Sabrina stopped messing around in my kitchen and walked over to ask me, “What if Zodiac’s reacting to what happened today, and he flips out when you’re constantly around?”
“Well, then, Zodiac and I will know we can’t handle living together. Sutter and I will come back home. Maybe in a few years, we can build a house in the community. Even though I want to give this thing with Zodiac a chance, I won’t take the leap unless Sutter is willing, too.”
My boy had already imagined this scenario. He was curious about Zodiac and Baton Rouge, but he also loved spending time with his grandparents.
“Zodiac made a baby with you,” Sutter said. “He likes spending time with you. He isn’t weird with me. I think we should try living with him. If we don’t like it, Grandpa and Grandma can come get us.”
Shay smiled sadly. “Can we visit Baton Rouge before you make your choice?”
Before I could answer, Exile and Lula started walking downstairs. We all stared at them like we were under attack.
“I brought Zodiac a few of my clothes,” Exile explained when we only gawked at him.
“I hope you picked cute boxers,” I told him.
Lula grinned and murmured, “Oh, yeah.”
Sabrina saw a possible ally in her sister and blurted out, “Elle’s moving to Baton Rouge. Tell her how nasty it is there.”
“Sutter and I already visited there before,” I reminded Sabrina. “You literally drove me there the first time.”
“No, but Lula actually has a house in that swamp hell.”
Frowning, Lula asked me, “Is this real?”
“Zodiac wants me to live with him, so he doesn’t need to leave his club constantly to check on me.”
“So, you’re moving for him?”
“No, I’m moving because I love him, and I think maybe he can love me. If he can’t, I’ll come home. I’m a flexible person. Right, Sutter?”
“Yeah, it’ll be a vacation that might become permanent.”
Exile glanced at my bedroom. “I’m going to go talk to Zodiac.”
Sabrina nodded and gestured for Exile to get moving. “Yeah, see if he’s just overloaded with girly feelings and has changed his mind.”
Lula sighed. “Sabrina, let Elle have what she needs.”
“I don’t want her in a different state.”
“She was always going to move. Sutter requires more educational options than Little Memphis can offer.”
“He’s seven!”
I covered Sutter’s ears just in case my cousins got into a screaming match. When he smiled at me, I felt intense relief over his openness to moving.
“Grandma needs love,” I mouthed to him.
Sutter hugged Shay while I cuddled against her other side. Ford watched us with a soft smile. I was surprised he wasn’t applying more resistance to the idea.
I figured my dad might be waiting to hash things out with Zodiac. Or maybe he did always figure this would happen. Either way, Ford seemed content. His calm spread around the room, infecting everyone except Sabrina.
ZODIAC
My shower took twice its usual length. I figured Elle was selling the Baton Rouge move to her family and didn’t need me showing up naked to help. Once I was out of the shower, I texted Exile to bring me clothes.
I stretched out on Elle’s bed with a towel across my dick just in case Sutter showed up. I was looking at texts from the guys back home when Exile knocked on the door before entering.
