Taming Tyler

Chapter Twenty

Mitch

W hen I got the text from Cal to come down to the bakery, I wasn’t expecting the shit show that met me. I’d just finished hanging up the banner in our living room and getting Bree dolled up when my phone chimed. When I arrived at Bake My Day, I was met by the Back in a Waffle! sign on the door, so I used my key. They were all in the back. All three of them. Theresa was fuming at her brother, her arms crossed in front of her chest, and Ty was all jittery, trying to explain something to her, gesturing wildly with his arms. Cal’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes watery, as he kept running his hands furiously through his hair. The kitchen was a mess, the smell of burnt sugar and pumpkin hanging just as heavily in the air as Theresa’s anger.

As soon as Cal saw me, he flew toward me, his eyes panicked as he grabbed my shoulders.

‘M, will you please tell my sister,’ he threw a worried glance in Theresa’s direction, ‘that I’m not cheating on you with Ty.’ Oh, shit. The cat was out of the bag. That’s what had caused a minor catastrophe at the bakery. Was I ready for it? For the world to know about Ty, Cal, and me? Not really, but some things you don’t get to decide for yourself. Looking between my two men, I motioned for Ty to come to me as I drew my husband against my chest. I noticed the initial hesitation in Ty’s eyes, then he smiled softly as he strode toward us and slid in between Cal and me—right where he belonged.

‘Your brother’s not a cheat, Reesa,’ I rasped, squeezing my entire world tightly against my chest as I exhaled a breath of relief. ‘We… hell, I don’t know how it happened but we’re a trouble, I guess.’ Theresa frowned, deflating slightly, her features so similar to Cal’s at that moment, while a low giggle vibrated against my chest.

‘Throuple,’ Ty chuckled, looking up at me, Cal’s face pressed against the back of his head as he tried to stifle a laugh. ‘You’re so silly, Daddy,’ Ty beamed at me, nibbling at his bottom lip. ‘I’m Trouble, remember? But we ,’ he looked over his shoulder at Cal, ‘We’re a throuple, Daddy.’ Throuple. Right.

‘Daddy?! Daddy?!’ Theresa quipped as she flew toward us, her high braid swinging from side to side. ‘Cal, what’s going on?’

‘Oops,’ Ty flushed. ‘My mistake.’ Then the goddamn brat started mimicking my deep voice. ‘The Daddy stuff stays at home, Ty, remember?’

‘Look,’ Cal let go of Ty and slid from my hold as he faced his sister. ‘I can’t explain this here. It’s gonna take a while… Let’s… Let’s close for today and we’ll go back to our place. Please, Reesa,’ he beckoned at his sister with his eyes, reaching tentatively for her hands. ‘I’ll explain everything, Reesa. I promise. It’s nothing bad. It’s… it’s really fucking great, actually.’

It’s not until I open our front door and Bree greets me with that stupid orange bowtie around her neck that I remember. It’s Ty’s birthday. I’d taken the day off so that Cal and I could surprise him when they got back from the bakery.

“Hey Bree girl,” Ty coos, crouching down in front of her, burying his face in her neck. “You’re so pretty. You know that right?” his soft voice fills the house that’s now a home again that my men are here. Then he notices the bowtie and pulls at it. “What’s this?” He looks up at me. Then his nose wrinkles, all cute and curious, and I know the second he notices the banner. “What’s going on?” he swallows, as tears slip from his eyes. “You… you remembered?” he whispers, brushing at his cheeks.

“Of course, I remember, Ty,” I rasp, my eyes stinging, my chest ablaze with so many feelings all at once. Happiness. Gratitude. A little anger, too, to realize that Ty’s surprised I remembered his birthday. But mostly just love. So much love. “Twenty-two, right?” I smile at him as I pull him from the floor and into my arms.

“Uh-huh,” Ty mumbles against my chest. Then he laughs. “Guess the store didn’t carry the kinda banner you wanted, huh, Mitchy?”

