Raging Love

by Jennifer Foor

  “I know you are but what am I?” He pushed Conner’s buttons on purpose. It was like the two of them had to be at each other all of the time. It had to drive Miranda crazy. The worst part was that they were both so damn similar. Neither one of them had any room to talk.

  “You need to stop groping my sister around me. Have some respect.” Conner threatened.

  Ty laughed and started looking at his phone. He never looked up from it while he spoke. “I’m respectful of your sister. You do know she is an adult and we are married. If I want to touch her, I can. Just so you know, she wants to touch me too. She tells me all of the time. Do you want to see the messages?” He handed Conner his phone.

  Conner took one look and the phone went flying in the backseat. “What the fuck dude! You’re sick!”

  “Seriously you two. We have a lot of shit to do today. Can you please act like adults for a few hours?” I begged.

  “I just saw my sister’s naked breasts man. I can’t help it.” Conner said defensively.

  Ty sat in the back seat laughing his ass off. “Did you see the message?”

  “Yeah, I saw it. Fuck you. Don’t show me that shit again.” Conner added.

  Without me asking what exactly he showed him Ty started to explain. “They weren’t her naked tits. She had her nipples covered. I was just trying to show you that it isn’t always me. Miranda loves it. She is the one always initiating it. She can’t get enough of my meat.”

  Conner went flying toward the back, swinging at Ty. I pulled the truck over and let my head fall to the steering wheel. As Ty continued to laugh and Conner had smoke blowing out of his ears, I jumped out and stood on the side of the road until the truck stopped moving from them trying to bust each other up while still inside.

  The power window rolled down. “You can get in now Colt. We’re done.”

  When I got in the vehicle, neither of them said a word. I looked in the backseat to double check Ty was alive. He was still playing on his phone and I could hear messages coming in. Every message made him laugh more. I looked over to Conner who rolled his eyes. “First he was my cousin, and now he is my brother. I can’t kill him. I can’t even hate him. I know they are perfect together, but I hate that he rubs it in my face. All those damn times I warned him to not touch her. I think I have a right to be at least a little upset still.”

  Ty leaned over the seat. “I swear to God that I never touched your sister in all the times I came to visit, not even when we were teenagers. I may have thought about it in the past two years, but that’s it. Nothing happened until she showed up at my farm.”

  Conner turned to face the backseat and I considered pulling over again.

  “I believe you, but only because I can see how crazy she is about you, and if you were involved before she never would have been able to keep it a secret. I know her and Bella are happy. It’s all that matters. Just don’t show me her tits again. She’s my sister for shits sake.”

  Ty continued to laugh. “It was her idea. Besides, she was wearing a bra. You act like I was really showing you skin. Nobody is allowed to see what I see. Just so you know.”

  “Keep it that way. Don’t make me regret forgiving you for all of this.”

  I figured they would finally give up, but no, Ty had to get the last word in. “You should have never been mad. It ain’t like I ever hurt her, or ever will. Just admit it that you were wrong and we can be even.”

  Conner turned around again and looked at Ty. “Are you serious right now? I was mad because you didn’t keep a promise. It was never about how well you can take care of Randa. We already talked about this the night ya’ll renewed your vows. Just drop the shit!”

  “You need to get laid!” Ty added.

  “Fuck off. I got some last night.”

  “Well trust me when I say that I know it was no good. After five minutes with Miranda, I’m good for a week, not that we ever go that long. I mean some days we..”

  “Okay Ty, cut the shit out. I’m half-tempted to let him beat your ass when you get out of this truck. And Conner, you know he is saying this shit to get a rouse out of you. Why do you let it get to you in the first place?”

  I looked in the rear view mirror at my cousin, who was laughing his ass off. As serious as Conner was being, I don’t think Ty was serious about one single thing.

  They stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. Once we made it into town they started to get serious about everything we needed to do in the next couple of days. As long as they didn’t kill each other, we could get it done.

