biker man servant.”
“Love is weird,” Dalisay said and took Lyric’s hand. “Want to ditch these boring foxes and look at candy with me?”
Lyric adored the Tooker sisters because they often walked on their hands. Skylar was already trying to figure out how to copy them. Once Lyric followed Dalisay and Elle, I started working on my grocery list items.
“Yarrow and Blackjack are psyched about meeting you officially,” Goldie said as she checked her phone.
“I’m a little worried they won’t like me.”
“My dad doesn’t warm up to people quickly. It’s not personal, so don’t take it that way. Yarrow can be prickly, but she isn’t judgmental except toward bullies. Since you’re the opposite of a bully, I have a feeling she’s going to love you.
“Did you just call me a doormat?”
“No, that sounds derogatory. Um, let’s refer to you as a pussy.
They’re nice and warm and can apparently stretch wide enough for a crotch goblin to crawl out.
” Goldie laughed at my annoyed expression.
“Childbirth terrifies me. I nearly fainted during Elle’s first delivery, when a bulbous monstrosity started emerging.
I got lightheaded and had to flee the room. ”
“Why were you looking at her vagina?”
“Curiosity, I guess. Lula wouldn’t let me watch her deliver. She was always a goody-two-shoe type, you know?”
I grinned when I realized Goldie was messing with me.
“Anyway, you’re a pussy, not a bully. Yarrow might be nuts, but she’s loyal to those who matter. She’ll want to protect you.”
“I can’t picture your mom as nuts. She seems normal in the pictures and videos I’ve seen.”
“Your former husband was a dick, right?” Goldie asked, and I tensed immediately. “Could someone tell he was a piece of shit from a picture or video?”
“No.”
“Exactly. But my mom isn’t crazy like someone smearing shit on the walls.
She just sees the world differently. Sometimes, she’ll laugh at things that don’t seem funny,” Goldie said and then stared hard into my eyes.
“I’m very protective of her. That’s why I want you to be aware of her nutty behavior.
I won’t tolerate you making her feel bad. ”
“Oh, I thought you were worried she’d make me feel bad.”
“But you’re not nuts,” she said and brushed hair off my shoulders. “You’re just a big pussy.” Goldie smiled and added, “Yarrow is going to love your eyes. They’re so expressive.”
Her comment erased my earlier fears and left me with a slight grin for the rest of the grocery shopping. After Elle and I paid for our groceries, we walked to the front of the store, where Lyric played with Dalisay.
Riding a mechanical horse, Lyric smiled at me and said, “I’m a cowgirl.”
Goldie climbed on a different one and announced, “I’m going to ride, too. Wait, did you mom types need help putting the groceries in your cars?”
Admiring how Goldie embraced her fun auntie role, I shook my head and left them to enjoy the mild autumn afternoon.
Elle dumped her few bags in her SUV's cargo and leaned against the side. “I need to sit down and rest. A handful of jelly beans wouldn’t hurt, either.”
As Elle settled in her driver’s seat and ate candy, I organized my groceries in the cargo of my SUV parked next to hers.
“I miss hanging out with people,” Elle said. “Baton Rouge is lonely whenever Zodiac isn’t around.”
“Do you think you’ll move back here?”
“No,” Elle mumbled with her full mouth. “Zodiac can’t give up his club. I’ll have to make it work.”
“What if Sutter doesn’t like it?”
“He’s already in love with our pool and the local museum,” Elle said and smiled. “Sutter and Zodiac get along really well, too. I’m surprised by how much nerd stuff Zodiac wants to hear about. I think underneath all his cockiness and tattoos, he’s a geek at heart.”
Smiling, I never would have thought Zodiac could warm up to family life in the way he had in such a short time.
“Hey, hag!” called out a male voice.
I peered around from the liftgate to see three male bikers strolling in our direction. At first, I thought they were Crimson Guard members. I was still struggling to keep everyone’s names and faces straight.
“What the fuck do you fungal infections want?” Elle asked in a hostile tone.
Realizing they weren’t from the Crimson Guard, I glanced at Lyric on the horse and hoped she stayed where she was.
“I can’t believe you let that freak Zodiac jizz a baby into your whore hole,” said one of the men.
“You’re Bob, right?” Elle said as she climbed out of the seat and peered around the door. “I heard your dad cried when he got kicked out of the club he helped build. Did you hand him tissues like a good little boy?”
“Bitch.”
“Yeah, duh. Now, what the fuck do you want?”
The men glared at her in a way that made me too nervous to remain hiding. Just months ago, Elle was involved in a shooting. I’d been so afraid that she’d lose her baby or die.
But I hadn’t helped her. Frozen with fear, I had chosen to remain hidden inside Elle’s SUV and wait for someone braver to save her.
Today, I stepped out from behind my SUV and said, “You should go away, okay?”
The men heard the fear in my voice and prowled closer.
