My chest felt heavy and weird. I wanted to ride away and get my mind on something less complicated. Of course, Clint wouldn’t let me bail.
“What’s happening in your head?”
“I stayed away from Nova because I thought she was fragile, and I don’t like fragile. There’s a different formula for everybody when dealing with fragile. But then, she chose to flirt by using this little face,” I said and looked at the paper. “I thought that meant she was weird. Like, genuinely wired wrong, and you know I’m cool with weird. But then, she hid in the bathroom, and I realized she’s more fragile than weird. Now, I want to back off and leave. Don’t make me knock you down.”
“Before we get physical, let me ask you something,” Clint said and braced for me to shove him. “You’ve liked Nova for months. Why her?”
“She’s new.”
“Plenty of new women show up at the clubhouse.”
“Those women are crazy sluts looking for a good time.”
“Plenty think they’ll win the heart of a bad man.”
“What’s your point?”
“If Nova is someone special, there’s no fighting it. Might as well make your move now.”
“Just because you moved in with your now-wife five minutes after meeting her, doesn’t mean other people should act that way.”
“Elle fought her feelings for Zodiac, but that didn’t stop them.”
“She got to spend her summer traveling instead of following him to Baton Rouge. Waiting worked out for her.”
Clint smiled. “I like it when you behave like a goofy, scared kid. Should I call your mom to ride up here to give you a hug?”
I moved to shove his shoulder. Clint was a step ahead and dodged my hand. I outsized him by an inch and carried my muscle in a bulkier way. That made my punches harder, but the shithead was fast as fuck.
“Quarterback bitch,” I mocked as I took a swing at him.
Clint chuckled and dodged my strike. “Lineman dipshit.”
“Did you just fat-shame me?” I asked and shook my head. “I’m telling Goldie. Get ready to listen to some big sister bitching.”
“Getting your women to fight your battles,” Clint said and chuckled again. “Typical beta.”
Giving up on the battle, I asked, “What do you think I should do?”
“I’ll give you Nova’s number, and you can text her. Nice and normal.”
“I don’t know if I can do normal.”
“I can do normal. Do you really think you’re wilder than I am?”
“Yes. Your parents are Mike and Carol Brady. My family is the Munsters, or maybe those Addams Family freaks.”
A grinning Clint asked, “In the Addams Family scenario, who would be Uncle Fester?”
“Oz, I guess.”
After chuckling at Rock’s dad, I glanced at Lula’s house. “Texting sounds good. Less drama. But what do I talk about during the date?”
“Is that a real question?”
“I’ve never gone on a date as an adult man.”
“What did you talk about when you dated Sandilee?”