  We had to, because I wanted Van to have her perfect day. It meant everything to me.

  Chapter 6

  Savanna

  I tried to pry what Colt’s big secret was out of Miranda, but she must have either promised Ty she wouldn’t say anything, or he hadn’t told her. I really wanted to know. It wasn’t like I would interfere with Colt’s plans, I was just so eager to know what was going on.

  Since Miranda and Ty were staying here until the wedding, Aunt Karen had been spending all of her time with Bella. It must have been hard to know that her daughter would never be moving back home, well unless Ty really messed up, but I couldn’t for the life of me think he would ever do that to her.

  She seemed so happy, and it was weird to me considering how sad she had been the months before she left to stay at Ty’s farm. Once I had seen the two of them together, it was obvious that they were involved and in love. I knew why Miranda fell in love with Ty. Aside from the way he cheated on me, he was an awesome person. No matter how serious anything was, he could make people laugh. His sense of humor was often annoying, but he meant well. He was a good listener and would do anything for one of his friends. I knew he and Miranda had been talking for months about what each of them was going through, because Miranda would tell me.

  We used to talk about Ty and his cheating ways. I have no idea what made her take that step into giving him a chance with her. Maybe it was just the building attraction they had for one another. Conner claimed that it was just him who noticed, but I knew Ty and I could tell he was interested in her. It didn’t help that she was drop dead gorgeous and showed off every perfect inch of her body.

  Nowadays she didn’t dress like that unless we were going out. Today she was wearing a little sweat suit. It covered her whole body, but still showed off her cute little curves. Knowing that they are a couple I had to laugh. If I could have described Ty’s perfect girl in the past, I would have been describing Miranda. She was beautiful and seductive, not to mention a complete nymphomaniac. The girl loved sex and that is what got her into so much trouble in the past. The thing was, she and Ty needed that kind of relationship and they were perfect for each other.

  Colt always knew how to touch me to make my body quiver. His strong hands always made me feel safe and I can’t remember a time when I didn’t get his complete attention. He was a faithful man, which set my mind at ease considering I had been cheated on before. Looking back now, I wouldn’t change a thing. Everyone was so happy. We were a family and in some convoluted way, we were always going to be together.

  Miranda was flipping through the television looking for something to watch. She’d been quiet around me lately and I couldn’t help wonder if she didn’t feel uneasy being near me, due to her relationship with Ty. Neither one of us had really had a private kind of conversation about them, on account of it being just too darn awkward. The silence in the room was really getting to me, in fact, I wanted to jump up and down and scream for no apparent reason.

  “So, are you having a good visit now that the cat is out of the bag?” I just blurted it out. I couldn’t take it anymore. She and Ty were my closest friends, besides Brina, who really wasn’t that close to me anymore. I wanted to just get the weirdness out of the room.

  Miranda giggled and turned to face me. “With the exception of the fire, yes. You have no idea how scared I was for everyone to find out. Ty and I never planned this. I had no idea he had feelin’s for me. We were
such good friends and he just loved Bella so much. Maybe I should have stopped myself. I just wanted him so much. I guess I should have talked to you about it first.”

  I took a deep breath. I couldn’t believe she thought I was mad. “Miranda, you and Ty were a shocker, but you’re good together. You’re honestly perfect for each other. I know you both must think that this is especially hard for me, but you’re wrong. I’m about to marry the single most beautiful man on the planet. If anything, I’m glad I get to keep you both in our lives. It means a lot to Colt and to me too. Now I wouldn’t go telling Ty that, cause he will get a big head about it, but it is the truth. I never thought he would settle down with anyone, especially not so soon, but he loves you Miranda. Ty and I were many things, but he never loved me like he loves you and I’m okay with that.”

  Miranda jumped off the couch and came running over to where I was sitting. She gave me a big hug. “You don’t understand how much that means to me. I never wanted to lose your friendship, but I couldn’t give up Ty. Every bone in my body pushed me right to him.”

