“Nick and I haven’t done it yet,” I whispered. “We got into it hardcore last night and I knew he was digging it, you know?”
“Why are you talking in code?” Raven asked, glancing around. “Who the hell is listening besides me?”
“Whatever. I just don’t know why he stopped. I mean we were getting so hot and heavy. I know I like him so I wasn’t sending a signal to stop. He just did though. It’s not normal to get that hot and heavy then stop.”
Raven wrapped her blonde hair into a ponytail and held it over her head to allow the wind to cool her neck.
“Maybe he thinks you’re special and wants to make your first time all special and shit? He’s no virgin either. In fact, I heard he got a lot of play when he started fighting. He’s not fucking around now, but he wasn’t hurting for chicks in the past. Plus, you’ve been around the block a few billion times.”
“Hey!”
Raven laughed. “Point is the first time isn’t going to be special just because his scarecrow enters your pumpkin patch.”
Frowning at her wording, I noticed a mom and her horde of kids approaching.
“I just want things to work out with Nick,” I said as the kids passed. “I’ve had a thing for him for over a year. This is my chance and I don’t want to scare him away or bore him or whatever. I just want him to be mine and stay with me forever.”
“Don’t tell him that. He’ll get scared and run.”
“Duh. What do I tell him to keep him though?”
Raven let go of her hair and hugged me to her. “Babe, it either happens or it doesn’t. There’s no forcing these things. Trust me. I wasted a lot of time on guys that weren’t the one. When the guy and you click, things happen even if you’re not ready. If Nick’s not the one, no magic words will make him the guy for you.”
“That’s not what I want to hear.”
“I know, but I won’t set you up to feel bad by telling you that you can make something happen when you can’t. If it doesn’t work with Nick, that’s not on you. It’s just life.”
We returned to the store where Maddy sat next to Winnie on the bench. They both looked bored.
“Nothing here fits my style.”
“Hey, when you say the wedding will be redneck chic, will a banjo play as you walk down the aisle?” I asked.
Raven gasped. “Ooh, I dare you to have them play Cotton Eyed Joe on the banjo.”
“Not that redneck,” Maddy muttered. “I do think a banjo would be a good idea.
“I was only kidding,” I said, leaning against a laughing Raven.
“I know,” Winnie whispered and Maddy leaned closer, “a guy in a blue grass band. He plays the banjo at our church.”
Maddy smiled softly, putting on her mom face. “That would be great. Do you think you can get him to call me so I can see if he and his band can play the wedding?”
Winnie nodded then peeked up at me for reassurance. Giving her a nod, I didn’t understand why she was so edgy lately. For weeks, she followed me around like a confident puppy. Now, her tail was wedged fully between her legs. Luckily for us both, I didn’t express this question out loud. I sensed she wouldn’t have liked it and I was already feeling bad enough without adding guilt to the mix.
Chapter Twelve ~ Nick
The Thunderdome had a single locker room, so the girls were forced to show up in their fight gear or change in front of guys. Sometimes, their friends acted as a human curtain while the fighter dressed. The new girl came alone and she came dressed to fight.
Nearby, I sat on a bench and read Moby Dick. I was supposed to read the book in high school, but the teacher went out on maternity leave and her replacement let the classes run themselves. To ensure we passed the tests, she also gave us the answers. The easiest class I ever enjoyed now meant I needed to read Moby Dick in between head injuries and dating Bailey.
The new girl stretched and I caught sight of her face. Until then, she had kept her back to me as if I might attack her if she accidently made eye contact. With her blonde hair out of the way, I recognized her, but couldn’t place a name. She was likely a freshman I saw on the quad.
“Don’t stretch too much,” I said, looking at my book. “I saw a girl strain a muscle in her warm-up. It hurt her ability to run during the match and she lost pretty quickly.”
“I don’t plan to run,” she muttered, but I heard more anxiety in her voice than anger.
“No one plans to run until their crazy opponent runs at them. It’s only natural to move the hell out of the way.”
She smiled softly. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
After she sat on the bench, I set aside my book. “I’m Nick.”
“Joy. I’ve seen you fight once. The guy was huge, but you beat him.”
“Huge is code for slow.”
“He didn’t seem slow,” she said, grinning. “You have any advice?”