“Did you get a new tattoo on your arm?” I asked as I noticed one peeking out from his sleeve.
“Yeah, it’s just a tribal design with my last name in it. I didn’t want anything like Colt has. That one on his back is giant.”
“I have a couple. My newest one is Bella’s name.”
Don’t ask where it is…
“I want to see it.”
Of course he would. I should have just not said anything. I climbed off of the stool and took a deep breath as I lifted up my shirt to reveal my hip and abdomen. In fancy letters surrounded by hearts was the name Bella.
I don’t know why I was being so shy. This guy had seen parts of me that I didn’t even want to know, but for some reason showing him seemed so much more of an intimate thing.
“That looks awesome! I like where you put it too.”
“Thanks Ty. So are you sure it is okay if we stay here for a while? I mean they say just a few weeks and I can probably head home.”
“Stay as long as you want. Tomorrow I will move some of my things back into my parents and be out of your hair.” He looked away from me when he said it.
“Bella likes it when you are around.” I admitted.
“God, I really miss her.” He leaned against the countertop. “I miss you both.”
I wondered if he was being honest. Didn’t he say the same things to Van?
I smiled but didn’t answer.
“Miranda, I need to talk to you about what happened. I need to talk to you about that night.”
I couldn’t talk about it. I never should have gone out to that parking lot with Tucker. I should have never assumed that he wouldn’t hurt me. I put myself in danger and I was tired of everyone telling me about it. I was here now because of that loser. There was no need for constant reminders. “Let’s not rehash the past Ty. Let’s just never talk about it again. It was a mistake. I know that now.
Ty scrunched up his face and seemed upset by my words. I didn’t understand why he would want to talk about it anymore. Because of that night, he was forced to come home and our friendship had really taken a toll over it.
“So, do you have any plans for this weekend?” he asked, changing the subject.
“No, this all just happened. I didn’t have time to plan for anything. Honestly, I don’t even know what there is to do in this town.”
“Well, aside from parties, and late night bonfires, there ain’t much, but for a kid, there are a few things. Down the road is a petting zoo. If the weather lets up we could take her tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to keep us company Ty. I don’t want to interfere in your life here.”
“I was offering to take you and the little girl I am crazy about out. You aren’t interfering. In fact, I don’t really do much anymore. I work a lot and I am tired when I get home at night. My friends are all settling down and getting serious and the few that aren’t party too much for even me.”
I watched him walk into the living room and sit on the couch. He patted the seat next to him for me to sit. Luckily he patted it far enough away that I sat a whole cushion away from him. “I think that Bella would love to see the animals. Thanks for everything. It’s been a hard couple of days.”
“Don’t thank me. I know you think you are imposing, but I couldn’t be happier that you are here. I really did miss you. Hell, I can’t believe they suggested you come here. Conner really seemed to be wedging himself between us last time I visited. I mean, I told him we were just friends and he had nothing to worry about.”
I don’t know why I ever thought there had been something between us. He was always a good friend to me. What he did with other girls was his business. He cared about my daughter more than he needed to and I could only be grateful to him for that.
Chapter 14
Ty
I still couldn’t believe they were here, in my house, spending the night. Izzy had gotten so big. She loved her birthday present and I couldn’t have been happier about that. My mother would really get a kick out of that little girl when she saw them in the morning. The last time she had seen her was when she was first born, but I had shown her pictures every time I got new ones. It was funny that her pictures were the only ones in my wallet. In fact, the last time I used my credit card someone commented that I had a cute kid. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that she wasn’t mine, so I just agreed with what they said. It was so cool to see her walking around on her own, getting into things and laughing while she did it.
Miranda looked exhausted. I knew what kind of stress Tucker had put on her in the past, but threatening her was the most evil thing a guy could do to the mother of his child. Saying things like that about his own child was just unacceptable. I would like to hunt him down and beat the shit out of him for doing that.
Miranda stared at the television, almost as if she were in a daze. “Hey, you still with me?”
She turned and gave a quick smile. “Sorry. It’s just been a long day. I think I am still in shock over all of this. How could I have been so stupid Ty? How could I ever think that he could be anything but the devil?”
Her confusion over her poor choices had stressed her more than she wanted to admit. I wasn’t really sure how she would react, but I held out my arms for her to slide into my chest. “I won’t bite you know.”
She reluctantly slid her body over so that she was pressed up against my chest. I folded my arm around her shoulder and across her arm, pulling her into me closer. Very gently I pressed my lips into the top of her head. She remained silent in my arms and I was fine with that. I just wanted her to know that she was safe.
I had started watching a new hot rod show on television. Miranda leaned her body on mine and let me just hold her like that. She looked up at me. “I am really sorry that I have been so distant with you. I should have never shut you out like I did. You are a good friend Ty. We are lucky to have you in our lives.”