“Ha ha,” I grunt into his hair. “Very funny.”

“You did good, Daddy.” He looks up at me, beaming, before his gaze finds the banner again. “‘ Happy birthday, baby boy ,’” he whispers as he reads my handwriting on the white paper. “Thanks, Mitch.” He looks back at me, all serious. “I love it.” I love you, my heart echoes, and I have to bite my tongue not to blurt the words right here and now. Leaning in, Ty brushes his lips ever so softly against mine, humming contentedly into my mouth.

“You’re welcome, baby,” I murmur. “Happy birthday.” I feel his smile against my lips, a sigh wafting across my skin.

“It will be now that I’m with you again, Mitchy. And Cal. And Bree,” he laughs, the sound one of my favorites, along with Cal’s much deeper one. Then he shakes his head, black curls breaking free from his violet headband. “Do you think they’ve killed each other?” he muses just as the door opens and Theresa storms in, followed by an exasperated Cal.

“You should’ve told me!” she yells at him. “Now I look like an idiot, showing up empty-handed for a fucking birthday party!”

“I forgot, okay?” Cal pants, holding out his arms in defeat. Then he notices the banner, a broad grin blooming across his stubbled face. “Guess the store was all out of baby boy banners, huh, babe?” the asshole grins.

“That’s what I said!” Ty pipes up, bouncing on his feet.

Theresa buries her face in her hands, groaning, “If it’s gonna be like this from now on, I want a raise. A big one.”

“Don’t we all, Reesa,” Ty chuckles, skipping toward her, linking his arm through hers, as he sticks out his tongue at Cal and me. “Let me give you a quick tour before we eat cake—there’s cake, right Mitchy?” I just nod at him stupidly because, of course, there’s cake. Carrot. His favorite ever since he was a kid. With goddamn orange frosting. Cal snuck it home yesterday. Theresa looks confused as to why she needs a tour of the house, but I guess it’s Ty’s way of giving Cal and me some space.

“Great! You’ll stay for cake, right Reesa?” I clap my hands, eyeing Cal. He looks okay-ish. Maybe a little worn from the unexpected drama of the day.

“Do I have a choice?” she sighs but I can tell Ty’s winning her over too. Just like he’s won over Cal and me. He’s like that. Irresistible. We never really stood a chance.

“Nah…” he grins, an evil glimmer in his cinnamon eyes. “The only choice you get is if you want the boring tour where I show you all the boring houseplants I’ve now named, by the way—because can you believe your brother and Mitch didn’t name their plants? Harold was really depressed,” he gasps in mock horror.

“Harold?” Theresa looks around the living room, a dazed look on her face. It’s a lot. I know. Finding out your brother is in a throuple and being subjected to Ty’s word vomit all in the same day. The poor girl does need a raise.

“Yes, the cactus in the bedroom. He’s happy now, though, after I gave him a name and he gets a kinky live show every night when your bro—”

“Ty!” Cal yells after them. “Behave, now .”

“Yes, Da—Cal-Bear,” he smirks, batting his eyelashes. Cal growls audibly as he pulls at his hair, which already looks like he went through one of those wind tunnels.

“What’s the other option?” Theresa asks as one edge of the banner starts loosening, the tape peeling off the wall.

“Huh?” Ty says, then he brightens up, clapping his hands excitedly. “Uhhh, sis! I can call you sis, right? We’re family now, after all. You’re gonna looove that one. That’s the kinky one whe—”

“Yeah, there’ll be none of that!” I say and now I’m the one growling.

“Ugh, lighten up, Grumpy!” Ty laughs, his eyes fiery with trouble. “I was just kidding.” He blows me a kiss before he quickly grabs Theresa’s hand, whisper-yelling, “I’m not kidding!” and pulls her toward the bedroom. Shit. The little brat is going to get it later. If I don’t crash from exhaustion first.