“What kind of music does he listen to?”
“A horrible kind of metal music. It’s like screaming and heavy guitars.”
“Ooh, okay, so I shouldn’t let him pick the music for our next bang.”
Immediately horrified, Nova asked, “You’re planning on having sex with him again?”
“Sure. At least once. I’m curious what it’ll be like when I’m sober.”
Nova gave me a sad smile. “He’s a player.”
“Well, yeah, he’s a hot biker. I’m fully aware of the kind of pussy a guy like Zodiac can pull. But I’ve never liked men, and I like him.”
“But...”
I smiled when Nova didn’t continue. “I don’t believe I can have a relationship with any man. Zodiac and I might work because we have such low expectations. That way, there’ll be no hurt feelings or painful disappointments.”
Nova’s gaze got a faraway quality. I suspected she was thinking about her bad marriage to a violent man back in South Dakota.
“You know you’re free to hang out at the Sorority House, even when there’s no party going on. Ivy, you, and I should hang out there this week.”
“And do what?”
“Talk to the foxes, play games, listen to music, beat each other up as part of an all-girl fight club. Just fun shit.”
Nova slowly smiled. “Some of that does sound fun.”
“Your girls look to you on how to act. If you go out and have fun and take what you want in life, they’ll want to do the same. My mom was a tough chick, but she was also soft. It doesn’t have to be one thing or the other. So, let’s pick a day and hang out.”
I believed Nova needed a kick in the ass to get her outside of her comfort zone. I’d seen the same thing with plenty of women who escaped violent relationships. Now that she was safe, she feared rocking the boat. But life was about more than cooking, cleaning, and cutting out paper Eddie Murphy faces.
ZODIAC
Boone was a nice enough guy, but he often fell into silent spells that spanned hours. I suspected he spent too much time with the same people, so he forgot to say anything. Or maybe his silence came from having a crazy mom. All I knew was I had to entertain myself because he certainly wasn’t doing it.
On the day the paternity result was expected, I had Boone escort me to the Sleepy Eye Community. We parked in front of Lula’s house.
“Are you coming inside?” I asked Boone when he didn’t immediately get off his ride.
Rubbing at his beard, he glanced at Lula’s house and shook his head. “You’ve got me feeling weird about seeing Nova.”
“Don’t let your heart get ticklish over something I said. Nova could use a good fuck, even if her brother passes a kidney stone over her every fart.”
“Nothing you just said made the situation better.”
“Nothing I said wasmeantto make the situation better.”
Cocking a dark eyebrow, he asked, “So you’re just talking to hear yourself talk?”
“I like my voice. Can’t help if you don’t feel the same.”
Boone grinned. “I always felt like I had to hide my asshole side. I respect how you don’t have that problem,” he said and climbed off his ride. “Go hang out with your people. I’ll chill at Pax’s place. Let me know when you need me to babysit you again.”
I watched Boone walk over to Pax Reed’s house, making sure he didn’t change course and end up at Elle’s place. I wasn’t interested in him gossiping with her.
Finally, I knocked at Lula’s front door. Exile answered, looking strange without his cowboy hat. He gestured for me to enter.
Exile’s hostile exterior made him seem like a dumb hothead, but the guy was sharp. If anything ever happened to me, the club would be safe in his solid hands.