  She sat down beside me and had tears in her eyes. “Don’t cry.”

  “I’m so sorry……. I’m just so happy. I never thought my life could be like this. After my dad died, I just went crazy. As soon as I got boobs, I used my body to get attention from anyone that would give it. I know it was wrong, but it was like I had to get attention. I was horrible, Van. All of the names everyone called me were true. “

  She started to cry more and I wrapped my arms around her. She was the type of girl that Ty would cheat on me with, but for some reason, I didn’t think of Miranda that way. I saw her as a broken girl who lost one of the most important people in her life, way too soon. She just needed to feel loved, even if it wasn’t real. I’m definitely not making excuses for any other girls, but Miranda was a damn good friend and mother. Even if she wasn’t related to Colt, I know she wouldn’t have ever tried to seduce him or hurt me. “I love you dearly and if any of those people really knew you, they wouldn’t have said those things. Everyone makes mistakes Miranda. What I know is that you are a fantastic mother and you would do anything for your daughter. Ty would have been a fool not to fall in love with you. I’m surprised it took him as long as it did to admit it.”

  I continued to hold Miranda. She was no longer crying but still sniffling. “I love him with all of my heart, Van. I can’t even explain to you how wonderful he makes me feel.” She wiped her eyes.

  “Not to mention his undeniable devotion to Bella. My God, I have never seen anything like the two of them. What he said at your service to her, was incredibly perfect. I could see tears in Colt’s eyes the whole time. I don’t know what it is like to be a parent, but he seems to naturally know how to do it.”

  She looked up at me and seemed sad again. “Would you be mad if we had children together?”

  “Of course not. In fact, Colt and I are already trying to get pregnant right now. It’s only been a couple of months, but we are hopeful it will happen anytime now. Colt wants at least two children. I can’t wait. I mean, I know it will hurt, but I want to have his babies and be a mother so much. I can picture them walking around with Colt’s eyes.”

  “Oh they will be so cute,” Miranda agreed.

  “Our children can be close in age and grow up having cousins like the boys do. It’s kind of exciting isn’t it?” For the first time since their big news, I was actually looking past their relationship and seeing a future for all of us. Our children were going to be blood, my children and Ty’s children would be related. How crazy was that?

  “It’s going to be at least a year before Ty and I can start tryin’. I got the shot right after Bella was born and it lasts for three years. Ty did say that he wants children as soon as we can start tryin’. We don’t want Bella to be too much older than her brother or sister.”

  I started thinking about how Miranda got pregnant by Tucker so easily, while Colt and I were tryin’ so hard with no result. I suddenly didn’t want to talk about pregnancy anymore. “So I know this is random, but do you and Ty go out a lot at home? I know there isn’t much to do.”

  She smiled. “Since we have Bella we spend most of our time at home. Ty likes it to be just us during the week. On the weekends we eat at his parents, especially Sunday’s after church. We always end up stayin’ late playin’ cards.”

  I had to laugh. “I can’t believe you actually get along with that woman. She never liked me at all. When I was younger she tolerated me, I mean I spent all of my time there, but she wasn’t exactly loving.”

  Miranda’s phone vibrated and she looked at it and typed something, while smiling the whole time. “Sorry, it was Ty. He likes to text me random messages when we are apart.” She sat the phone back down. “Ty said at first she warned him about me using him. He said he told her it wasn’t her business and that he cared about me and Bella. From the moment she saw us with Ty for the first time, she has treated me great. She even told me to call her Mom.”

  I was amazed. I had to admit, it hurt a little. I had never done anything but love that woman’s son with my whole heart, but she never really accepted me. She had welcomed Miranda into the family instantly. How could I not be a little hurt by that? “You are so lucky. She must really like you.” It was easier than telling her the truth.

