Love Will Be Waiting

The week flew by and, to Miranda's surprise, the weekend was here again. And her son, Tuck was clambering into bed between her and Ben. "Oooph. Good morning, William George."

"Good morning, mommy," he said getting underneath the covers.

"What the—?!" Ben said waking up. He laughed when he looked down and saw Tuck's toothy grin. "Morning, little man."

Tuck smiled. "Morning, Ben."

Miranda smiled at her two favorite guys as the house phone rang. She reached over to get it. "Hello?"

"Mandy Bailey," her ex-husband, Tucker said.

"That's me," she said with a yawn as Ben tickled Tuck. He treated Tuck just like his own son. They had such great chemistry and a relationship that didn't include her. It was wonderful. "What's up, Tucker Jones?"

"Um, I need my big guy this weekend." Miranda didn't answer. "I know it's your weekend, but I just got front row tickets to the Trailblazers."

"Portland, Tucker?"

"Yeah, but they're front row, Mandy."

"I heard you the first time," she said. Ben and Tuck were looking at her. "Fine, what time are you coming?"

"I'll be there in an hour."

She sighed. "Okay." Miranda ended the call. "Tuck, your dad is coming to get you to take you to a Portland Trailblazers game. So go and get ready."

Her son's eyes bulged. "Really?! Damian Lilliard!?" She nodded. He hugged her and jumped out of bed, heading to his room.

"A Blazers game?" Ben said, his eyes getting just as big. Miranda nodded and mouthed: Front row. "Damn, does he have an extra ticket?"

"For who?"

"For me," Ben said and they laughed.

Miranda hit his arm. "You would leave me all alone to go to a ball game with my son and ex-husband," she asked gesturing to her body.

His eyes scanned her full body, looking and touching her curves. "On second thought… yes. I would." She picked up a pillow and hit him with it. "Can you call him back?" He asked with a loud laugh. She joined in. Ben grabbed her hands and pulled her on top of him. He looked up at her. "Now, this is a show worth seeing," he said pulling her in for a kiss. She felt him getting hard underneath her and adjusted herself, making him moan loudly. Tuck knocked on the door. "Uh, come on in, buddy," Ben said taking a deep breath as Miranda rolled off of her husband. Ben put his arm underneath her head.

"Do I need to pack my bag or just get dressed?"

"Both," Miranda and Ben said at the same time.

"You guys are probably going to stay overnight," Ben told him. Tuck nodded firmly and bounded out of the room, closing it behind him.

Miranda kissed Ben's arm and started to get out of the bed. He pulled her back down. "Now, where were we?" He put his hand on her head pulling her in for a kiss, running his fingers through her hair. There was another knock on the door.

"Come on in, William," Miranda said putting her head back on Ben's arm, their hands intertwined.

Tuck poked his head into in the room. "Take a jacket?" Tuck asked.

"What do you think?" Miranda asked.

"Take my jacket," Tuck said with a huge smile. He started to leave. "What are you two gonna do while I'm gone?"

"Us?" Miranda asked looking from her son to her husband.

"Watch TV, look at the game and see if we can spot you on the big screen," Ben added with a smile. That satisfied Tuck and he left again.

"Seriously, Ben Warren, I have to get up. I have to help my child get ready." Ben nodded while kissing her. She backed off of the bed and grabbed her robe from the closet door, smiling over her shoulder.

"Tease!" He called out as she left the room.

When the doorbell rang, Ben, Miranda and Tuck were in the kitchen eating bowls of cereal. "He's here!" Tuck shouted in mid-conversation. Miranda tightened her robe and walked to the door with Ben behind her. He slipped an arm around her waist. "Daddy!" Tuck said jumping into the arms of a 6-foot-5 Tucker.

"Son!" Tucker said in his bass-filled voice, the one that used to make Miranda tremble.

"Tucker Jones," she said.

"Mandy Bailey," he answered and they both smiled and hugged.

"Hey, Ben," Tucker said and he shook hands with Ben. Ben greeted him back. Miranda loved watching them interact and loved seeing if she could sense any animosity between the men. She couldn't and that pleased her. And it meant that Tucker approved of Ben and that Ben didn't judge her for loving and marrying Tucker. Neither one was a big concern for her, but it was nice to know that they liked each other. They'd even hung out a few times. "Hey! Ben, I could probably get an extra ticket if you wanna come along. Or you, Mandy."

Miranda licked her lips and looked at her husband. She could see his mind rattling. He really wanted to go, but he didn't want to leave her by herself, didn't want to leave her at all. She felt his confliction. "Who are they playing, Jonesy?" Miranda asked.

"The Bulls," Tucker answered picking up Tuck's bag.

Ben made a noise. Tucker and Tuck looked at Ben with odd expressions on their faces. "Baby, just go," she said to Ben. "Go and have fun."

"Seriously?" He said smiling down at her, his eyes small. "I can stay. It's just a game."

"Have you ever been front row to a Bulls' game?" She asked. He shook his head. "Then, go, I'll just throw myself into my work and my lab." She looked at him. "If that's okay with you." He nodded and he threw his hands around her waist, lifting her off of the ground and kissing her. She giggled. "Tucker, thanks for the invite, bro, I'm just gonna go and, uh, get some stuff together."

"I'm going to go and help him!" Tuck said, running after Ben.

"Is this a test for Ben?" Tucker asked with a laugh. She shook her head. "So, you're really okay with him going?"

"He's not my child, he's my husband and if he wants to go, he can go. Especially since I'm totally, totally alright with." Tucker nodded. "I'm mad you're taking my two favorite guys away from me, though," she said smiling at the much taller Tucker.

"You told me once that I was your favorite guy."

"Yeah, that was before I had a child and before I met the love of my life."

"Touché ," he said as Ben and Tuck rushed down the stairs.

"So, you three will be gone all weekend?" She asked them. They nodded. "And I'll be all alone?"

"Call Auntie Callie," Tuck said. Ben nodded.

"That is a great idea, young sir," Miranda told Tuck. She could invite Callie and a few ladies from the hopsital over and they could have a good old-fashioned girls night. She was so excited. "Call or text me when you guys get there, please." They assured her they would.

She hugged Tucker. And hugged Tuck, kissing him on the head. Father and son headed out of the door. Ben held back. "You're sure, baby. Honestly, I'd rather be here with you. You know that, right?"

She nodded. "Go. Have fun and you'd better bring me back a souvenir."

He chuckled. "Okay. I will."

"But, you know, at night, while it's dark… I will be here, all alone, in bed, thinking about you." She bit her bottom lip. Ben squinted at her and licked his lips. "So, hurry back."

He closed his eyes with a growl. "You are killing me," he said laughing. He leaned in and gave her a kiss and then was gone.