Folding Hearts (7 page)

Chapter 8

Ty

I had a hard time sleeping with Miranda crying down the hall. I don’t think she even realize
d
how loud she was being. A part of me felt so bad for her. My friends used to joke about girls with kids, claiming they were a no no. In light of my new found affection for Izzy, there was no way I would ever feel the same about that statement. Miranda was smoking hot and she was a great mother.  It wasn’t her fault that her pansy ass boyfriend couldn’t act right.

I loved that little girl so much, in fact when I heard her cooing this morning, I couldn’t help but go into her room and play. I hadn’t expected that Miranda would come in looking like death, but at least she knew that Izzy had a clean diaper and a smile on her face.

I thought about how my friends would chew me a new ass for being such a sap about that little girl, but I didn’t give a shit. Every time I looked into that little girls eyes I knew that she was special.

After the douche bag came and busted up my  mirror, Conner demanded that Miranda tell him what was really going on. Since Colt and Van had showed up, I suggested that we go into the other room and give them some alone time. Colt wanted to hear about the drama, but Miranda seemed to genuinely be upset about the whole ordeal.

Once we got into the family room, Van pulled me to the side and gave me her accusing eye.

“Don’t I get a hug?” I said grabbing her and pulling her into my chest. Colt rolled his eyes.

“We thought you were getting in yesterday. I tried to call you all night.” She said.

“I did get here last night. I uh, well I got caught up with Izzy
and after Miranda went out we
fell asleep on the couch together. When I woke up I saw all the missed calls.”

“Wait. Who did you sleep with?” Colt asked accusingly.

“Izzy. Mirand
a went out to see that dickhead,
” I explained.

“You babysat?” Van asked with a smile on her face.

“Lucy was
here too, although I told her to leave us alone and that I was fine. Obviously I was.” There was no need to say I
wasn’
t capable of taking care of her. She was easy to watch.

“What has happened to you?” Van joked.

I shrugged my shoulders. “What
can I say? The kid likes me.”

“I don’t think that is what Savanna means. I think she is sayin’ that you are not the type of guy
to play with kids and be so caring
. It’s kind of
disturbin
’,
” Colt admitted.

“Screw you guys. It doesn’t matter what any of you think. I love that kid and she loves her uncle Ty too.”

Colt changed the
subject immediately once he sensed my anger.
“What’s up with Tucker now? Man I am tellin’ ya, that guy is trouble. He has been caught stealin’ and
I think the police came lookin’
for him last week. He has Miranda brainwashed.
That girl needs to stay away from him.”

“He seems like a real douche,
” I added.

Colt gave me a funny look then let out a cackle.

“What?” I asked.

“I just think that is funny comin’ from you.” He held up his hand. “No offense.”

He really just called me a douche!

“None taken. Look, I know I am not the best boyfriend, but my family has always been important
,
” I argued. “That little bitch is nothing like me. Tell him Van.”

She sat beside me on the edge of the couch and patted my back. “Calm down. We know you aren’t like him. I think Colt is just worried you might want to …I don’t know…hook up with Miranda.”

I looked from Colt to Van and shook my head. “Is that what you both think? You think I came here to screw around with Miranda? Are you fucking kidding me right now?
We are just friends.
”

I put my head down and shook my head again. I didn’t want to talk to either of them about this anymore. I hadn’t come here to sleep with Miranda. I wanted to see Van and Colt and of course Izzy. “Miranda and I are just friends. We are practically family. Nothing is ever going to happen between the two of us. I can promise you that.”
Not like I had never thought about it before
, but it couldn’t happen anyway.
Damn I was thinking about it again…..

I sta
r
ted to get up and walk out of the room, but Van grabbed my shirt and pulled me backwards. “Wait! We have to talk to you about some things.”

Could this conversation get any worse?

“Ty, look
,
I am sorry if I made you mad. Miranda is my cousin and I just get sick of her goin
’
down the same path time and time again. She needs to stop goin’ for guys that are nothin’ but trouble. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just think she shouldn’t get involved with anyone right now.” Colt’s words were
n’t
making things better, but I decided to keep my cool for Van.

“Whatever dude. What do you have to talk to me about? When is the date?” I was already guessing it was a proposal since Van had her hand stuck in her hoodie since she had been around me.

Out came her hand, revealing a giant rock on her second finger. I swallowed the painful lump that managed to creep into my throat. I gave a fake smile and avoided eye contact as I hugged Van and shook Colt’s hand. “Congrats guys. So when are you taking the plunge?”

“Next June. Right after graduation. We want Izzy to be the flower g
irl,
” Van noted.

“A
nd I want you to be my best man,
” Colt added.

I was flabbergasted. “That isn’t a good idea guys. I appreciate the thought, really I do, but I just can’t be in your wedding.” I looked over to Van who seemed genuinely upset. “I’m so sorry. I just can’t do it.”

This time she didn’t grab my shirt as I walked out of the room.
I passed by Conner walking toward where I had just come from, but kept walking to go out back. I just wanted to be alone. They had a lot of nerve asking me something like that. Everyone knew I wasn’t over Van
leaving me
. I couldn’t watch her promise to love my cousin forever. I may have been okay with not trying to interfere, but I couldn’t promote it. It was like they were dang
l
ing their happiness in front of me.

