ROWDY
I felt more like myself as I rode to Little Memphis. The familiar rumble of my motorcycle awoke memories of my old life. Pax claimed I’d been immersed in Kat and Maria’s calm, feminine space for long enough to lose my edge.
Admittedly, I missed that calm as I arrived in Little Memphis to the sounds of construction and police sirens.
My condo at the Five Points Loft was my first real adult home. Rolling into the secured underground parking lot, I remembered how excited I had been to have a place of my own.
Each unit was owned by a person connected to the club. The few LM Jokers who lived here were original members and the kids of former Little Memphis Motorcycle Club members.
I parked in my open spot next to my truck. Each unit had two parking spots. I considered the guest spots located farther from the elevator. When Kat and Maria moved here, I’d need to park in the guest spots to ensure the better locations were left for their vehicles.
As I entered the elevator, I passed Tricky Curran.
The tall, bearded ginger gave me a head nod.
His father had been the president of the Little Memphis MC.
My dad and uncle were his most loyal enforcers.
I grew up viewing Joker Curran as an uncle.
Though I considered Tricky a friend, I no longer trusted his judgment.
Taking the elevator to my fourth-floor condo, I figured something broke in Tricky when Clint started the Crimson Guard rather than join the LM Jokers. He had always looked up to my cousin. Tricky probably planned to make Clint his VP instead of Jagger.
But as soon as the Little Memphis Motorcycle Club was disbanded after Joker Curran’s gnarly accident, Clint was a man on a mission. He put together the Crimson Guard over a weekend, scooping up ninety percent of the offspring from the Little Memphis and Rawlins Heretics clubs.
As I strolled to my condo where Vanessa and Moe waited to unveil their hard work, I almost pitied Tricky. Not only had Clint ditched the LM Jokers, but so did everyone else. Tricky’s ego had clearly not recovered from the slight.
Opening my front door, I felt strange at how Goblin wasn’t around to welcome me home. The Chihuahua had spent time with Clint and Ivy before bunking at Lula’s place. Finally, he moved into the Sorority House, where Vanessa and Sabrina lived with many of the other foxes.
“We did a fantastic job,” Moe announced while dancing around in denim shorts, a white tank top, and red high heels. “I picked out the furniture, curtains, and rug. I supervised Farley, Benji, and Nine while they put together the cribs and dressing table.
“I chose the colors,” Vanessa said and opened the door to the second bedroom right off the area meant to be a dining room, but I had used to extend the family room seating area.
As Moe waved around like a model from “The Price is Right,” Vanessa explained the base walls were a buttery cream. One wall with a crib was a soft medium blue. The other crib wall was a hazy green. On the dark hardwood floor was a colorful rug with shapes in blue, green, and orange.
“I tried to mimic the color scheme at the twins’ townhome,” Vanessa explained excitedly. “What do you think?”
“It’s perfect,” I said and tugged my sister into my arms while Moe ran away from my affection. “The colors feel right for kids without being obnoxious.”
“I call it gently masculine,” Vanessa said and hugged me tightly. “My nephews need to grow up to be softly tough like their dad.”
“They’ll grow up to be a pussy, you mean,” Rock taunted, having snuck into the condo while Moe was fleeing.
My club VP entered the bedroom and looked around. “This isn’t very kid-friendly. Is your baby mama into weird shit? God, am I going to have to listen to her talk about her boring hobbies?”
“Kat and Maria have an entire crafts room at their place,” I mocked and pointed in his face. “I hope they bore you to fucking death with their tales of painting, pottery, and other p-related hobbies.”
Rock took the bait and glared at me. We had been dancing this bitchy tango for years. Fucking with him was one of my favorite hobbies!
“I can’t believe you knocked up this chick,” Rock snarled. “You’re nearly thirty. Why the fuck don’t you know to wrap up your tiny dick?”
“Of course, a heartless dipshit like you wouldn’t understand how a man can care about a woman so much that he wants to feel her pussy free of barriers. What a big fucking dum-dum you are.”
“I think you said romantic stuff,” Vanessa cooed at me. “I want to babysit the boys as soon as they visit.”
Rock ignored Vanessa’s praise and asked, “Where’s the other sister going to live?”
“There’s a bed right fucking there,” I said and pointed at the twin-sized bed shoved against one of the cream-colored walls.
“I thought she was staying with Clint and his wife.”
Staring into his green eyes, I asked, “Why do you hate Ivy?”
Rock smirked. “I don’t hate anyone. I’m the happiest fucking guy in the world. One reason I can be so happy is that I haven’t made a bastard with a stranger.”
“Hey, dum-dum, I made two bastards with a woman who was actually a girl I liked in high school.”
