Page 67 of Exile & Lula

“Yeah, but she has always been a daft bitch.”

Vanessa narrowed her gaze at Sabrina before shrugging. “She used to read classic novels to Tricky in an attempt to fill his head with knowledge.”

Sabrina threw her head back and laughed way too loudly. “Yeah, I remember that. What a waste of time. No way does Charles Dickens have the power to give that ding dong a clue.”

“Wait, is this guy your friend or not?” Nova asked.

“He’s like family,” Sabrina said immediately. “That’s why it’s okay to talk shit about him. I wonder what we’ll say aboutyouwhen you’re not around?”

Nova’s eyes widened, and she looked to me for help. “Why me?”

“Your brother and my sister are in love,” Sabrina said and gestured at us. “I think they’ll stick, which means you’re my family now. I’ve got to razz my people. It’s just who I am.”

Nova found my gaze again and smiled in a way that reminded me of when she was a kid. My sister was always so hopeful that each new home and family might be the good one.

Lula checked her phone, likely wanting to make sure no one forgot to pick up Dillon from school. I followed her gaze as it moved past the people on the deck to where Zodiac talked with Clint and Elle. The latter was more focused on the dogs than on my president. After a few minutes, she walked inside and joined Lula and me.

“I’m going to pick up the kids at school,” Elle announced, looking confused before suddenly smiling at me. “You know, I don’t think seducing Zodiac for info was ever going to work. Good thing Lula was able to charm you instead. A lot of people dodged a bullet there.”

Lula snorted. “How exactly did you plan on seducing a man when you’ve never successfully done so before?”

“I was planning to get only a little wasted. Just enough to overlook all the nasty horrors involving a man’s body,” Elle said and looked me over as if imagining my nasty horrors. “Men have weird armpits and knees. Anyway, I don’t have to do that now.”

“He wouldn’t have told you anything anyway,” I said, winning a frown from Elle.

“I can be quite persuasive.”

“Can you, though?” Sabrina asked, suddenly behind us. “I feel like you haven’t ever persuaded anyone of anything ever.”

“Go hug Vanessa and stop hounding me.” Elle shoved Sabrina away and then frowned at me. “Do you really doubt I could seduce your pervy president?”

“If you want him naked, just ask. No seduction necessary. But, no, I don’t think he’d fess up any secrets to you.”

“That’s lame,” Elle said, glaring at me. “You’re lame. And he’s lame. And touching men’s hairy butts is lame.”

“Stay away from men’s asses, Elle,” Ford declared from the deck.

“You heard him,” Elle told me. “I don’t have an option in the matter now, so stop hounding me.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good, because I need to pick up the kids.”

“You’re not going alone, are you?” Lula asked, losing her amusement.

“No, I’m bringing your brother. Rowdy, come join me for the ride.”

“Alright, but only if you promise to stay away from my hairy ass.”

Rolling her eyes, Elle headed for the door. Rowdy grabbed a handful of chips and followed her. I watched them go before eyeing Lula.

“You should keep Elle away from Zodiac.”

“Why? She’s nearly thirty and perfectly capable of telling him to fuck off if she wants.”

“He’s got his mind set on sleeping with her.”

“Like, hold her down and force her kind of ‘mindset’ or he’s just going to look at her ass a lot like he’s been doing since she arrived?”