Fuck that.

I found Miranda out by the pool. There was no way for me to know she would have been there, and I was
just as shocked to see her there
as she was to see me. I wasn’t crying, but I certainly wasn’t displaying a happy face.

“Hey,
”
s
he said while crying.

I looked behind me to make sure that we were alone. “You look just as happy as I am.”

“Guess you heard the big news.”

“You should have told me last night. Maybe I could have prepared myself more.”

“Sorry. I had a lot goin’ on last night. I guess I just figured you knew, but from the look on your face, I can tell that you didn’t.”

I ran my hands through my hair and looked behind me, just making sure nobody was following. “
Yeah
, they kind of told me that they had news when I got here. I figured it would be that, but nothi
ng can prepare you for
handling
it
.”

“You really do still love her?”

I sat down next to Miranda. “She is the
only girl that I have ever told
that to
. If I hadn’t been such an idiot
,
I would have never lost her in the first place. She would be wearing my grandmother’s ring and planning our wedding instead of theirs.
It doesn’t matter. I cheated and the rest is history. Maybe I don’t know what love is.
”

We were both quiet for a few seconds. Miranda was  looking down at the water in the pool. “Conner is
callin
’
the police and reporting Tucker for vandalism. He wants me to get a
restrainin
’
order.” She shook her head and covered her face. “I just can’t believe that just yesterday I thought we had a chance for a future together.”

“I know how much it must hurt, but you have to know that he isn’t any good for you. I heard the way he talked to you, and it
ain’t
right.”

She started crying again in her hands. I wanted to reach over to comfort her, but the last thing she wanted was someone like me touching her
, someone that she compared to the
douche bag
. To Miranda, I was the same type of guy as Tucker. I hated
it, but I had made my choice to
live my life the way I had been. No one could be blamed for my actions except  me.

I stayed there next to her as she continued to cry. What she was going through sucked big time. She had a baby that needed a father, unfortunately he wanted nothing to do with either of them. It really pissed me off. He had no idea how lucky he was.
I was alone and wished I had someone that wanted to love me back
. It was a shame.

I was considering what I could say next, when Conner and Colt came rushing out of the door. “Randa, we already called the cops. They are headin’ over to take our statements. You best tell them the truth if you know what’s good for ya.
They need to catch him and put
an end to all of this nonsense,
” Conner said rudely.

“Whatever Conner,” Miranda said rudely. “It isn’t l
ike they are goin’ to catch him
. He is just goin’ to get more pissed off about it. You are adding fuel to the fire.”

“I don’t give a shit what you think about it Miranda. I want this guy away from my niece and I would expect you to want the same for your daughter. He is bad news and that is never goin’ to change.” Conner stated.

“Why are you even tellin’ me then. You have made your mind up. Just leave me alone. You obviously can’t und
erstand what I am goin’ through,
” Miranda said before walking back into the house.

“She knows he is a
loser. She just needs some time,
” I suggested.

Conner looked from me to Colt. “What’s this new interest with my sister Ty? Don’t get it in that head of yours that you can get into her pants next. It
ain’t
happenin’,
” He threatened.

Colt shook his head as I didn’t back down from Conner’s threat. “Not that it is any of your business, but we are just friends. I never said anything about being with your sister.”

“You think that we haven’t noticed how you have been acting around her and Bella?” Conner said accusingly.

“The only thing I am guilty of is loving th
at little girl. I was there when
she was born and I feel close to her. As far as your sister’s pants…well they are safe around me, because I am not interested!” I pushed past my family and walked into the house. Once inside, I
looked around for anyone
,
but I was alone
.

I was already making myself a sandwich when Colt and Conner came walking back into the house. I tried to ignore them the best that I could, but Conner came to lean against the opposite side of the kitchen island. “Look, I am sorry that I got in your shit about my sister. You need to understand that neither of you have the best track record. For a while that girl was givin
’
herself out to anyone. I know she is an adult, but she needs someone lookin’ out for her. I am not sayin’ you are a bad guy. We have always been on good terms and
I’ve
considered you family, but my sister is off limits. She doesn’t need to be in any kind of relationship. So, it
wasn’t
personal.”

“I know. I can assure you
for the third time
that I did not come here to get into your sisters pants. She and I are just friends. I talk to her about V……well about things that upset me, and she talks to me about the same things. Just friends!”

Colt rattled his hands on the countertop like it was a makeshift drum. “When ya’ll are done, I need to talk to Ty alone.”

I stuck out my hand to Conner, who started to shake it then gave me a friendly
nudge
. “You up for goin’ out tonight? My girlfriend has this friend goin’ out and I told her I may have someone to come with us too.”

Wasn’t he just threatening me abo
ut
pants?

“Yeah, I guess that would be cool.” I turned to Colt. “You guys coming out too?”
 

“Savanna wants to
,
” He replied.

“Let me guess, you’d rather stay home alone?”

“Not like your thinkin’. It just isn’t my scene anymore.”