Page 66 of Rowdy & Kat

After rolling her eyes at my description of the situation, Kat glanced at the door. Suddenly her face pinched, and she whimpered, “I miss the babies.”

Kat’s sudden tears made me flinch. “We’ll go back to the condo. It’s okay. Don’t cry.”

“I feel like they’re too far away,” she sobbed. “What if I miss something important?”

We hurried across the courtyard, past Rock and Tricky who stopped talking and gawked at us, and inside the building. Once in the elevator, I hugged Kat to me, but she couldn’t settle down until we were back in the condo.

Bebe sat on the couch, holding Colson while Cavan wiggled in a nearby bassinet. My mom’s dark eyes flashed to us in alarm at the sight of Kat’s tears.

“Mama bear missed her cubs,” I explained, making Bebe smile.

Kat’s angst ended once she picked up Cavan and sat next to Bebe.

“I’m not ready to be away from them,” she said as I cuddled on the other side of her.

Bebe said softly, “I still feel that way from time to time about my kids.”

Kat stared at my mom like a lost child. I couldn’t imagine how different I’d be if I had lost my mom as a kid. Kat and Maria also had a shitty dad. Losing Bebe as a kid would have crushed me, but Pax would have kept the family together.

The thought of Kat dying sent my heart racing. Her mother had died from complications related to childbirth. What if Kat got sick in the same way? I studied her at my side and searched for signs of illness. Kat didn’t look pale or weak. In fact, she glowed while playing with a very alert Cavan.

As my fears eased, I sank into that comfortable warmth I’d enjoyed since we brought the babies home from the hospital.

Without a doubt, I was a different man now. I could never be the Rowdy from before Kat’s pregnancy text. I’d watched my boys enter the world. I’d fallen in love with Kat. My heart beat differently now, and nothing could compete with the peace I felt.

KAT

Bebe was a fascinating mix of soft and tough. I loved when she shared stories about Rowdy and his sisters. She also talked about the people important to the Reed family. She was in the process of sharing a story about a woman named Darby Curran when Maria returned from the store.

Rowdy helped them carry in the groceries. Ivy set a single bag next to the door and followed Maria as if they were besties now.

“Shay and I glued ourselves together after we matched up with Ford and Pax,” Bebe said quietly when she realized I was pouting. “We were always together, and it could be difficult for other people to enter our bubble.”

“I shouldn’t be so possessive,” I mumbled, sounding overly sad. “But I always fear Maria will move on without me.”

“You’re insecure because of the garbage people you grew up around. They loved so weakly that they could walk away. But Maria doesn’t love that way. She’s crazy about you.”

Bebe’s patient words broke through my stubborn fears. Rowdy’s mom knew I couldn’t stop worrying. Maria was my safe person. For years, when she dated and I didn’t, I feared she would leave me. That crazy paranoia refused to be reasoned with, and Bebe didn’t waste her time trying. Instead, she wanted me to trust that Maria suffered from the same clingy craziness as I did.

“The store is great,” Maria told me from the kitchen. “I thought a city shop might be missing many of our regular items, but I easily found most of them.”

I peeled my gaze away from my smiling sister and an excited Ivy to notice Farley. The biker couldn’t take his eyes off Maria. My heart started racing at the thought of her finding someone so closely tied to Rowdy. I could build a new life in Little Memphis without losing out on time with Maria.

Rowdy returned from Clint’s place with Goblin trotting behind him. The dog barked at the people in his condo before hurrying to the couch to check on the cats. Finding them missing, Goblin looked up at Rowdy like his little heart was broken.

“They’re still here,” Rowdy said and knelt to pet his dog. “They’re just hiding in new places.

“Witchy is in the nursery,” I said helpfully.

Rowdy guided Goblin to the nursery. Soon, Witchy hissed, and Goblin barked. My less friendly cat flew out of the room and ran around crazily searching for safety. Rather than return to the couch, she noticed her sister on the stairs.

Goblin was too small to handle the stairs and barked at the bottom while the girls watched him with their pissed yellow eyes.

“Poor son of a bitch,” Rowdy said as Goblin danced around the bottom step. “You’re just going to have to be patient.”

Bebe glanced back at the dog before smiling at me. “We’ve turned one of our guest rooms into a nursery for the boys. Pax suggested we make another one into a toy room. He’s seen how Nova’s girls’ toys have spread all over Lula’s house.”

Sharing her smile, I gestured toward the dining area. “Rowdy suggested turning that spot into a play area. I’ve seen those gates that corral kids with their toys. It might also keep Goblin from getting into trouble.”