Page 18 of Truck Off

By the time I stroll through the side door of the garage, everyone is elbows deep in work. Sophia is under a car, probably another oil change. Ash has his head under the hood of a racecar, while Mac is behind the wheel revving it up.

Liam is in his office doing whatever he does to keep this place running. Christian’s eyes are on me before the door even closes behind me, like he knew I was coming. He’s working on a restoration project for some rich dude out of Columbus. He got his hands on a 1948 Indian Chief and hired Christian to restore it to its former glory. I can’t wait to see it finished.

Christian studies my expression like he’s searching for something. I plaster on a smile, hoping it looks natural enough that he doesn’t read anything into it. Then his gaze narrows and I know I’m screwed. Christian can always tell when my smile is fake.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

I chuckle, and it sounds fake even to me. “Nothing. Why would you ask that?”

He lowers his voice as I step closer. “Because I know you better than anyone, and I can sense when something’s wrong.”

I shake my head. “Not this time. I’m fine. Promise.”

He stares at me, unflinching. He doesn’t believe me, and why would he? We’ve always been in sync like that. We’re each other’s living lie detectors.

“Hey, Chase!” Ash calls out from under the hood. “What are you doing over here today? Shouldn’t you be farming or some shit?”

“I had my work done before you even got out of bed, dumbass.” I tease, knowing that will piss him off.

“Not all of us have to get up before the butt crack of dawn to work, asshole.”

“Just imagine what you’d get done if you did. Might have an entire fleet of racecars ready to go.”

“Did you come here just to give me shit or do you need something?” Ash narrows his eyes in challenge.

“Nah.” I wave him off. “Came in to grab some tools. I need to change the oil on the tractor and give it a tune up before I start tilling next week.”

“Oh.” Ash looks disappointed. “And here I thought we’d banter and see who could piss the other off the fastest.”

I chuckle, and this time it’s genuine. “Not today, little brother. Still got shit to do.”

I turn to head toward the back wall where we keep the extra tools just as Liam comes out of his office.

“Hey, Chase, glad you stopped by. Do you have time to look at that Impala you worked on last month sometime this week? Apparently, it’s still acting up.”

“Sure.” I pause and think about my schedule. “Maybe Wednesday? Do you think that’ll work?”

“It should. I’ll let you know what I find out.” Liam turns back toward his office but pauses and spins to face me. “Oh, I heard Clara recruited you for the school bus derby race. How the hell did that happen?”

I shrug. “She said she asked Ash first, but he said he couldn’t make time for her, so she asked me. I said sure. It sounds like fun.”

“That’s not what I said!” Ash yells from behind me. I grin, knowing I riled him up. “I said the racing season was tight, and I didn’t want to over commit.”

“More like you don’t want to lose time with that girl you’ve been seeing.” Mac calls out from where he’s sitting.

Ash turns an angry glare at our baby brother. “I’m not seeing anyone.”

Mac snorts. “Sure you’re not. Don’t forget, I’m at all the races with you, and I’ve got eyes.”

“Me too,” Sophia singsongs from under the car. “You just don’t want Clara to know about it.”

Ash scoffs and waves them off. “You guys don’t know what you’re talking about. To prove my point, I’ll be at karaoke on Friday.”

“How does that prove your point?” I ask.

“If I had a girl, would I give up a Friday date night to hang out with you assholes at a hole in the wall?”

“Well, I won’t be there to find out,” I say. “I’ve got plans.”

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