Whatever It Takes

Chapter 16

"Nas. He isn't a good idea. He is a 106-year-old bionic man with an attitude problem." I pace the kitchen. He has infiltrated my brain, he is everywhere. 

"Mom. I can tell that for myself. Given all we've been put through, we both have a pretty good feeling for people. So trust me, and let me feel it out?" She sighs and rolls her eyes at me. But reluctantly agrees, which makes me happy. So I run as fast as I can at the moment to find my newfound friend. "Bucky! Bucky!" He hears me because I hear him getting up from the couch.

"Hey, doll. How's it going?" He towers over me so he picks me up to hug me. But he's gentle, his one warm arm is interrupted by the other cold one. "How is little Nova?"

"She's wonderful. She's a week old." He can't be that bad. What was my mom warning me about? She then walks in with the baby. 

"Guess who woke up?" She flails her hands and looks around the room. She hands her to me and beckons Bucky out of the room. I hear them talking, He says something she laughs. She says something they both laugh. But they get quiet. I hear whispers, a 'yes ma'am'  and then footsteps. 

"Mom, what was that about?" She glares at him, he shrinks down and stays quiet. I give him a look as if asking 'What the hell?', but he still says nothing. 

She moves to the couch and sits, holding her arms out for Nova. I comply but ask my question again. "It's nothing you need to worry about-" She stops and rethinks her phrasing, what she is going to say. "Nas, we just talked about the-" she pauses, formulating a word. "-the future."

Bucky finally decides to speak up, "Nasta, listen. Your mother was just worried about you. But since we talked, her concerns have been put to bed." He smiles kindly and grabs my hand. My heart flutters and my stomach flies up into my throat. He leans in super close and whispers something in my ear. "I'm up for it if you are, doll."