“Why did you claim me?” she prodded, needing to know, even as she dreaded his response.
“It was instinctual, Jordan. I finally had you back… After four years, I was finally with my mate again, and the need to claim you was overwhelming. I’m not sorry.”
Jordan closed her eyes as a lump formed in her throat.
“You shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry that I let it go so far. I should have kept my distance,” Jordan said, her voice thin with regret. “Damn Mia for throwing us together so much. If I would have just kept my distance…”
“Jordan,” Ty pleaded, taking a step toward her.
She took a step back and shook her head.
“Nothing’s changed, Ty.”
“Everything’s changed, Jordan,” he replied. “And everything’s still the same. You’re still my mate, and now I’ve claimed you, so the whole world will know it. But we’ve both always known it, Jordan, and no matter how much you run, you won’t change that fact.”
“You need to forget me and move on,” Jordan replied, trying desperately not to cry.
“That will never happen. You’re it for me. Forever.”
Jordan shook her head furiously, her heart breaking for the second time in her life.
Why had she done this? Been so damn weak? All she was doing was hurting them both all over again.
“I’m so sorry, Ty. I should have stopped this,” Jordan cried, then twirled around and fled the room.
She rushed out of the hall and into the night, not even thinking about the fact that Mia and Drake were probably inside saying their goodbyes before going on their honeymoon. All Jordan could think about was the pain she’d once again caused Ty, when all she’d ever wanted was his happiness.
After walking absently down the block a few feet, Jordan realized she’d parked in the other direction. Thinking that maybe she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to drive, Jordan was contemplating walking the ten blocks home, when someone called her name.
Jordan turned her head and saw a petite woman with white blonde hair crossing the street toward her. Dressed in leggings and an oversized sweater, with her hair piled on her head in a messy bun, the woman was cute and oddly familiar.
Curious, Jordan waited until the woman reached her, a friendly but confused smile on her lips.
“Yes?” she asked, hesitantly, looking over her shoulder to make sure Ty hadn’t followed her out of the hall.
“Hey,” the blonde replied, seeming nervous now that she was right before her. “It’s, uh, Trinity… from high school. We used to have Mr. Taylor’s class together…”
Flashes of a younger-looking blonde with a sweet smile and a love for dance hit her, making Jordan’s smile large and genuine.
“Oh my god, Trinity,” she said, leaning in to give her a hug. “I can’t believe I didn’t recognize you. You look exactly the same.”
“So do you,” Trinity replied, a little more confidently.
“You’ve been gone for what, ten years? How have you been?”
“Great! I’ve been in LA, dancing… I just got home last week.”
“Oh, are you staying for good?”
Trinity bit her lip, but gave a small smile and nodded.
“Well, we’ll have to get together and really catch up. Have dinner?”
“I’d love that.”
They exchanged numbers and Jordan began her long walk home. Which felt even longer in her long dress and heels.
While she walked, Jordan began to formulate a plan.
She knew Ty said that he’d never move on and find someone else, but Jordan had to believe that if he met the right woman, someone who could give him everything that she couldn’t, maybe he’d be able to settle down and be happy.
It was a little twisted, and her heart lurched at the thought, but maybe if she found someone, and let him see the possibility of a life with someone other than her, he’d give it a shot.
Jordan wondered if Trinity was single.
Then she wondered how she’d be able to live knowing Tyson was married and raising a family with someone else.
Maybe it was time for her to start thinking of moving away and starting a new life. Far away from Tyson and his haunted eyes. Maybe then they’d both be able to move on with their lives, rather than torturing themselves with what could never be.
Tyson
Tyson decided to give Jordan the night to get herself sorted. He knew she was waging a war between her head and her heart, and all he could do was pray she followed her heart. It was obvious that they were meant to be together. Their mating had been the hottest he’d ever had, even better than when they were together before. Ty didn’t know if was because of the distance and length of time they’d been apart, or because he’d claimed her, but he’d never come so hard in his life.
“Morning, Alice,” he said to the dispatcher when he walked into the office. As deputy, he was acting Sheriff while Drake was on his honeymoon, and Ty was eager to ensure nothing went wrong on his watch. “Anything going on?”
“All quiet this morning,” Alice said as she sucked back her coffee like it was her lifeline. “You might want to check with Mika before he goes off shift, though.”
He walked to the back of the station where Mika’s desk was. Mika was their sergeant and the best tracker in the clan. He was a loner type and preferred to have as little contact with people as he could, which was why he worked nights and set up in the back.
Huge and intimidating, Mika looked like a linebacker that no one would want to see coming their way. About six foot six inches and pure muscle, Mika had long, dark hair and dark skin, thanks to his Sioux blood, and kept his beard trimmed and neat.
The large bear was currently hunched over his desk, swearing at his computer as he typed using only two fingers.
“Morning, brother,” Ty said in greeting as he sat comfortably in the chair in front of Mika’s desk. “Anything to report?”
Mika grunted, then leaned back and rubbed his whiskers.
