“Yes,” Ivy said and grinned at me.
Later, as we sat upstairs, Ivy explained, “You helped me start over when I met Clint. Right now, you need people to believe in your dream to build a life in Baton Rouge with Zodiac. It’s my turn to be super supportive, even if I’ll miss you and wish you lived closer.”
I appreciated her calm demeanor since the rest of the foxes acted like I was fucking bonkers for moving.
Goldie and Vanessa tag-teamed me a day later. Goldie took the lead by pointing out, “Nova said she struggled to get along with the Black Rainbow old ladies.”
“Nova’s shy, and I’m not,” I said, having prepared for their concerns. “That Alabama chick is more scared of me than I am of her. There are only two other wives. I don’t need to be their best friend because I have my foxes back here.”
Goldie watched me with her soft brown eyes. “But you’ll be all alone there.”
“For now, but I believe with all my heart that some of you will end up moving to Baton Rouge. Lula already lives there part-time. More of you will follow. I’m the Pied Piper of Wetland Foxes. Hell, I’ll start my own chapter of the Crimson Guard. It’s all good.”
“She’s irrational,” Goldie said and sighed.
Vanessa smiled warmly, and her pale blue eyes were calm. “No, Elle’s in love. That shit makes people dumb as fuck. Look at Lula. Shewas all-in right from the start with Exile. Meanwhile, Elle tried her damnedest to stay rational for months. She kept her secrets from Zodiac. She pushed him away. She only visited him with the hope to get over her feelings. Eventually, though, she accepted what her heart needed. We should do whatever we can to make the move easier for her.”
Goldie gave Vanessa a death glare for a solid minute before smiling. “I see your point, but my heart needs my friends to keep their asses in Little Memphis.”
“But you spend half your time in Rawlins,” Vanessa pointed out. “You’re a fair-weather friend.”
“How dare you call me out?” Goldie hissed. “Well, then, I challenge you to a duel.”
After the women arm-wrestled to prove the tougher fox, a triumphant Goldie hugged me. “I promise to visit you plenty.”
One by one, my friends and family crumbled under the weight of my enthusiasm about starting a life with Zodiac. Even Sabrina finally stopped bitching long enough to say she wanted me to be happy.
“I plan to nitpick everything,” she warned, looking brokenhearted over my move. “But only because I love you so much.”
On the night before we drove to Baton Rouge, Zodiac joined me in bed and exhaled deeply.
“Your people are so fucking dramatic,” he whined while snuggling up to my belly to see if he could feel Trent kicking. “I told my guys that I was moving Sutter and you to Baton Rouge and getting a place together. They just nodded. A few grunted. No tears. No screams of horror. No fucking interventions.”
Stroking his hair while he kissed my belly, I sighed. “I’m sorry your people don’t love you enough to pitch a fit. Though I must point out that you’re getting to stay in your hometown. What exactly do your guys have to spew drama over?”
“Are you having second thoughts?” Zodiac asked and cocked a blond brow.
“No, but be patient with my people. They have every reason to believe they’ll be absolutely lost without me.”
Zodiac chuckled at my bravado, but he also whispered reassurances as his fingers got frisky between my legs.
Despite my fears over moving, I needed to be brave. Zodiac was my guy. I didn’t want him to give up his club. If I could keep my emotions in check, I could help everyone adjust to our new beginning.
ZODIAC
Ford and Shay did nothing to hide how much they hated Baton Rouge’s humidity. Elle was also bothered from time to time, seeming lightheaded and exhausted by the heat. Clint often fanned a flushed Ivy. Meanwhile, Sutter used the sticky air as an opportunity to study up on the local climate.
On their first night in town, I tried to win them over by taking them to trendy downtown spots. The next day, we visited the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in the morning before heading to Louisiana State University to meet a professor from the Physics & Astronomy department. The guy was so impressed with Sutter that he wanted to invite his colleagues to join us. The kid seemed very excited about having local access to smart people.
The next day, a realtor met us at the property I most wanted. I knew the house might be a tough sell, so I told the chick to have a few fancier places ready in case Elle nixed this one.
Six months ago, I never could have imagined living anywhere except downtown. Now, the idea of a crowded area felt unsafe. The entire point of moving Elle to Baton Rouge was to allow me to focus on the club without constantly worrying about her.
“Why this place?” Ford asked while I drove his SUV ten minutes outside of town.
“It’s in a quiet area with low crime,” I said and then admitted, “This property needs updating.”
“Is it a dump?” Elle asked, sitting next to me in the front passenger seat. “Why wouldn’t you let me look up the info?”
