Page 107 of Truck Off

I squeeze my eyes closed to fight back the tears. Between the conversation I just had with Dad and Chase’s comforting words, I’m an emotional mess.

“Thank you,” I whisper back as I wrap my arms around him in a tight hug.

Chase relaxes against me in a way I’ve never quite felt before. Then he kisses the side of my head. “Anything for you.”

I watch as they head back outside. Christian walks around the trailer with a flashlight and reappears a moment later. He points toward one side, then Chase hops into his truck, backs it out, then turns around so he can back the bed up in the direction Christian pointed.

It takes both of them to get the generator out of the truck and positioned on the side of the house. About ten minutes later, a rumbling sound fills the air, and the lights flicker on. Dad’s window air conditioner kicks on next.

I shut the window Chase opened earlier, and then head to the kitchen. Even though I hear the fan running on the refrigerator, I make sure it’s working.

A few minutes later, I hear a truck start up, followed by the sound of tires running over gravel. I hold my breath and wait, not letting it out until I hear the front door open.

“You should be good for the night, George,” Chase says to my dad. “There’s extra gas next to it. I’ll refill it in the morning before I leave for work. Hopefully that will get you through until the power is back on.”

“Thank you, son. I appreciate you helping us out. That’s mighty kind of you.”

Chase looks at me and smiles. “It’s no trouble at all. Glad I was able to help.”

“Well, I’m gonna go get ready for bed,” Dad says as he pushes to his feet. “Probably gonna sleep in the recliner since it got so hot in here. No lecturing me, Lina.”

Dad waves over his head as he heads down the hallway to his bedroom. Once his door clicks shut, I relax. Normally I’d give him shit about sleeping in his recliner. He gets better rest in his bed. But with the power being out for so long, his room is no doubt too hot to be comfortable.

The window unit in the living room isn’t enough to cool the entire trailer, but it usually takes the edge off the heat in the other rooms. Tonight will not be one of those nights.

Chase takes my hand and drags me toward my bedroom. He stops to grab a bag I hadn’t noticed him bring in with him.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Taking you to bed. You’re exhausted.”

“No, I mean what’s with the bag?”

He looks at the bag in his hands with a furrowed brow. “I packed a few things before I headed back over.”

“Chase, you don’t have to stay with me. I’m sure it’s hot in my room, and I only have a twin-sized bed.”

He stops and pulls me flush against him. “Baby, I am not leaving you tonight. Not after the day you’ve had.” He lifts his hand and traces his finger along the bruises on my neck that I still haven’t seen. Between my tattoos and the darkness from having no power, my dad couldn’t see them. I hope he never sees them. “I’m staying.”

I nod in understanding. Coming home to no power pushed the events from earlier out of my mind. I’d momentarily forgotten about the run in with Charlie.

I’d prefer to forget about it anyway.

We get ready for bed in silence. Chase uses the bathroom first, taking his toothbrush with him. I change into sleep shorts and a thin tank top that will be cool. I’m already sweating, and I imagine it’ll only get hotter once we’re both crammed together on my tiny bed.

I stare down at it and try to picture us curled up together. It’s going to be a tight fit, and if it were cooler, a cozy fit. But as it is, we’re going to turn into a puddle of sweat.

Being early June, the night air still gets cool. Hopefully, that’s the case tonight. I dig the box fan from out of the closet and clear the few things I have sitting on the windowsill out of the way.

“Let me do that,” Chase says as he steps up behind me. I turn to face him and my heart flutters at the sight of him. He’s in nothing but a pair of dark blue boxer briefs. Every clean muscle from his shoulders to the waistband is on full display. My mouth waters and I have to clench my thighs together from the heat pooling between my legs.

“Baby, don’t look at me like that when I can’t do anything about it.” His voice is rough and gravelly.

“What do you mean?” I step closer to him and run my finger along the tight rows of muscles down his abs. I linger at the ones just above the edge of his boxers, right where I’d put a tattoo if he’d let me. “I’m right here. You can do whatever you want.”

He shakes his head. “Not in your father’s home. I can’t. That’s disrespectful.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m a grown woman and my dad knows I’m not innocent.”

---