“She’s a grown woman with needs that a sexy biker can help with,” Vanessa insisted and nudged me. “Wink, fucking, wink, you know?”
My mind instantly flashed to the lectures I heard as a teenager about sex and sin. Before I could shake off those badmemories, I recalled faking my way through sex with Chris. Even on our honeymoon, I hadn’t wanted him to touch me.
As those ugly feelings washed over me, I blurted out, “I’m not interested in sex.”
“Oh, then, don’t go out with Boone,” Vanessa replied while smoothing out her long blonde hair. “I don’t think sexual frustration will be a good look on Boone.”
“They should go on a date,” Ivy said and blocked Vanessa from leaving the bathroom.
Vanessa leaned down to get eye-to-eye with Ivy. “I could jump over you so easily, Tiny Titan.”
“Let’s focus on helping Nova talk to Boone.”
“Oh, the ship has sailed for this bashful babe,” Vanessa told Ivy. “Everyone’s all riled up and overly interested. She can’t talk to him now without us spying.”
Covering my face, I imagined if I had just kept the Eddie Murphy paper in my pocket instead of his. Today would have been so much calmer. I could have quietly stalked Boone. No drama or hiding in the bathroom.
“This sucks,” Ivy muttered. “Nova just wants to get to know Boone.”
Vanessa stroked Ivy’s head. “You’re so cute when you get angry.”
“I’m serious.”
“I am, too. My cousin is lucky to have such a pretty wife.”
Ivy smiled grudgingly. “Thank you, but what about Nova?”
“Do you want to go out with Boone?” Vanessa asked me. “Like a date with a movie and a meal together?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why put that paper in his pocket if you don’t want to spend time with him?” Vanessa asked and then leaned closer to stare into my eyes. “Are you nuts? It’s okay if you are. Some of my favorite people have screws loose.”
“I don’t know what I want, but I’m not crazy.”
“Maybe a little crazy,” Vanessa said and showed me on her fingers how little she thought I was crazy. “But if you want to go on a date, you can do that. Then, you can see if you really like Boone, and he can see if he really likes you. If not, you can go back to your life. No harm in a movie and dinner.”
“What’s happening in here?” Rowdy asked, suddenly at the door. “Mom told me to check on you.”
“We’re trying to talk Nova into giving poor Boone a chance. He’s super nice, right?”
“Sure. I mean, have I met nicer men? Of course. But Boone’s on the high end of nice.”
“You’re not helping.”
“I’m offering a male perspective,” Rowdy insisted and pushed his way past Ivy and into the bathroom. “So, Nova, why don’t you like Boone? Is it his beard? I could talk him into shaving it and maybe getting a haircut. He seems solidly into you, so I think him changing everything about himself might be on the table.”
“No,” I said, finding my voice. “I don’t want Boone to change. I’m just nervous.”
“Nervous about what?” Rowdy asked while he and Vanessa stared at me with the same expression. “Does your fear come from a sex thing? Because that issue might be above my pay grade. I could get our mom to talk to you about that.”
“I’ve only ever dated one guy, and I couldn’t really be myself. I’m not sure Chris even liked me, and I was never really attracted to him. I don’t know how to date someone as sexy as Boone,” I said as my panic hit a new level, causing my voice to get higher with every word. “I don’t need anyone’s mom to talk to me. I don’t need a male’s perspective. I don’t need anything.”
“You’re freaking her out,” Vanessa muttered and shoved her brother past Ivy and out of the bathroom. Once the door wasshut, she took me by my shoulders and gave me a little shake. “Snap out of the crazy. You’re safe.”
Ivy put her hand on Vanessa’s and grumbled, “Don’t shake her.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, Ivy. This isn’t my first rodeo with a chick flipping out over a romantic problem. I shook Lula like this a few times. No, maybe it was Sabrina.”