“Not too much, but I did catch a robbery at the gas station. Dumb shit was hiding in the beer cooler when I arrived. He’s down in lockup. I was just filing the report before I head out.”
“Okay, great. You’re off tonight, right?”
“Yup.”
“Want to meet up for a drink later?”
“Yeah, that sounds good,” Mika replied.
“I’ll text you the where and when.”
“Sounds good.”
Tyson worked all morning, then glanced at the clock and decided it was time to grab some lunch.
He’d stayed away from Dixie’s Luncheonette over the last few years because he knew Jordan didn’t want to see him, and he respected that, but now that the gloves were off, so to speak, Ty decided it was as good a time as any to make his reappearance.
Jordan had started working at Dixie’s as a busser in high school, had worked her way up to server, and by the time they started dating, was the manager. Ty wouldn’t be surprised if Dixie planned to pass the Luncheonette down to Jordan when she retired. Jordan was as much a part of the restaurant as Dixie herself.
He’d never forget the first time he’d walked in for lunch after his first shift.
Ty had been starving, his whole body wired with energy and excitement, and although he’d been coming there for years, this time, things were different.
This time, when Jordan walked over to say hi to him, as she always did, everything had changed.
One look at her and he knew… His fledgling bear had roared within him, and Ty knew that his mate had been right under his nose his entire life. He’d asked her out then and there, and Jordan’s surprise and pleasure had been evident. She said yes, and they were inseparable after that.
The memory made Ty’s heart clench as he opened the door to the restaurant. He grinned when he saw his regular booth was free and crossed the room to take his seat.
Ty sighed as he looked around, happy to be back where he belonged, then wat
ched as Jordan moved through the room, talking to her customers and making sure they were happy. She hadn’t noticed him yet, but when he glanced at the kitchen, he saw Dixie looking at him, a large grin covering her face.
The old woman had always loved him, and he had a soft spot for her.
The server came over and he ordered his usual. Although the server was new, he knew that his Reuben sandwich, potato salad, fruit bowl, and honey pound cake would be just as delicious as it always was.
“Tyson?” He looked up and was sad to see Jordan’s dismayed expression, but did his best not to show it by shooting her a smile.
“Afternoon, beautiful,” Ty greeted her, just like he’d done a million times before.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, perplexed.
“Having lunch and taking a few minutes out of my day to see you.”
“Ty,” Jordan began, her voice in a whisper. “We talked about this last night. I can’t do this…”
“Please, take a seat,” he said, not wanting to have to keep looking up at her and hoping if she sat, she’d relax a little.
“Look, Ty, we need to talk,” Jordan said as she sat across from him. She smiled at the server who brought Ty’s iced tea, then looked back toward him, her hands folded on the table.
“Great, let’s talk,” he said, hoping she was finally willing to listen to reason.
“I’ve told you repeatedly that we can’t be together, and I think you should see other people, but I don’t think you’ve taken me seriously.”
“Jordan…”
“Please, let me finish,” she said, and he shut his mouth. “Like I said, I don’t think you’ve taken me seriously, but I am serious, Ty, and to prove it, I think you should let me set you up on a date.”
Ty’s mouth dropped open.
There were a thousand different scenarios he’d run through about what they’d say to each other after last night, but that was definitely not one of them.
“What?” he asked through clenched teeth, his bear suddenly cagey inside of him.
“Just hear me out,” Jordan begged.
His food came out, so Jordan remained quiet, probably not wanting their business to get back to all of her employees back in the kitchen.
Once the server walked away, she leaned forward and said, “Look, you know I want you to be happy, and I truly believe that you can find someone to settle down and start a family with… You deserve it, Ty. Please, just give me this one shot, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll leave it alone.
Tyson took a bite of his Reuben, but his appetite was suddenly gone. As he chewed, Ty formulated his own plan.
Maybe he could make this work out in his favor. He knew there would never be anyone else but Jordan for him, and although he’d tried to tell her that repeatedly, she just didn’t seem to get it.
He was sticking to his vow. He wasn’t letting her go without a fight, even if he had to let her think she was winning in order to convince her.
“I’ll do it,” Ty said, her instant smile hitting him like a punch in the gut. “On one condition.”
“What’s that?” she asked warily.
“I go through with your fix up, and then you let me make dinner for you.”
“What? Ty… You’re kind of missing the point here.”
“That’s my condition. Take it or leave it.”
She bit her lip, causing his blood to stir as she weighed the pros and cons in her head.
Finally, Jordan reached a hand across the table for him to shake.
“Deal.”
Jordan
So maybe she’d regret accepting Ty’s deal, but at least he was going to let her set him up.
As far as she knew, he and Trinity hadn’t interacted much in school, but they’d always been friendly to each other. And Trinity had been gone when Ty finally had his first shift, so maybe his bear would be receptive to her.
As much as Jordan tried to convince herself that this was what she really wanted, she had to work really hard to ignore the niggle of jealousy over them going on a date.
Yes, it was totally her idea.
