Page 45 of Rowdy & Kat

“Kat’s always been special. I really liked her in high school. Then, she reappeared years later, and I was immediately stuck on her. Like, we hooked up one time in the back seat of her SUV. Even though I didn’t know for sure if I’d ever see her again, I kept my dick locked away. Even after she ghosted me, I didn’t fuck other women. Turns out that special fox is the mother of the future president and VP of the Crimson Guard.”

Rock rolled his eyes. “You couldn’t get through that without spewing bullshit, huh?”

“Why do you assume Cavan and Colson won’t be the future of the club?”

“They’re weak like their dad.”

“Well, it’s true that I’ve never had any interest in running a club. But at least I know it’ll never be your kid that tells my kids what to do.”

Rock shrugged. “I might have a kid just to fuck with your kids.”

“Does your mother know you’re a psycho?”

Smirking, Rock answered, “Of course. That’s how she raised me.”

“Sure.”

“Well, if Kat is the real deal and you’re making a family, my next question is when will you be moving out of the condos?”

“When the boys are four years old,” I said, randomly pulling an age out of my ass to mess with Rock. “That or when I knock up Kat again, and we need more space.”

“Good Lord, you want more?”

“I don’t know about wanting more, but I had a big family.”

“The condos aren’t safe for children.”

“Boone’s girls are here every weekend.”

“So are the LM Jokers.”

Despite knowing Rock had a point, I insisted, “Those assholes are everywhere in town. If they want to start trouble, they don’t need to do it in the same building that their president and VP live at.”

“True, but this place was meant for single men.”

“Grow up, dude. Your friends are hooking up and settling down. Just because you want to die of old age alone in a nursing home doesn’t mean the rest of us aren’t going to build families.”

Rock snarled at me, breaking my heart a little.

I patted his shoulder and promised, “Don’t worry, man. I’ll visit you at the nursing home. We can ride mobility scooters around until it’s time for your diaper change.”

Rock looked ready to tackle me. Before he could make his move, Farley returned to the condo with Goblin. My black, white, and tan Chihuahua barked furiously in the family room until I appeared.

“I know, I know,” I told my little beast. “I’m an asshole. I abandoned my boy.”

The dog bounced around me and barked a few more times.

Rock muttered, “If he’s pissed now, wait until the little shit meets your squawking babies.”

I scooped up Goblin and pressed him against my chest. He licked my face and barked again.

“No, my pup will be thrilled to have new friends.”

Vanessa asked, “Do you mean my nephews or Kat’s cats?”

“My boys,” I said and stroked Goblin’s little body. “Colson and Cavan might not be any fun for the first few years. But eventually, Goblin’s going to have two little dudes treating him like a king.”

As my dog forgave me for my recent abandonment, I realized blending my old and new lives wouldn’t be that difficult. I didn’t have to be one version of Rowdy. I could be the guy taunting Rock and riding motorcycles with my club while remaining a man capable of loving Kat and our boys.