Nova snickered. “He hogged the remote at our house, too,” she said before looking around and losing her smile. “I miss this house.”
“I’m glad someone good bought it. You can still visit the house and see how happy it makes York.”
“Does it make him happy?”
We glanced back through the sliding glass door to see York standing in the living room. His expression was unreadable.
“Let’s pretend that’s his happy expression and move on.”
Nova nodded. “York doesn’t smile a lot. He and Dan would sit out back and silently not smile next to each other.”
I felt a strange stirring whenever I heard details about the Black Rainbow club. The members held new value to me. I was protective of them now. These people were the only true family Zodiac had ever known.
That afternoon, I tried to make small talk with several members. The only one who would chat was Sugar, and I think he was mostly trying to make nice with Nova.
“He likes you,” I murmured to her when Zodiac told his club brother to help him with the final big piece of furniture. “What’s the hold up?”
“I’m not interested in dating anyone,” Nova said, and I got the sense she was thinking of a particular man.
“I get it. You’re hot for Zodiac,” I announced and sighed loudly. “I don’t blame you, but he’s never going to give you what you want.”
Nova’s mouth popped open, and she let out a squeaky noise. Before she could defend herself, she narrowed her gaze and shook her head.
‘You’re messing with me.”
“Of course. If I thought you were after my baby daddy, I’d tear your hair out. I’d also insist you couldn’t fight back because I’m with child.”
“You really like Zodiac.”
Leaning closer, I whispered, “I love him, but don’t tell anyone.”
Nova’s gaze searched for Zodiac, but he was in the main bedroom with the guys. I could hear them arguing over how to put something together.
“He cares about you,” Nova whispered. “The softest I’ve ever seen him act was toward the girls, and he still gives them grief. But he acts completely different when he’s with you. I think maybe he loves you, too.”
“I don’t want to move here,” I told Nova while gripping her hand. “I don’t want to leave my family. My life in Little Memphis is great. I love everything about it except how Zodiac isn’t there.”
“Zodiac loves Baton Rouge,” Nova said as a gentle way to explain what I already knew.
“We’ll have a long-distance relationship,” I said, nodding too much. “It’ll be fine.”
Nova’s expression mirrored how I felt inside. I was fooling myself into believing I could control my heart.
After the guys finished moving everything where it needed to go, Zodiac, Sutter, and I drove Exile’s SUV to pick up pizza, beer, and soda from a nearby restaurant. I couldn’t deny how good I felt riding with them like we were a family.
A little part of me began daydreaming about living in Baton Rouge. The thought was terrifying. Sutter had only known one house. I didn’t think I could live on my own with two boys, and I highly doubted Zodiac wanted to get a place together.
“Why are you pouty?” Zodiac asked as we rolled up to York’s house with everyone’s meals.
Shaking my head, I didn’t know how to explain my feelings without dumping a mountain of emotional garbage on Zodiac and Sutter.
“It’s just hormones,” I lied. “I was moody at times when we stayed in Pennsylvania.”
Zodiac glanced at Sutter who nodded. I smiled at how well they got along. My boy knew how to handle men like Zodiac.
Easy listening music played in the house as we handed out pizza and drinks to everyone. York settled out back and seemed satisfied by the hard work. Lyric and Skylar asked why he kept their swing set.
“To bribe you to visit,” he replied, making them look to Nova to find out what “bribe” meant.
