“What did he do in your room?” I call. I’m sure whatever it is, Tank has already seen it, but he goes along willingly.
When she turns, looking over her shoulder, her face is full of glee. “He and Uncle James built me bookshelves!”
Pat and Uncle James built bookshelves. I’m so overcome with a mix of emotions I can’t even respond. Winnie and Val come up on either side of me, wrapping their arms around my waist like I need them to hold me up. Maybe I do.
“Want to tell us why you’re still resisting this man?” Val asks quietly. “He’s like a dream.”
“Exactly. A dream. And when I wake up, that’s when it’s going to hurt.”
Winnie scoffs. “You know that’s not what she meant. And if you really think Pat would leave you, you’re not right in the head.”
I’m definitely not right in the head.
Val leans her head on my shoulder. “You’re only fighting yourself here, Lindy.”
“Would you look at that,” Winnie says. “The grumpy one might have a heart after all.”
Jo has emerged from the house and is now sitting with James, a chessboard between them. Even out of hearing range, I can tell how carefully James is explaining the rules. Jo nods eagerly, her hands fluttering over the pieces.
“Ow!” Val suddenly bends over at the waist.
“You okay?” Winnie and I turn toward her with concern.
“I think my ovary just exploded.”
It’s Winnie, not me, who shoves Val. “Don’t let yourself get sucked in. That one especially looks like total heartbreak material.”
“Gorgeous heartbreak material,” Val sighs.
This time, Winnie doesn’t even argue. And when I catch Pat grinning at me, I totally know what Val means.
Four Underrated Parts Of The Male Physique
by Birdie Graham
While popular culture screams from the rooftop about men’s butts, abs, and even forearms, there are some gorgeous parts of men that need to have their day in the sun. This is a strictly PG-13 kind of list, folks, and （mostly） safe for family reading.
Caveat #1: Most of these features can be appreciated at different levels of fitness and hairiness, to taste.
Caveat #2: Objectification is not good! This list focuses on appreciating physical attributes, but we should all appreciate people as whole humans, not just for their looks.
And now, let’s get to appreciating!
Four Underrated Parts of The Male Physique
The ankle. Ladies’ ankles were at one time a scandal （and still are in some cultures）， but men’s ankles shouldn’t be overlooked. Delicate but strong, there is just something magnetic about this meeting of foot and leg.
The side of the ribs. Not sure what I’m talking about? Watch a shirtless man reach above his head. The muscles are more subtle and way less look at me! than the abdominals. But still very, very wonderful.
The nape of the neck. Sometimes people just refer to this as a nape, which freaks me out. Napes need to be attached to necks, thank you very much. Whether your man has long or short hair, there is something totally sexy about the place where hair ends and the soft, bare skin of the neck begins.
The lower back. So much time is spent ogling abs that we’ve missed the flip side, and it is a thing of beauty riding on top of that waistband.
Stay tuned for Part Two—Four Underrated Parts of the Female Physique!
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lindy
Before Pat, on a typical night, Jo and I would hang out in the family room with her reading and me doing a little writing or research. After Pat, all the relaxation and chill has been sucked out of our nighttime routine. Chill is impossible with a restless—and let’s not forget, completely HOT—man in the house.