“Exile’s slutty little sister,” Bob said while the other men smiled in a gross way. “We’ve heard how they passed you around the clubhouse every weekend.”
I shouldn’t have gasped. These men were only saying these disgusting things to rile us up. I needed to be like Elle, who didn’t react to their pig snorting noises.
“Don’t worry, Nova,” Elle told me as she texted someone. “These guys are just butthurt over how they can’t ride in Baton Rouge like their daddies did. Ignore their crying and finish packing up to go.”
Bob moved toward Elle and snarled like an animal, “I’m going to rip your fucking head off.”
One of the other guys inhaled sharply. “Bob, this is dumb. Let’s just go. Come on, Aaron.”
The one called Aaron spat out, “Fuck that. These bitches are starting shit.”
The sensible one insisted, “Tricky doesn’t want us talking to these club girls.”
“Shut up, Vinny,” Aaron snapped before shoving the car door toward Elle.
“Are you fucking crazy?” she hollered and blocked the door from hitting her stomach. “Zodiac will skin you alive if you mess with his kid and me! That’s assuming my dad hasn’t cut you into pieces by then!”
“Stop screaming, you dumb bitch!”
“Get the fuck away from me!”
As Dalisay ran over, people in the nearby stores peeked out from doorways. I looked to Lyric who was hiding behind Goldie at the carousel.
“De-escalate, boys,” Dalisay said and raised her hands.
Aaron immediately shoved her backward. She hit the ground before spinning with her leg out and knocking down the asshole.
As I stood frozen, Elle jumped into her SUV and slammed the door shut. My gaze flashed back to Aaron, who howled from landing wrong on his knee.
Dalisay scrambled away from him and ran toward me. “Go be with your girl.”
Before I could react, Bob grabbed Dalisay by her braid and yanked her away from me. I instantly reached for a can of cream corn and hit the biker in the face. The edge of the can struck his eye, causing Bob to yell and lash out at me.
I ducked his hand and grabbed a bag of frozen chicken. Swinging it, I knocked into him with enough force to get him to let go of Dalisay’s hair.
Bob moved toward me faster than I expected. I cried out in surprise when his hands sank into my hair and scratched my scalp before yanking me backward. Just as quickly, he let go and groaned. I caught a glimpse of Dalisay’s foot between his legs.
I swung the chicken bag again, but Bob shoved it back at me. I ended up on the ground before scurrying around my SUV.
Dalisay unleashed a wave of kicks and punches like something out of an action flick. Bob backed off, startled and barely able to block her attacks.
“Nova, go take care of Lyric!” Goldie cried and punched Aaron in the eye.
He hollered in pain, inspiring Vinny to join the fight. Moving around them, I wasn’t sure if I should leave my friends to battle alone.
“Fucking brass knuckles,” Vinny griped and fought to get them off Goldie’s hand.
Goldie kicked him in the leg and punched him in the jaw. Despite her fast moves, the men were so much larger than she was. I stood halfway between Lyric watching from the horse and Goldie fighting the bikers.
Boone’s sister ducked and dodged the men, using their size against them. She shoved empty carts in the way. Goldie kept them at enough of a distance to give herself a chance to strike the men before they could fully grab hold of her.
I flinched when Elle began honking the horn and fumbling with the door. My gaze flashed to Dalisay fighting to break free from Bob, who held her by the throat. He wrapped his hands tighter and lifted her off the ground.
Without thinking, I ran toward him and slammed into his body.
He dropped Dalisay as he staggered back.
I reached into a nearby grocery bag and grabbed a jar of pickles.
They struck his chest before shattering against the ground.
I threw a jar of spaghetti sauce next. Finally, I yanked out a container of cayenne pepper.
Ripping open the package, I flung the powder at his face.
Bob grabbed his eyes and rubbed them furiously. Dalisay took that moment to shove him into the door frame and kick his knee out from under him.
“Go to your girl,” Dalisay insisted.
I ran toward Lyric while Dalisay checked on Elle.
“Mama,” Lyric said and reached for me. “Why are they fighting?”
“Those men are bullies.”
“The cops are on the way,” said a woman behind me.
A man added, “Sounds like more bikers are on their way, too.”
As the roar of motorcycle engines filled the air, I couldn’t be sure if the incoming bikers were friends or foes.
I lifted Lyric into my arms as Goldie found herself cornered by the men. Vinny grabbed her and pinned her arms behind her back. I gasped when Aaron flipped open a switchblade and waved it in front of Goldie’s face.
I covered Lyric’s face and turned us away. I didn’t want her to see what was about to happen.
Goldie was yelling threats. I heard Aaron holler at how she kicked him. Dalisay was shouting at Bob, who cursed at her.
When a gun went off, I nearly dropped to the ground in fear. My mind flashed to the last time violence found me at the grocery store. As my past and present collided, I could only cradle Lyric and cry.