“That’s super romantic,” Vanessa assured me and frowned at Rock. “Ginger would like a grandchild.”
“She already has them from my sister and brother.”
“Oh, I often forget you aren’t an only child.”
Rock frowned at Vanessa. “Your sister’s ex-husband is married to my sister.”
“Yeah, I know, but I like to think Alani only has one brother. She and Makoa just seem closer, you know? Like you’re an afterthought.”
Rock rolled his eyes. “This is why Rowdy is such a weak man. He’s got three big sisters coddling his ass.”
“Don’t forget our mom,” Vanessa said and smiled brightly. “Have you seen the pictures of my twin nephews? Aren’t they adorable?”
“They look like babies. If you mixed their pictures up with a picture of Elle’s kid, I wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.”
“It’s official,” I announced. “Rock has finally admitted to being a dum-dum.”
Ignoring me, he looked around the room. “At least, you got fortunate enough to knock this woman up with sons.”
“Oh, my God,” I said and staggered backward. “You’re jealous. Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. You’ve always felt second best to me. But it’s getting a little embarrassing at this point.”
Rock frowned at Vanessa, who was texting furiously. “Who are you talking to?”
“Bebe. She asked about dinner.”
“Uh-huh,” Rock muttered and looked around the room. “I hope I can’t hear your bastards crying all night.”
“Of course, you’ll hear them. I plan to dump them at Uncle Rock’s place whenever I need to plow their mom.”
Ignoring my threat, he asked, “What’s the baby mama’s name again?”
“Katarina, but she goes by Kat.”
“And she is a nurse?”
“Yes.”
Shaking his big head, Rock insisted, “An educated woman slumming it with someone like you will never cease to shock me.”
“Did you hear the jealousy?” I asked Vanessa.
“Oh, yeah.”
“Kat has a twin sister, if you’re looking to make a little bastard of your own.”
“I’m not sure I want kids. The world is crazy. The Void still plans to hit our club. We have rogue LM Jokers to deal with and a possible war with their people back in Baton Rouge. That’s the world you’ve brought your bastards into.”
I smiled softly. “If you don’t have children, that’ll make it even easier for my sons to take over the Crimson Guard one day.”
“What about Clint’s future kids?”
“They can be members while my boys are the president and VP. You can be the old man they point at and laugh.”
Rock shook his head and opened his mouth to bitch at me. Before he could, my condo door opened and Farley entered.
“Rock, girls are just as valuable as boys,” our club brother stated and shook his head. “We’re all very disappointed in your misogynistic take.”
“We?” Rock asked.
“I texted the entire club,” Vanessa shared. “I also told your mom. And your sister. I might have texted a few non-related people, too. I kinda went crazy with it.”
Rock rolled his eyes and frowned at Farley. “Wouldn’t you rather have sons?”
“No.”
“I’m not surprised. You’ve always liked playing with the girls better.”
“Yeah, because they aren’t bullies like you.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it,” Rock barked at Farley, who shrugged. “Sabrina Reed exists, and she’s actually bullied you.”
“She’s the exception to the rule,” Farley said and shared a grin with Vanessa, who was likely texting Sabrina.
“Look, I know everyone likes to mock Rock because he’s lame,” I announced to snickers from Farley and Vanessa. “But let’s focus on what matters. Is my condo babyproofed?”
“Your babies are too little to need proofing against,” Moe said, returning to the condo. “Elle said she isn’t proofing her house until Trent can crawl.”
Rock nudged me into the smaller bedroom while Vanessa, Moe, and Farley gossiped about who would create life next. The three main contenders were Lula, Ivy, and Nova. I had already put money on my sister making the next kid with Exile.
Rock shut the door on their conversation and turned to me. “Be straight with me. Are you bringing this woman here because she gave you sons?”
“You really don’t like little girls, huh?”
“Whatever. Are you bringing this woman here because she gave you kids?”
“Why do you hate little girls?” I taunted.
“I don’t. My niece is one of the coolest people I know, so fuck off. Now, be serious with me for a minute. No dum-dum shit. Just talk normal, okay?”
“I’ll try, but I’m not sure I can help myself.”
“This Kat is the woman you were whining about months ago, right?”
“Yes.”
Studying me with his intense eyes, he asked, “You actually care about her, correct?”
“Yes.”
“But she blew you off, right?”
“She gently ghosted me out of fear of my rejection, yes.”
“What makes you think she won’t mess with your head again?”
“Well, I know who she is now, so she can’t exactly disappear. Also, she confessed her feelings, and the fox is crazy about me,” I said, flashing a cocky grin.
“Are you sure that you haven’t built her up because she rejected you and then had your kids?”
“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.