Page 38 of Rowdy & Kat

Climbing into bed next to a nearly naked Rowdy, I enjoyed the feel of his warm body against mine. My initial plans to hide my flabby stomach hadn’t panned out. Rowdy was an affectionate guy and prone to fondling me.

Tonight, Rowdy wasn’t in a frisky mood. He seemed overly quiet, and I could feel him working through a problem.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered and cupped his face.

“Should I get a haircut?”

“Do you want a haircut?”

“I don’t know. I feel like maybe I ought to look more like a dad.”

“Dads are just men with kids. You have two sons. You’re a dad whether you get a haircut or not.”

Rowdy watched me, but I couldn’t read his expression in the barely lit room.

“If you want to change something to make yourself happy, I will support you,” I said as my fingers disappeared in his dark hair. “You’ll look sexy as hell with short hair just like you do with long hair.”

Rowdy kissed me immediately as if my words were a starting pistol. He snuggled closer and whispered against my ear, “I feel like I’m changing. Or losing myself. I’m not me, but I am. It makes no sense.”

“No, it does. I’ve been feeling the same way for weeks. I’m sure Maria does, too. She and I used to have a routine. We’d play tennis at the park on Saturday mornings. We took Taekwondo classes. After work, we visited farmers’ markets and swap meets. We took art and cooking classes. But once I was on bed rest, our routine became about what to watch on TV. I lost a part of myself over the last few months, just like you are now.”

Rowdy mumbled, “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. Because it’s only temporary. The boys are little. I’m healing. But soon, I’ll be able to take walks again. The boys will be able to go places. We’ll travel to Little Memphis. Eventually, I’d like to ride on the back of your motorcycle like I always dreamed of doing. Those things just can’t happen yet.”

Rowdy’s vibe shifted immediately. “You’re going to be sexy as hell on the back of my motorcycle.”

“That’s another thing we’re missing out on. Lots and lots of sex.”

“You’re so horny,” Rowdy teased and kissed my throat. “That’s something we have in common.”

After returning his affection, I whispered, “I’ve been dying to have you inside me for months. We just need to be patient and survive this quiet, homebody period.”

Rowdy seemed relieved by my words. He fell silent afterward, holding me as I dozed off. As calmly as he behaved, I sensed Rowdy wouldn’t find his footing again until he was back in Little Memphis.

ROWDY

My parents slept well in the townhouse’s upstairs room. The inflatable bed was high-end, and Bebe was impressed with the twins’ arts and crafts projects. My parents remained in town for a few days before grudgingly heading home.

Bebe cried when the time came to say goodbye. She’d bonded with Kat and Maria, often watching chick movies in the mornings and helping them cook dinner.

My mom had also fallen in love with her grandsons. I hadn’t realized how much she had helped Lula when Dillon was born. Not being around every day broke her heart.

“We’ll be in Little Memphis soon,” I promised as Pax nearly carried Bebe to the truck. “You’ll see the boys every day.”

“Build a house next to Lula’s!” declared my mom while stubbornly refusing to get into the truck. “That way I can babysit easier.”

“Give your mom whatever she wants,” Pax demanded as he struggled to get her door shut. “If we don’t leave soon, we’ll hit traffic.”

Kat and Maria hurried past me with the babies in their arms. Bebe gave the boys more snuggles, immediately settling herself down. I heard Kat saying how much she would miss Bebe and how living in the Sleepy Eye Community sounded like a dream.

My mom gave Kat and Maria warm smiles before finally shutting her door. I still saw her crying when my dad pulled the truck down the driveway.

While Pax soothed his wife, I took charge of calming down a crying Kat and Maria.

“Soon, we’ll all be together again,” I promised them while they cuddled with my sons, who were completely unaware of the drama.

With my parents out of town, the upstairs bedroom became popular. Clint and Ivy visited next, going gaga over my boys.