Loving Her by Jennifer Foor

every night before bed.”
    “I don’t have a book, but I bet people would buy that shit.” Miranda wouldn’t complain if my actions made her rich. “Just think about it, baby, I could buy you diamonds, fancy cars, and all the sex toys your heart desires.”
    Miranda kicked me under the table. “Shut up. I don’t care about any of that. I’d rather have a husband that knew how to act his age, at least for twenty four hours in a row.”
    “Sorry, I’d need a lot of medication for something like that to happen,” I teased.
    Colt shook his head and we saw the twins walking in the kitchen. The puppy had been sleeping in the corner and Jax picked her up. “Get up puppy.”
    They started carrying her out of the room. “Hey, where do you think you’re going with her? ”
    “Nowhere,” Jake replied.
    The four of us knew that nothing always meant something. “Put that dog down and go find something to do that doesn’t cause destruction, or I’m going to take you to the guest house and leave your butts there alone. Remember that monster living under the bed?”
    They put the puppy down and ran out of the kitchen.
    Miranda nudged me. “Great, Ty. They’re goin’ to be sleepin’ with us tonight.”
    She was right, but at least I got a kick out of seeing them scared
    “They’re sleeping here, right Colt?” I smiled and looked over at my cousin, who didn’t seem amused. “That’s what Van told me upstairs.”
    She tried to kick me under the table, but ended up making contact with Miranda’s leg. “Ouch, shit! That was my leg!” Miranda leaned down and rubbed her limb while Van put her hands over her face.
    “Oh my God, I’m sorry. I meant to kick the ass sitting next to you.”
    Miranda elbowed me as I began to laugh.
    “Actually, Ty, I recall Randa and Savanna sayin’ the kids were all stayin’ at the guest house with you, on account of us needin’ some alone time.”
    “What do you need alone time for? You’re too old to perform. Did the Doc finally prescribe you Viagra?”
    Colt looked annoyed, but realized that if he tried to come back at me, I’d keep pushing his buttons. “Yeah, that’s exactly what happened. In fact, I already took one a few minutes ago. In about an hour, we’re goin’ to need to go upstairs.”
    The room got quiet, and only him and I started laughing.
    Van shook her head. “I heard those pills make a man last for like four hours. Who has time for that? I want twenty minutes and then I’m ready for bed.”
    Miranda giggled. “I know, right? It’s a good thing Ty’s a minute man.”
    They laughed more.
    I gave them both dirty looks. “I have never been a minute man.”
    That was apparently funnier. They reached across the table and held hands laughing, as if they’d discussed the subject before.
    “Keep telling yourself that, Ty.”
    Even Colt, who normally got pissed when my old relationship with Van was brought up, seemed amused. “You got them gangin’ up on you now, cuz.”
    “Yeah, paybacks are a bitch.
    “It’s not your fault. Some men just can’t perform for long periods of time. That’s what they created vibrators for,” Van blurted out.
    “Right, every woman owns a rabbit,” Miranda added.
    “Are we going to play cards, or make fun of me all night?”
    Colt reached his arms behind his head. “I’m pretty entertained.”
    It was a good thing the puppy was in the kitchen, because the smell of dog shit got everyone’s attention at once. “Whoa!”
    “Oh crap!” Van jumped up and grabbed paper towels and cleaner. “I’ve never trained a puppy before. How long does it normally take?”
    Colt laughed. “Darlin’, it’s goin’ to take a little more than one day. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure we all take turns lettin’ her out.”
    I had to laugh, knowing that Van never really had pets. She didn’t have a clue when it came to puppies. It was pretty funny, considering her husband ran a ranch full of livestock.
    After a good fifteen