She said the word friend again, which I was fine with, if that was all she really wanted. Unfortunately, just being with her for the past few hours stirred up some buried feelings that I was trying to deny having for her. She was so attractive and the fact that she was vulnerable and needy made it easy to want to be there for her. We needed to talk about what had happened between us that night, but she kept telling me to drop it. I felt like we were on the same page, but she continued to shut me down. I wasn’t really sure what to do about it.
“You are both important to me. I don’t know who else I could have talked to about losing Van. It meant so much to me to have you giving me advice. I don’t really talk to anyone else the way that we talk,” I admitted.
“Yeah, well with Bella, it is hard for me to have any kind of social life. Besides Van and my brother’s occasional girlfriends, I really don’t have many friends. Van is great, but she is so involved with her wedding plans right now. She really doesn’t have time for my drama, especially since they all told me to stay away from him so many times.”
She repositioned herself a little more away from me so we were face to face. It should have made things easier, but her gorgeous eyes looked intently into mine, causing me to look down at her lips. I knew it was a mistake. I never should have even thought about doing it, but I leaned over and pressed my lips against hers.
I kept my eyes open, worried about her slapping me in the face, but she closed her eyes right away. I avoided using my tongue, or following through with a deeper kiss. I just let my lips linger against hers. As I pulled away, I watched her open her eyes slowly.
“What was that for?” She asked.
I have wanted to do that for so long.
“I …well…I don’t know. Are you mad?” Since she hadn’t pushed me away or done worse, I figured what I had done was at least okay.
She shook her head. “No. I just didn’t expect that.”
Me either!
“I should probably head over to my parents.” Things had just become awkward.
I stood up before she could say anything. The ki
ss was over, but tension had filled the room. I could have just fucked everything up. I needed to get out of there. I didn’t regret what I had just done, but I didn’t want to face negative consequences, either. She had finally smoothed everything over with me and I had possibly screwed it all up.
She let me walk to the door before she stood up and put her hands into her back pockets. “So, will we see you in the morning?”
“If that’s what you want?” I leaned against the door frame.
She nodded her head up and down. “Yeah, I think Bella will be looking for you at the crack of dawn.”
“Should I set my alarm?” I wondered.
“Of course not! Just come over when you wake up.”
She wouldn’t make eye contact. “Are you sure you aren’t mad at me?”
She walked closer to me and leaned against the edge of the couch. “Not at all. It was just a kiss Ty. It was sweet. We are friends. It’s okay.”
There was the friend word again….
“I don’t think anyone has ever called me sweet before,” I admitted.
She looked down at the floor and let out a tiny snicker. “You act different around me. I mean, people say you are one way, but I don’t see that side of you Ty. You have always been so sweet to me and especially Bella.”
“Izzy,” I interrupted.
“Bella!” She laughed. “I think you should show everyone this side of you. You obviously have a big heart.”
I shook my head and disagreed. “Nah, I think that having my heart broken has changed the person that I want to be. The sex and the girls was something that I did to pass the time. They never meant anything to me, it was all for fun. I don’t know whether it was the accident, or the fact that I finally lost Van, but whatever it was made me rethink the decisions I was making. I am not saying that I am abstinent or never going out again, but I just don’t do it a lot.”
“All the partying is what got me Bella. I will never regret her, but I wish I hadn’t run around like I did. For shits sake, her daddy is a convict.”
We both laughed.
We stood there just staring at each other for a couple seconds. I grabbed the door and was thankful when I opened it and realized that the rain had slowed to a drizzle.
“Guess I will see you in the morning.”
“Okay.”
I gave Miranda one more smile before heading out away from the carriage house. It was surprising to find my mother still awake when I walked into the house. She was sewing some huge ass blanket.
“Hey Mom.”
“I tried to call you and tell you she was coming.” She shook her head like she was pissed at me.
I sighed. “I know you did. I didn’t bother checking my messages. It’s all good though. I got a surprise visit from my favorite girl. She is getting so big Mom. Wait until you see her tomorrow.”
She sat her blanket down and looked up at me. I knew the look well. I sat down without being asked to.
“That girl is here because she is running from trouble. It would be in your best interest to keep her at a distance.”
I chuckled. “Seriously? I think I can make my own decisions when it comes to Miranda. She has been nothing but a friend to me when I was at my worst. If she needs a friend then I am going to be there.”
“You know that I ain’t talking about a friend Tyler. She has trouble written all over her.”
I pointed my finger at my mother. “You stayed up to give me this half ass lecture didn’t you?”
“Perhaps.”
“There is nothing that I won’t do for that little girl. I know you don’t understand it, but it’s the truth. Please be nice to Miranda while she is here Mom. I know how you like to feel in control of my life, but damnit, I am a grown man now. I make my own money and wipe my own ass. You can’t continue to meddle like you do.”
She raised her eyebrow. “I am afraid to tell you that I will always have an interest in your life son. I don’t want to see you get hurt like you did before, or worse.”
I expressed amusement in her last comment. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Maybe she will try to trap you. Girls like that are always looking for someone to help raise their kids. I can’t blame her for having eyes for you.”
I rolled my eyes and shook my head again. “She doesn’t have eyes for me. Jesus Christ!”
