“I need you to get your brother. I’ll be back before you know it, I promise.” He kissed me and left his lips on my head. “I hate this. I hate all of this.”
“I do too. I’m so sorry, Ty.”
I dried my eyes enough to walk in the house. Conner was sitting on the couch and I didn’t notice Bella anywhere. “Ty needs you.”
He stood up and walked toward the door. “You alright?”
I nodded my head. “Yeah, we aren’t fightin’. Just somethin’ that needs to be done.”
Conner shook his head and walked outside. I stood at the door watching them. The last thing I saw was Conner punching Ty straight in the face.
Chapter 14
Ty
I thought about explaining things to Conner, giving him a reason to beat the shit out of me. Maybe it was wrong for bringing Heather back into our lives, but it was my only way to save my baby from a horrible woman and a broken heart. I’d give my own life to protect her, even my own happiness.
Conner came walking out toward me. I was in the exact place where Colt and I had tried to fight for Van. It brought back memories of my father coming and breaking us up. Conner must have seen the remorseful look in my eyes, because he stopped dead in his tracks and cocked his head.
“What’s goin’ on Bro?”
Just say it!
“I need you to hit me.”
“Come again?” Conner’s one eyebrow raised as he stood there with his arms folded waiting for me to explain.
“I need you to hit me, preferably in the jaw so it leaves a mark.”
In all of the fucking times that this guy had wanted to kill me, he just stood there expecting me to explain why I wanted him to do it. Looking at his face, it would have been easier to run into a door myself.
“Why am I doin’ this?”
“Because me and Miranda need it to look like she kicked me out and you beat me up. We can’t get those papers unless that bitch Heather takes the bait.”
He pointed to me. “Let me get this straight. My sister is now in on this scheme? She actually wants you to go see this Heather person?”
I held my hands up in the air. “Look, man, Miranda sent Heather this text message, basically causing the girl to refuse to help us get those papers. I don’t blame her for it at all, but now we’re desperate. I just think she would be more forgiving if she really thought me and Miranda were on the outs. If you don’t believe me, you can go ask her yourself. This was her idea. I told her no, but she insisted.”
“So, what are ya plannin’ to do when you get there?” I could tell he was getting defensive and I needed him to be.
“Not that! I would never do what you’re thinking. Look, I know everyone thinks I am this big cheater, but Van and I were kids when we got together. We were more friends than anything. Yeah, we had a physical relationship, but it was just going through the motions of it all. I loved her dearly, but neither of us were in love. She knew that as soon as she got with Colt. You can think whatever you want, but your sister is the only woman I have ever truly loved. I’d die for her, Dude. I’d do anything for her to be happy.”
“Nah, I believe you. Living with you two makes it easy to see how happy you are. I’ll admit, it was hard to accept, but they both love you and I know you return those feelin’s. Miranda’s a tough girl, but I know this has got to be killin’ her inside. If you’re doin’ this, then I want to help. Bella’s my niece and it’s important to me too.”
Conner drew back and hit me on the side of my jaw, before I could see it coming. He was shaking his hand as I turned around to look at him. My hand was already on my bleeding mouth. “What the fuck?”
“If I told you when I was doin’ it, you would have instinctively moved out of the way. I think you got what you wanted there.”
“Jesus Christ, this fucking hurts.” Conner stayed with me as I explained from the beginning what had happened. He seemed to really want to help and I was going to need it. Something told me this wasn’t going to go as planned. Heather was a lot of things, but she wasn’t stupid. She was going to know I was bluffing if I didn’t do a hell of a job convincing her otherwise. The thought made me sick.
I didn’t go back into the house and kiss Miranda goodbye. Instead, Conner went in his truck and grabbed me a duffle bag. “What’s this?”
“It’s got a change of clothes in it. I’ve kinda been seein’ someone and I never know if I need a change of clothes.”
“Who are you seeing?”
He held his hands up and shook his head. “It’s not what you’re thinkin’. It’s not really a booty call kind of thing. We’re just gettin’ to know each other, I reckon’.”