As the evening wound down, I sat with Lula and Nova at the edge of the pool while the kids played at the steps.
“Do you like Baton Rouge?” I asked Lula. “Or do you dread coming here?”
“I like Little Memphis more. It’s where my family and friends are. I feel like I’m in my territory. But I’m growing to enjoy Baton Rouge. This house is beginning to feel like our home. I’ve also discovered several good restaurants,” Lula said and then lowered her voice. “If I had my way, we’d live in Little Memphis full time. But Exile needs to be with his club. These people are his family. This town belongs to the club. If I respect him, I have to respect his life. So even if I hated Baton Rouge, I’d make it work.”
“Are you thinking about moving here?” Nova whispered to me.
“Do you think I should get a place in town?” I asked them. “Zodiac claimed he’ll get a house for Wilbur. Maybe I can bunk at his place or mooch off my lawyer cousin.”
“That makes sense,” Lula suggested and smiled at Exile watching her from his spot with Zodiac, York, and Stamp near the grill. “Maintaining two houses is a lot of work. You’re always free to stay here. The house is secure, which is important if you ever travel alone with the boys.”
Zodiac looked at me suddenly, and I held his gaze. We played a game of chicken to see who would break first. I looked away before he did and smiled. My heart was already preparing for his eventual rejection. Until that happened, I refused to hide how much I liked the bastard.
Soon, the sun went down, and I prepared for Sutter to spend the night without me. He didn’t hide his worries.
“I miss our house,” Sutter said as we sat in the guest room.
“Do you want me to stay with you?”
“Yeah, but I guess you shouldn’t.”
Sliding my fingers through his thick hair, I said, “Zodiac is a grown man. He doesn’t need me to stay overnight.”
“I don’t really need you to stay, either.”
“Would it help if Nova and Lula checked on you a lot?”
Sutter grinned. “I think that would help.”
“Would you like me to sing you a lullaby?” I asked and cuddled up with him.
Snorting in reaction to my tickling fingers, he shook his head. I noticed his gaze sharpened when Zodiac appeared at the doorway.
“Are you keeping her to yourself tonight?” Zodiac asked Sutter.
“No, I’m sharing her with you.”
“You’re a nicer person than I am, kid.”
Hugging Sutter to me, I inhaled his familiar scent and promised, “You own my heart.”
Though he might be nervous about sleeping in a new place without me around, Sutter didn’t cling to me. I was so proud of him that I nearly ditched Zodiac.
“My baby is nervous,” I told the biker, who frowned at me. “He’s only seven.”
“We could stay here and stink up your cousin’s house with fuck smells.”
I caught Exile nearby, looking ready to puke. His reaction made me laugh, but I still hated leaving Sutter.
“I promise I’ll check on him,” Nova said when I hesitated to leave.
Exile walked over and handed Zodiac the keys to his SUV. “Fill it up before you bring it back.”
“Sure, Dad,” Zodiac muttered and took my hand. “The bros are escorting us to my apartment.”
I smiled at Zodiac’s protective nature. Seeing him with his guys tonight revealed a new side of my baby daddy. He didn’t open up like a normal person, but he made his feelings clear to those who mattered. No wonder his guys were willing to abandon their former president.
Zodiac talked more than I expected during the drive. He threw shade at places he didn’t like. He mentioned good locations to eat. He shared stories about fights he had. He pointed out a spot where he got arrested. The details he shared made the city come alive. Instead of viewing Baton Rouge as a stinky armpit, I saw the city as Zodiac’s home.