“Don’t use that talk around me.”
“Whatever! I am going to bed before I say something else to get you into a tizzy. Goodnight Mom.”
My mother didn’t say goodnight as I walked away from her. I got that she was suspicious of someone that she didn’t know, but Miranda was not looking to trap me, in fact she had never even made a move on me. I was the idiot trying to kiss her tonight. I had to remember that my overbearing mother had been looking out for me again. She needed to stop her meddling, but I saw the good in what she thought would be considered looking out for me.
After Van and Colt had left, things were tough for me. I spent most of my time alone, sulking in defeat. Karma is really a bitch and it dealt me with the biggest payback possible. I knew all along that Van was too good for me. While she sat at home planning our future, I was out banging chicks. I was selfish and worried about getting my dick wet. When I finally opened my eyes to look into that mirror they call ‘truth’, well I didn’t like what was staring back at me at all.
I was left with nothing to show for.
No college degree.
No future in football.
No driver’s license.
No girl.
After weeks of sulking, it was my mother who had drug me out of my depressed stupor. Well, it was her and Miranda. Of course she would rather take all of the credit and not give any to the single mother staying in our carriage house.
It appeared that my mother had nothing to worry about anyway. Even if I was interested in Miranda, she had made it clear that we were just friends more than once. It was ironic considering that the more I felt like I wanted there to be something between us, the more she kept shutting me down. I wasn’t used to so much rejection. Maybe all of my cheating had left me with the inability to ever be trusted again. Maybe I needed to move to another country where nobody knew me.
For the next two hours I laid in my bed and pondered on every conversation that Miranda and I had ever had. It left me even more confused.
Chapter 15
Miranda
It was just a friendly kiss. He missed our friendship and was overwhelmed with our surprise visit.
I kept telling that to myself while I lay next to my daughter, trying to fall asleep. I couldn’t get over the fact that Ty seemed so different. He hadn’t thrown himself on me, or given me any reason that he wanted me sexually. He just offered a shoulder and an ear. I needed to stop making something out of nothing.
If the timing was different I could see myself being with Ty. Of course that would require him to return an interest in me, but he was great. Van said that he was a good friend. Although, on more than one occasion she said that he wasn’t a good boyfriend. I couldn’t just think about myself anymore. My daughter had to be my first priority. I couldn’t use sex as a tool to get a guy, especially a guy like him. He loved my daughter so much and that was a big deal. I wasn’t going to let some secret feelings ruin their relationship.
I woke up to my daughter rambling. I sat up and noticed that she wasn’t even in the room. It took me a second to take in my new surroundings before I jumped up and rushed out into the living room. She could have walked into the bathroom and been playing in the toilet, or worse.
I froze when I spotted Bella, sitting in her chair, eating her dry cereal, while Ty sat across from her. “How did you get in here? Did I lock the door wrong?”
“No. I used my key. I figured that you would be awake, so I just came in. Izzy must have heard the door open, because she came running out of the bedroom carrying a bra and a diaper.” Ty had this half smile going, especially when he said the word ‘bra’.
I put my hand over my very embarrassed face.
“I changed the diaper, but the bra didn’t fit her at all.” He reached his hand out and handed me my pink bra.
I tucked it behind my back. “Smart ass!” I walked over and tossed my bra back into the bedroom. Bella must have been awake for a little while, because my whole bag was ripped apart on the bedroom floor.
When I got back out into the kitchen, Ty was still cackling over my underwear. I rolled my eyes and noticed that he had a cup in his hand. “Is that coffee?”
“Yep. There is a whole pot in the house, as well as some waffles. I came over here to tell you. I can’t believe that you were still sleeping. Izzy could have walked out and rode off on the horse.”
“Your morning humor is not exactly entertaining. Thank you for taking care of her. I will have to start closing the bedroom door and make sure nothing is within her reach. She gets into everything now.”
The tiny little cereal that was just on Bella’s tray was all gone. Ty shook the can to get her attention. “You want more?” She held out her hand for him to give her more. He opened the can and handed her a couple before picking her up. “Do you have another jacket I can put on her?”
I went back in the bedroom and grabbed her some clean clothes. Ty put her clothes on while I went and brushed my teeth. After getting her presentable we headed to the main farmhouse.
I looked around but noticed immediately that there was nobody else in the house, that I could tell. “Where is everyone?”
“Mom ran into town to do some church thing and my dad is around the farm somewhere. Coffee is fresh in the pot and how many waffles do you want?” He asked.
I sat down on a stool across the counter from him. After running my hands over my face a few times, I looked back up at him. “How in the hell are you so wide awake right now?”
He shrugged and turned to the coffee machine, where he poured me a big cup. He grabbed the milk and sugar and slid them over to me. “Here. This will help you wake up. My mother makes it thick. I am just warning you.”
I shook my head and started pouring the sugar bowl into my cup while Ty pulled out a box of frozen waffles. He started laughing when I giggled. “I was wondering how you were going to make waffles. Now I see that you only need a toaster.”
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