Page 35 of Truck Off

“I can and I will.” He cuts me off. “I already told you. I take care of those I care about. And I care about you. So go right ahead and prepare to be pissed at me a lot because it’s happening.”

I growl, and he laughs.

“I like it when you growl, Grumps. It’s sexy.”

“I’m not trying to be sexy right now. I’m pissed.”

“Still like it.” His tone has shifted to playful and happy. I smile without even realizing I’m doing it. I want to stay mad at him. His gift makes me nervous and fills me with a sense of obligation. I don’t want to be beholden to anyone. Ever.

“Then you’re in luck. I growl and frown a lot. That you don’t surprises me. You smile and joke around a lot more than I expected.”

He’s quiet for a moment. So quiet, I don’t think he’s going to respond. But then he does.

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No.” I answer before I have time to think about it. And it’s true. I like his sense of humor and easy smile. It gives him charm I didn’t know he possessed. “Your smile makes me feel better.”

“Good. That makes me happy.”

We talk until I reach my driveway, falling into easy conversation. It’s like we’ve been doing this for years when it’s the first time we’ve ever talked on the phone.

I’ve always had a crush on Christian, but now I can see that crush developing into something so much more.

I just hope he’s looking for the same things I am. If not, my heart may not survive.

Chapter 8

There’s way too much pretending going on around here

Chase

Rather than eat breakfast alone in my apartment again, I decide to head to the main house to see what Grams is making for everyone else. I finished all my early morning chores, and I’ve got some time to spare before a meeting I have before lunch. I could use some of Grams’s cooking. Plus, I miss my brothers.

I love having my own space, but I miss my family far more than I thought I would. I still see them every day, but living apart from them makes it different somehow. Like there’s a distance between us that I’ll never be able to eliminate again.

I don’t like it, but I’m thirty fucking years old. It’s time I live on my own.

Garret managed to move into his own place, and he survived. Granted, he’s a grumpy bastard who likes solitude. I like people. Hell, I need people around me in order to feel human.

This living alone thing is definitely going to take me some time to get used to.

I hear the low rumble of my family before I even open the back door. Everyone is probably around the large dining table in the kitchen, joking or razzing each other about something stupid one of them did.

And I’m missing out.

I jog the last few steps to the back door and pull it open. After kicking off my shoes, I march into the kitchen, same as I always did after finishing up the morning farm chores.

All my brothers, except Garret and Warren, are sitting around the table laughing and eating. Grams is at the stove, and I don’t see Dad.

My heart lurches when I see a plate set at my usual seat at the table. I look over at Grams and she nods. It’s as if she could read my mind and knew I’d be here.

I pull out my chair and plop down. My brothers are already eating—eggs, bacon, and toast. Before anyone even acknowledges that I’m there, Grams scoops some scrambled eggs onto my plate, and I grab a few pieces of bacon from the dish on the table.

“Don’t forget we’ve got those Euchre scrimmages next week. Are you prepared for it?” Grams asks with a hint of concern in her voice.

“Yeah, I remember. And I will be there. Don’t you worry.”

As if I could ever let Grams down. None of us enjoy these Euchre tournaments we play in with Grams, but it’s important to her, therefore it’s important to us.

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