Letting Go (Mitchell Family #1)(51)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I stood up and helped Ty get into a standing position. I didn’t lean over and kiss Savanna. Things were super awkward. I was still expecting’ Ty to rip out a pistol and shoot me to death. We walked out of the carriage house, once I got a shirt on, and headed toward the main house.

“If I could stand up long enough I would have kicked your ass by now.” Ty stated as we approached the porch.

“You could try.” I teased.

“I don’t f**king forgive you.”

“I know.” I pulled the porch screen door open as he hobbled his way inside.

Ty turned around before going in the house. “I was a shitty boyfriend. I lied about the one person I looked up to in life. Honestly, I figured this would hurt a lot more than it does. I think she was more like a piece of property and not a person. Sounds shitty right?”

“She’s never been that to me.” I admitted.

“Yeah. Thing is….seeing you with her last night. I want to feel that. When I walked back in that bar and saw the way you two were, well first it was a kick in the gut, but after that I was so jealous that I never felt like that myself. The way she looked at you….it was f**king insane.”

I couldn’t help but smile. I knew what he saw. Savanna and I had been too drunk to care, but the truth was written all over our actions. I remembered feeling like it was just us there on that dance floor.

I also knew that Ty never really respected Savanna. For years he had cheated on her and disrespected her. As much as I wanted to feel bad about what I had done, I couldn’t. It may not have been right, but I didn’t do it alone.

“I’m not sorry for lovin’ her. You also know that technically she wasn’t yours when we were together. She never cheated on you, except for the past two nights when she was wearin’ that ring.” I realized what I said too late. Ty’s fist came up and got me right between the eyes. He fell back against the wall, while I wiped away the gushing blood coming out of my nose.

“You deserved that, you dickhead.”

I smiled and held my nose up, pinching it. “Yeah, maybe I did.”

“You going to hit me back?” Ty asked.

“No, you can have that one for free. I deserved it.”

“Did you do her before or after the proposal?” He asked.

“You seriously want to know?”

“Yes! Dammit just spill. All the shit I have done. I need to know she aint that perfect.” He spat out.

I was trying to keep the blood off the floor, so I grabbed my shirt and pulled it over my head. I held it up to my face as I talked. “It was durin’ the storm. After you put that ring on her finger, I needed to get the hell away from the both of you. I went out to the combine with a six pack of beer. When it started stormin’ I was already half lit. I heard someone cryin’ and found Savanna standin’ out in the storm alone.” There was no need to give details. I was sure he didn’t want them.

“So what was she crying about? How did it turn out with sex? Because, she slept in my f**king bed that night. Now I get why she rejected me so much. She was all filled up already.”

I stuck my finger in his face. “Don’t talk about her like that Ty. She was upset because of you, because of everything. You were so caught up in your friends that you never even came lookin’ for her. Your own fiancée.”

“So you had sex in a combine. You one upped me there.” He laughed.

“Actually….” I held my hand up. “Never mind!”

“Well, now I want to know.” He ordered.

“It doesn’t matter. Just drop it.”

“You know I am really trying to be understanding. I wish everyone could realize that it still feels like last year to me. Even back then I didn’t really have Van. She was already slipping away. I was stupid to think I could go around behind her back forever. She deserved better.” Ty admitted.

“Well, I am tryin’ to do right by her Ty. It hasn’t been easy for us so far. Between trying to deny our feelin’s and me livin’ so far away. Hell, I don’t even know what she is goin’ to decide. I can’t very well ask her to give up her life here.” I explained.

“Well I have to warn you. She puts school before everything. It’s really important to her.”

We were interrupted when my aunt came walking to the door. She opened it up and looked from Ty to me. “What is going on here?” She asked.

“Just let us come inside and we will explain.” Ty said.

We walked in the house and I sat down at the kitchen table. My aunt brought over the paper towels and a wet rag. “Which one of you is going to start explaining?” She asked.

I looked from Ty and then back to my aunt. “I think you should tell her.”

Ty laughed. “You would.” He looked down and for a second before he started talking. “Mom, there is a bunch I need to tell you.”

My aunt cut him off. “Son, after seeing you dropped off by some girl this morning, I am going to assume that I already know what is going on. From the look of Colt’s nose, I have to ask. Where does this leave the two of you?”

She was referring to Ty and I. That was a question for him, more than me.

“We are blood. Nothing is going to come between that.” Ty explained.

“I am guessing the broken nose helped with the hard feelings?” She said in a sarcastic way.

“You could say that.”

She gave my nose a good look. “I don’t think it needs to be reset. It may not even be broken.” She was sticking an icepack on it before turning around. “So where is the reason for all this fighting?”

Ty chimed in. “We left her in the carriage house for protection.”

I chuckled and shook my head. Even Ty seemed to laugh at himself.

“I am not even going to ask. I am just glad you boys are okay with all of this.” She said.

I stood up and excused myself from the conversation. Ty held out his hand before I left. “Will I see you guys later?”

“I reckon if you want to. We can have a serious game of Rummy if you’re up for it.” I explained.

“Yeah, Sounds good. I will knock before I come in.” Ty said.

At that moment I caught my aunt shaking her head. I kept walking. She could baby her son all she wanted but I was a grown man.

Chapter 29

Savanna

Colt came back from the main house with two black eyes and a very swollen nose. He insisted that he and Ty were on good terms and he deserved the punch that Ty had given him. I didn’t feel very comfortable with them making plans to spend time together, but Colt insisted that it was important to him. I thought they were crazy, in fact insane. Who makes up that fast?