KAT
My first night at the hospital proved to be awful. Once the C-section incision began to hurt, the medicine did little to alleviate the pain. I also got incredibly mopey after the babies went to the nursery for the night.
Curled up in bed, I kept my misery to myself to avoid waking Maria. Though I tried to think positive thoughts, negativity dominated my mind.
I felt guilty for not breastfeeding. I began doubting the boys’ names.
I felt guilty for sending the babies to the nursery so I could rest. I resented how much weight I had gained during the pregnancy.
I felt guilty for not taking more pictures and videos today.
I regretted not being friendlier to the Reed family.
Mostly, I wished I had told Rowdy the truth earlier in my pregnancy.
Despite having reasons for my choices, I second-guessed them all tonight.
Eventually, my exhaustion forced me to sleep. Staying in one position for hours ended up decreasing my pain. I’d probably moved around too much earlier. The next dose of pain medication helped much more.
I dozed off again, smiling at how smart Maria was to suggest the boys stay in the nursery overnight. We wouldn’t be able to enjoy such luxuries once we were home.
The nurse brought Cavan and Colson into the room just after dawn. Maria told me to keep resting. She had slept over eight hours and could handle the boys until breakfast. Dozing off again, I dreamed of Rowdy and me shooting basketballs.
Waking up to the smell of breakfast, I smiled at Maria. She looked well-rested and bright-faced. With her help, I used the bathroom. The face looking back in the mirror wasn’t as sunny as Maria’s, but I was happy to have moved past my mopey phase.
I checked on the boys to find them as adorable as I remembered. I still hadn’t adjusted to the idea of them being huggable now. I still felt huge and pregnant, but my babies were now in the world for me to touch and admire.
The scrambled eggs and toast were nothing special, but I was extremely hungry and enjoyed every bite. Maria ate her breakfast next to me, smiling often and frequently glancing at the boys.
“They’re such handsome boys,” Maria said, smiling tenderly. “Their blond hair is so fair, and their eyes are such a light blue. They look a lot like Vanessa.”
After our dishes were taken away, I asked Maria what I had been wanting to know since yesterday. “What do you think of Rowdy now?”
“He was very sweet and devoted, but I can’t forget what he does for a living,” Maria said and sighed as she picked up Colson and brought him to me.
“I’m afraid he might decide he wants the boys to himself and shove you aside.
Lula is a lawyer. The Reed family has power. They could make us disappear.”
“His family seemed truly nice, but Bebe was exceptionally sweet. I can’t imagine she’d let Rowdy disappear us.”
Maria shrugged and muttered, “Okay, maybe he’ll just get rid of me.”
I smiled at Maria. “Rowdy knows we’re a package deal. That’s why he’s so gung-ho about hooking you up with someone. Hey, maybe you’ll have twins, too.”
Maria grinned. “Let’s wait on that until you’re healthy enough to take care of me.”
Feeling giddy this morning, I asked, “Can you imagine if you did meet someone in Little Memphis?”
Maria lost her smile and admitted, “I don’t want to leave the townhouse.”
Sharing her frown, I said, “Neither do I.”
My sister shook her head. “Yes, you do.”
“No, I want to keep my life exactly the way it is now, but with the babies and Rowdy added.”
“His family, too,” Maria said softly and cuddled Cavan. “Imagine having all those people willing to love the boys.”
Admiring the baby in my arms, I considered how different his life would be with Rowdy involved.
“I’m attached to our townhome,” Maria said, gazing at Cavan with the same love as I did Colson.
“I enjoy our jobs. Everything is comfortable here, but you’d be foolish to give up a chance to move to Little Memphis.
No matter what happens between Rowdy and you relationship-wise, he’ll do everything in his power to make the boys’ lives better.
That means your life will be better, too. ”
“And yours.”
“Well, I can’t stay in Little Rock if you don’t.”
“And I wouldn’t leave Little Rock without you.”
Maria grinned. “We need to get this twinning devotion out of our systems before the Reed family shows up.”
Laughing, I wondered how we would behave around new people once the novelty wore off. Maria and I spent all our time together. We had friends in college, but they had moved away or started families. At work, we kept our colleagues at a safe distance.
We were always rational about attaching ourselves to people. But we couldn’t do that with the twins. And I had come to accept that we couldn’t do it with Rowdy Reed, either.
After lunch, the sexy biker peeked his head into the room. Rowdy had texted earlier to see when we’d be ready for visitors. I asked to spend more time with Maria and the babies first.
Rowdy looked gorgeous in his black T-shirt and jeans. His hair was partially tied back, showing off his handsome face.
His parents entered as Rowdy kissed me. Sabrina, Vanessa, and Lula were close behind. I was startled when two more women entered. One had messy red hair, and the other wore her blonde hair in a ponytail.
“These are the loves of Sabrina’s life,” Rowdy said and introduced Xandy and Moe to me. “They want to hold the boys and test their ovaries’ responses.”
Grinning, I gripped his shirt and pulled him closer for another kiss.
Rowdy murmured, “That’s the sexy fox I know.”
“I had a long, weird, moody night, but I’m feeling better now.”
Glancing down at Colson, Rowdy stroked our sleeping boy’s head. “I wonder if Maria would be willing to go home later and check on the cats for a few hours. That way, you and I can have a date night.”
“I bet she’d enjoy a hot shower at home.”
Rowdy’s gaze promised more than a fun date night between new parents. He had our future planned out. For months, I had worried he didn’t have it in him to be a father and a husband. Now, Rowdy looked ready to wrap me up in his world.