And, yes, she was the one pushing this…
But one didn’t really have control over their feelings, did they. Jordan just had to keep telling herself that this was for the best and ignore her inner doubts.
Now Jordan just needed to convince Trinity to fix her up. She really should have done that first, but Ty had taken her completely by surprise, showing up at the Luncheonette like that. When she’d turned and seen him in his old booth, Jordan thought for a second that she was hallucinating, or that he was an apparition after their night together. She had to bring up the blind date, because her first instinct had been to crawl in his lap and welcome him back.
She was her own worst enemy!
That was why Jordan, now that their first course was done and they’d caught up, was about to ask Trinity if she’d be open to a blind date.
She felt a niggle of guilt at setting her friend up with the man that was her mate, but if she didn’t truly think it was possible for him to love someone other than her, she wouldn’t do it to either of them. But as it stood, she had to do something.
This was her last chance. If it didn’t work, Jordan had decided that she’d have to leave Spring Creek forever.
“So, Trinity, you’ve talked about work and stuff, but what about men? Anyone special in your life?”
Trinity’s eyes widened and her cheeks reddened prettily as she shook her head.
“No… I kind of came back home to start fresh.”
“Re-al-ly,” Jordan said with a smile, then leaned in conspiratorially. “What would you say to a blind date?”
“Oh, uh, I don’t know.”
Jordan held up her hand and swore, “Just a date, not expectations. I promise he’s handsome, single, and has a good job. Just dinner, one dinner, and if you guys don’t hit it off, no harm, no foul.”
Trinity looked unsure, but replied, “He sounds too good to be true.”
“He kind of is,” Jordan admitted, then added, “I wouldn’t steer you wrong.”
“Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt. I do want to make friends and become a part of this community again… Just one date?”
“Pinky swear,” Jordan said, holding out her pinky, just like she had when they were teenagers.
Trinity laughed and hooked her pinky in Jordan’s.
“Great, I’ll set it all up and shoot you the details.”
“Okay,” Trinity replied, sounding a little more enthused than she had initially.
“Now, tell me more about this dance studio you want to open up.”
She and Trinity talked about the studio Trinity wanted to open for the children in town while they ate dessert, and when they parted ways, Jordan promised again to contact Trinity about her date.
Feeling proud of herself, Jordan pushed down the melancholy feelings that threatened to overcome her as she walked into her apartment.
She’d done what she could to make her apartment feel like home, but she could admit to herself that she missed the house that she and Tyson had lived in together. Filled with items from their childhood and stuff they’d bought together, the ranch-style house on the outskirts of town had been filled with love and laughter, as well as plenty of heated arguments and make-up sex.
The property backed up to the forest, so Ty was free to shift whenever he needed, and it was close enough to town that they each had a short commute to work.
Back then they’d rode in together, then Ty would come in to the Luncheonette for lunch, and in the evening they’d ride home together. They’d been inseparable.
Then Jordan had started bleeding and cramping out of cycle, having severe stomach pain and incessant bloating. When she’d found out that she had cervical cancer and the best treatment was a hysterectomy, she’d been devastated. Tyson had been with her through it all, but once she began to heal and was able to think of the severity of what had happened, she’d be
gun to try and distance herself from Ty.
Having children was huge to bear shifters. It meant the continuation of their line and the continued existence of shifters. The fact that Jordan could no longer give that to Ty was a deal breaker for her. So, even though she knew she’d break both of their hearts, Jordan knew she had to push him away.
Tyson had fought her, and fought hard. He knew what she was doing and tried to tell her that it didn’t matter if they couldn’t have kids, but Jordan knew better.
Who’d sat up with him late at night planning their family? Who’d listened to him and Drake talk about what they’d do if they had a child that didn’t shift, or was a late bloomer? And who had heard the joy in his voice when he talked about going hunting with his future children?
Her, that was who… So no matter how hard he protested, Jordan knew she was doing the right thing.
She’d known it then, and she knew it now. Still, coming home to her little apartment with only her cat, Vicious, as company, Jordan often longed for that house on the edge of town.
The one Tyson still lived in.
The one that would one day be filled with another woman’s children.
Tyson
Waiting nervously at the only steakhouse in town, Tyson wondered what the best way to handle this situation was going to be. Did he tell his mystery date the truth about why he had accepted the date, or did he let it play out?
Tyson didn’t want to lead anyone on, and he certainly wasn’t going to lie.
He’d just made the decision to be truthful from the start when the door opened and little Trinity Snow walked in, surveying the waiting area nervously.
“Trinity?” he called, moving toward her.
She looked up nervously, her face blank, then he knew she had placed him when a genuine smile covered her face.
“Ty,” Trinity responded happily. “It’s been ages, how are you?”
Ty lowered his head to kiss her softly on the cheek.
“I’m great. How are you?”
“I’m good. A little nervous actually,” Trinity answered, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I’m meeting a blind date.”
Her Bear To Keep (Second Chance Shifters 5) Page 2