Page 53 of Exile & Lula
Lula smiled at me and whispered to Vanessa. The blonde studied me and whispered something back. I heard them snickering. Despite barely knowing these people, I was certain they were talking about fucking.
“I would like to speak to you alone,” Sabrina said and opened the bathroom door.
“Leave him alone,” Lula whispered in a harsh tone. “It’s not Exile’s fault you feel helpless.”
“Of course it is. He’s dangerous and in my sphere,” Sabrina snarled at her sister and then gestured with her head for me to enter the bathroom.
I wanted to tell her to fuck off, but that seemed like the wrong move with a bitchy woman destined to become my sister-in-law.
Once we were inside the large bathroom, Sabrina shut the door and eyed me.
“I like you,” she said, startling me with her mood change. “I want you to stay in Little Memphis and marry my sister. Why are you going back to your shithole town? Louisiana smells like rotten fish.”
Rather than argue the smell issue, I asked, “Why are you acting so hostile if you like me?”
“Because I’m a bitchy person. I like to sound grumpy even when I’m not. My dad’s the same way,” she said and then snarled, “Are you saying there’s something wrong with the way Pax lives his life?”
“He seems like a good dad. I’m glad he took Bebe and Lula in when they were struggling.”
Sabrina suddenly smiled. “My dad’s great. So is Lula. Jarred was a nothing guy. Like, now, he’s fun and likeable. Where was that shit when he was married to my sister?” she asked and shoved me. “The fucker was saving his A-game for another woman. You'd better bring yours for Lula.”
“I am.”
Sabrina nodded. “I’m worried the Void will grab Lula again, and we’ll never see her again.”
I wasn’t sure how to react to Sabrina’s voice cracking. She looked around, seeming oddly young.
“When she was taken, no one knew where to look,” Sabrina said, fighting tears. “If you hadn’t found her, she’d be gone forever. I need to know she’s safe.”
“I’ll keep her safe.”
“But you’re going back to Buttfuck Rouge,” she said and sighed. “If you’re not around, I’ll need to move into her place. Do you have any idea how much of a hassle that’ll be for my love life?”
“I can’t claim I’ve considered your love life, but Lula said your girlfriends are patient, so I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
Sabrina sized me up. “How long will you be gone?”
“A few days, maybe.”
“If you’re coming right back, why leave at all?”
“You’re not the only one with a sister who’s been attacked. Mine needs me to come home.”
Sabrina deflated. “Oh, yeah, she got shot. Is she heavily traumatized? Should we move her to Little Memphis and claim her as a fox?”
“I don’t know about that.”
Gaze turning sharp, Sabrina asked, “How do I coax you into living here full time?”
“I don’t have the power to answer that right now,” I said, winning an immediate glare from Sabrina. “But you’re missingthe part where I’m in love with Lula. I have a vested interest in finding a solution without you bullying me.”
“I wasn’t bullying you. I was coaxing you, dumbass,” Sabrina said and then slugged me in the arm. “You love my sister.”
“I want to keep her, but things are complicated.”
Rubbing her chin, she asked, “Would killing your president make thingslesscomplicated?”
“Don’t kill Zodiac.”