  “She said that Ty was in a really bad place before Bella and I showed up. He wasn’t hangin’ out with friends and didn’t seem interested in doin’ anything outside of work. To be honest, I hadn’t exactly been very nice to him months before I showed up at his house. The last time he visited Kentucky, when Tucker attacked me, something started happenin’ between us, but neither of us would admit it. I felt so embarrassed, thinkin’ he didn’t feel the same way, that I stopped talkin’ to him. I still let him video chat with Bella, but I was really short with him. So when we finally showed up at his door, there was a lot of pent up feelin’s. I guess his mother sensed how excited he was to see us there.”

  “Can I ask you something personal, between us?” There were a lot of questions that I had for Miranda. Obviously the girl knew what she was doin’.

  “Sure, you know you can ask me anything. We are family.” Miranda pulled her knees up to her chest and waited for me to respond.

  “I feel embarrassed asking this. I guess I want to know how you know you are good in bed.” There I just came out with it.

  “What do you mean? It is different with every person, especially if you have real feelin’s.”

  “I’ve only been with two people and one of them is your husband now. I guess I just want to know what you did to make Ty feel so satisfied. Our sex was always so rushed it seemed. Then I get with Colt and he takes things slow and is so gentle. I could never ask for a better lover. Never mind, it’s really not a question to be asking.” I felt so stupid. She must think I’m such a prissy little virginette.

  She reached over and grabbed my hand. “It’s different with Colt because you two love each other. When it’s just sex for one or both of the people, the emotional connection isn’t there. You may be new at a lot of things, but one thing I never experienced was what it felt like to make love to someone. I never had that until I met Ty. In all of my endeavors, I have never trembled and been so terrified. Once I felt that, it changed everything I ever knew about sex. Now as far as tamin’ Ty, let’s just say that he and I share the same extracurricular interests.”

  “When you got drunk the other day, you told me how good he was at ,” I had to take a breath, like I couldn’t say the words. “going down.”

  She cocked an eyebrow and looked like she did something wrong. “He never did that to you?”

  “Barely ever and it was not because he wanted to. He would only do it so I would return the favor, which I hated doing.”

  Miranda started laughing. “I don’t know what to say to that. I’m not tryin’ to make you mad, but Ty seems to really enjoy doin’ it to me, of course, he and I have had a lot of firsts since we have been
together. Sometimes our feelin’s are so intense.” She paused as if she were trying to wait for my reaction. “Do you really hate it, or are you just not sure how to do it good?”

  She didn’t say it in a snotty way, she was genuinely trying to help me. “I do it now. I think my technique is getting good. Colt goes crazy over it, so it must not be too bad.”

  “Men love it. As far as techniques go, well everyone is different. Listen, I have this silly book about sex in my room. Remind me before I go to give it to you. It has all kinds of details and peoples own stories in it. I learned a bunch from reading it.”

  A book, like with pictures? I need visual help here!

  “I need to see and read that book. I want to.” I had almost forgotten all about her pictures, ever since I threw them up against the wall earlier. “Speaking of books, I have something for you. Hang on and let me go get it.”

  I got up and walked into the office. The box of photo books were sitting on the desk still. I grabbed the whole box and carried it into the living room. “Look what came in the mail today.”

  “Oh my gosh, they are amazin’ Van.” She started opening them up and looking through them. I was pretty sure they didn’t have family photos. I made sure to take a bunch of the three of them.

  “I had some bigger prints made too. Look at these two.” I reached in the box and handed her two larger wall pictures, done on a canvas.

  She held them both and just smiled. “Ty is going to love these.”

  I grabbed the last photo in the box. The picture was just of Ty and Bella. They were dancing and she was kissing him. It was such a random shot when I took it, but when I saw it later on, I knew I had to blow it up. I held it up so Miranda could see. “I got this one for Ty.”

  She put her hand over her mouth. “It’s beautiful. She loves him so much. Van he will go nuts over this picture.”

  “I know, that’s why I got a big one. I figured you guys could use some pictures for the house.”

  “They are all perfect. Thank you so much!”