“Just tired. Physical therapy is way harder than I expected. I thought it would be stretching, but it hurts. Still, if I want to walk normal again, I’ll need to strengthen all my broken bits.”
Zodiac lingered nearby, casually eavesdropping. Nova had found herself tugged into a dance circle with Moe, Zadie, Jas, Goldie, and Ivy.
As my fingers stroked Cher’s head, I thought about how she cracked her skull and back in a fall during Lula’s abduction. Her gunshot wounds had mostly healed, and she suffered from fewer dizzy spells lately, but her mobility remained limited.
Her younger sister Stevie joined the dance circle and waved at Cher. The Irish twins looked so similar, despite Cher’s short green hair and Stevie’s long pink hair.
“Do you like Zodiac?” Cher asked me.
“Well, he’s a jackass a lot. It’d be easy to reject him for that alone. But he’s also incredibly attractive and can be really sweet. That’s why I’ve chosen to worship him for now.”
Zodiac nodded. “I also give her oral a lot.”
Cher smiled. “There it is, but keep in mind that oral sex only goes so far. I had a ginger boyfriend once who was very good at cunnilingus, but that wasn’t enough to save the relationship.”
Zodiac frowned. “I didn’t need that visual of Tricky Curran.”
“But I should also be naked in your visual,” Cher insisted. “That would make the image half hot, right?”
Nodding, I promised Cher, “I’d finger myself to that visual.”
“Don’t fantasize about other men,” Zodiac grumbled.
“I made it like a porn film where the guy’s head is barely in the action.”
“Still no.”
“Well, I can’t imagine her with you. That would make me jealous.”
“But it would be pretend,” Cher said. “It’s not like I would let that big, scary biker near my clit.”
“It’s true that you are very protective of your nub. Is that why you broke up with Tricky?”
“No, he suffocated my inner wild child. She deserved to be free, so I cut his ass loose.”
“Good,” Zodiac said and then scowled. “Let’s stop talking about Tricky.”
“He’s invited to the party,” Cher explained and then shrugged slightly. “I actually only invited Jagger, but that somehow got extended to Tricky.”
“Do you want a brawl at your party?” Zodiac growled. “Because putting the Jokers and Black Rainbow in the same place is how you get a brawl at your party.”
“Don’t snap at me,” Cher said, sounding tougher than she looked. “Your good looks don’t do it for me. So, quit flapping your lips.”
I smiled at Zodiac. “It’s her birthday. Say something nice.”
“You look hot for a chick with short green hair.”
Cher flashed a big grin. “Hell yeah, I do. I’ve put on a little weight, and my boobs are bigger now. See?”
She pulled her shirt open so I could peek inside. Though I couldn’t tell any difference, I still nodded and winked approvingly.
Stevie skipped over, likely high off her ass. She leaned down to kiss my belly and then patted Zodiac’s shoulder.
“You’re nicer than your president. I’m glad you love Lula,” Stevie told Zodiac, thinking he was Exile. She joined Cher on the couch and told her sister, “I almost lost you, but now you’ll be with me forever.”
“Sure, babe,” Cher said and stroked Stevie’s head resting against her chest. “I won’t go anywhere until I heal up. Then, I want to travel and do hobbies and live life to the fullest. I might even have a great love affair and break another man’s heart.”
My tears came out of nowhere. I was genuinely thrilled to see Cher and Stevie having a good time. Plus, Zodiac’s hand was stroking my back, and I had missed him over the last week. Turning toward his body, I rested my face against his chest and tried to regain control of my emotions.
