Folding Hearts (Mitchell Family #2)(24)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“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.