I Love You For Me

Here For Me

A week later Tuck was able to go home for recovery. The whole week Ben was with Miranda and she was grateful to have his support. Even though Tucker was there as well it wasn't the same because there was hostility and tension. Ben drove behind Miranda as they made their way to the apartment and he helped her carry all of Tuck's things back up to the apartment. When they made it inside Tucker was already there waiting.

"Hey lil man," Tucker said taking his car seat from Miranda.

Miranda turned to Ben and took some of the bags out of his hand as they walked to Tuck's nursery. "Thank you Benjamin for being here for me."

"You're my best friend Miranda, of course I'm going to be here for you," Ben replied as he helped to put things away.

"I know but I feel like we keep having this periods of time where we're not in each other's life and I don't want it to be that way anymore."

"Well we can fix that. Start spending time together again. I can be here to help with Tuck's recovery and we can just hang out, eat food and talk like old times. I can tell you about the surgeries I have while you are out to take care of Tuck."

"I would love that so much," Miranda said hugging Ben.

Ben hugged her back and felt this pang in his chest as they touched. He clenched his jaw not wanting to feel any feelings for his best friend. They'd let go of that possibility a long time ago.

"Something wrong," Tucker said walking into the nursery with Tuck.

"Oh no, just thanking him for being here," Miranda said backing away from Ben.

"Yeah, thanks for always being here," Tucker said in a tone mixed with sincerity and sarcasm.

"Well I'll just go but I will stop by tomorrow to check on my little guy," Ben said.

"Yeah, he is still pretty tired so we will just lay him down for a nap," Miranda said before following Ben out of the room and out the front door.

"You really don't have to go, he is just being jerk like always. I want you here."

"I know Miranda but no matter what is going on this is his home. Even though you are my best friend, you are his wife and ever since a few years ago it's been awkward between us. I'm just trying to keep some respect and boundaries. I'll talk to you later," Ben said kissing her forehead and walking away.

Miranda walked back into the apartment and Tucker was sitting in the living room with the TV remote in his hand.

"He gone?"

"You already know the answer to that question."

"The way you went after him I figured you wanted him to stay so you don't have to talk to me."

"What is there to talk about Tucker Jones? And why are you always making things awkward for him?"

"Why did you agree to be my wife? It's obvious you want to be his and he would love it too," Tucker shot her.

"If you felt like that was the case why would make me your wife?" Miranda refuted.

"Honestly at this point I'm not sure what I was thinking," Tucker said staring at Miranda.

"I believe you, especially after finding all those emails between you and one of the women from the mommy and me group that I didn't know you joined.

Tucker looked shocked then looked away. "What were you doing in my laptop?"

"That's not the point Tucker. How about we not talk unless it's about our son," Miranda said before walking away.

"That's fine. I'm going to be staying with a friend's until I can get my own place. This marriage stopped being worth fighting for a long time ago," Tucker said as he got up to check on Tuck then leave.