Page 95 of Best Laid Plans

"Yes, Miss Nova."

He didn't do anything of that sort. He wasn't protecting me, he just wanted to make sure that I didn't hurt a hair on his precious Miss Nova's head.

She pushed me again. "How fucking dare you?"

I stayed still. She wasn't that strong.

"I dare ‘cause I love you, ‘cause I know you love me."

"I. Do. Not. Love. You," she snarled loudly. "Do you hear me?"

"I think people in the next county heard you, Sugar."

Now, I knew this was the wrong approach because she was already royally pissed, and me goading her would lead to her, maybe, physically hurting me, which would be fine, except she might hurt herself doing it.

"Anson Larue, you have some big hairy ones," she hissed.

I grinned, couldn't help myself. She was talking to me. She was arguing with me. Baby fucking steps!

"Yeah, darlin', and you've seen them up close and personal, so I know you know."

She clenched her jaw and just stared at me, incredulous that I was cracking jokes. Well, what the hell was there left to do? You had to laugh when your life was a sack of shit like mine.

"What is that you want? Proof that I don't love you?" she seethed.

"Yes."

"And how do I prove that?"

Steady as you go, Anson. "Go out with me."

"Huh?"

"Spend time with me, show me how much you don't love me."

"I don't have to do anything," she fumed. "I don't have to spend time with you."

"You afraid, Sugar?" Shut up, Anson, or her knee is going to meet your balls, and you won't be fathering any children ever.

"Excuse me?" she glowered.

"It's just a date, Nova. I'm not asking you to marry me." Yet.

She shook her head, all the fight draining out of her. "You're nuts. I don't know why I never saw it before, but you're batshit crazy."

"So…you'll go out with me?" I inquired.

"No, 'cause I'm not batshit crazy." She flung her hands in the air. "I'm going to go to bed. And don't come runnin' with me tomorrow. Just leave me the fuck alone."

"Sorry, Sugar. I can't do that." I was pushing, I knew that, but she needed to know where I stood.

She walked away then, brushing past Jimmy. I followed her and tipped my head at Jimmy, who pursed his lips as if working really hard not to burst out laughing.

Yeah, man, my life is real funny!

Chapter 36

Nova

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