Page 52 of Deprived No More

“Oh, yeah?” Kat beams at me. “You think you can manage that around your call schedule?”

I wince at the reminder, particularly given how many more weekend call shifts I seem to have acquired since Holden joined the practice. “I’ll make it work,” I grumble.

“I’m sure you will,” Kat says, kissing my cheek.

“Yuck.” Mason cackles, causing Kat to place multiple kisses on my cheeks, nose, and lips, sending the boys rolling back and forth on the bed.

Yep. Damn lucky.

Hmmm. How do I make this work?With my birthday only a week away, I need to implement a plan. I told Kat I had work to do in my study. She just doesn’t need to know what exactly. I chuckle when she asks how many people I’m inviting to my party. Little does she know, it’s a party of two.

My birthday, the year I met Kat, will forever be my favorite. I’d had an early meal with my dad, gone out for a few too many drinks, drunk text who I thought was Kat only to find out later it was her niece and nephew, and then received a surprising message later that evening.

It was clear the attraction to Katarina was there early on. But we both fought it due to so much hurt. But when I received a text late that evening that she was going dancing, it felt like an invitation. One I jumped at.

I never asked where she was going, but having seen her in her element, dancing at The Zone, that’s where I went. Once I arrived, I hung out at the bar, hoping it wasn’t a set up after the texts from earlier in the evening. After reading some of the shit I sent to her niece and nephew, I would’ve deserved no less. But an hour later, I saw her on the dance floor.

It seemed odd she’d let me know she was headed there but act so coy. I attempted to approach her, but she darted out of there as if her clothes were on fire. I didn’t understand the push and pull, but the beginning of our entire relationship was like that. A complicated dance where each of us insisted on leading. But there was no way I was missing an opportunity to get closer to her. She’d been tempting me for so long that I wasn’t walking away.

Looking down at the paper lying in front of me, I try again to sketch how this will go. I need to manage to create a tent or canopy in the backyard. Kat has no memory of that night, and I intend to correct that once and for all. I want her to smile when I say it was the best night of my life instead of grimace because she’s embarrassed about her sleepwalking history. But if I recreate that night, I must ensure it’s only ours.

While our house sits on six acres, most of the narrow land is between our home and the lake. Our neighbors, nice though they may be, are a little too close for my liking. I need to find a way to construct this tent-like structure so it will protect her from prying eyes but preserve the feel of that night.

Tapping my pencil against my lower lip, I picture our backyard. There’s a large tree where a swing currently hangs. It’d be the perfect spot. I just need to secure the swing and see if I can develop some type of rope system to clip long sheets of material to form a protective barrier. Ah, I know. I’ll tie some thick rope to the tops of several trees in a triangular pattern, and use shower curtain rings to connect a few black sheets.

Grinning at the thought, it dawns on me that Kat is always home with the kids. How on earth am I going to get this done without her seeing it?

Picking up my cell, I pull up my contacts.

“Nick? What can I do for you?”

“Hey, Bas. I was wondering if I could ask a favor.”

“Sure. Name it.”

“I’m working on something here. Kind of a surprise for Kat. Is there any way you’d mind having her and the kids over for a swim in your pool next weekend? It’s heated, right? I need some time to pull everything together without her seeing. I’ll reach out to Gavin and see if he can come by too. He’s good with the kids.”

“Yeah, sure. Just let me know what time. I’d do anything for Kat. You know that. And I’ve missed Gavin. He’s a good kid.”

“Thanks. I don’t think I’ll need too long, but Kat’s sister is supposed to be taking the boys, and her friend, Olivia, has the girls that evening. Once they’ve burned off some energy in your pool, she can drop them off worn out.” I laugh. “So you’ll be doing Rachel and Olivia a favor too.”

“It’s no problem. Just let me know what time they’ll be here.”

Hanging up the call, I feel pretty stoked this could actually work. Placing my sketch in the top drawer of my desk, I stand and make my way to the bedroom. Once I arrive, I find Kat sitting up with a journal in her hands.

“You doing okay?”

“Yeah. It’s going to take some time, but I’ll get there. Did you get your work done?”

A pang of guilt hits as I’m sure she thinks it was something related to my practice. A little white lie won’t hurt. “Almost.” I walk into the bath to get ready for bed and decide to let her know about Sebastian. “Hey, Sebastian offered to let you bring the kids by on Saturday afternoon to take a dip in the pool. Thought it might wear them out a little before they went to stay with Rachel and Olivia.”

“Oh my gosh, really? The kids would love that. That’s so nice of him.”

“I’m going to call Gavin and see if he’ll come by and play with the kids. Sebastian misses him too.”

“Oh, that’s great. Between the pool and Gavin, the kids are going to think it’s their birthday.” She giggles.

Stepping into her closet on the way to my own, I take a look around. Finally settling on the one that I want, I reach for it and look for some matching heels.

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