Page 38 of Truck Off

“Nice to meet you both. I’m Chase Mutter.”

“Same,” Trevor says. “I assume you’re our mechanic?”

“Yep.” My grin is wide. I love projects like this. No stress or business consequences if things go wrong. Just some good old-fashioned fun. “Clara asked me to help you turn this bus into a racing machine. Let’s hope I can deliver.”

“You’re being modest,” Clara returns my smile with an eye roll. “Chase’s cars always win.”

“I lose sometimes.” I nudge Clara with my elbow. “But not often. I’d say the odds are in our favor.”

“There’s the cocky Mutter that I’ve grown to love.” Clara teases. “Keep that attitude and nothing will stop you.”

“So now that we’ve established that we can’t lose, what are we up against?”

“There are five teams for each school district. Eastern, that’s us of course, Pike CTC, Piketon, Waverly, and Western. Each team is allowed six members and no more. If we bring anyone else in and get caught, we’re disqualified.”

“There’s only four of us here,” I say.

“We have two more members. Mac promised to drive. I figured you could serve as the mechanic and direct us on race day. Karla has some knowledge of cars, so she’ll help you. That leaves—”

“Sorry I’m late. Had to help my dad this morning. It won’t happen again.” Lina comes running through the back door. When her eyes meet mine, she freezes. “What are you doing here?”

I give her a huge smile and try not to let my surprise show. From the way she asked that question, I’d say she thinks I’m Christian.

“I’m a mechanic. What role are you serving?”

Lina’s eyes shift between me and Clara. I see the moment she begins to question whether I’m Christian or Chase. Thankfully, Clara steps in and clears it up for her.

“Chase, you know Lina, right? She’ll head up the art team. Trevor and I will help her. We’ve got to decorate the bus as part of the race.”

“Of course I know Lina. We went to school together.” I force my grin so wide it hurts. There’s no way I can let her find out like this that I’m the one she went out with. “Plus, I see her at Posey’s a lot.”

Lina’s gaze meets mine again, and the air suddenly feels heavy. Her eyes narrow as she studies me.

My heart rate kicks up several notches as something dangerously close to recognition flashes across her expression. This is too much. Too much tension. Too much pretending. And way too many opportunities to fuck this up. I’ve got to fix this mix up between us, and fast.

Thankfully, she shakes her head and focuses on Clara.

My shoulders relax, but only slightly, as the meeting kicks off. My focus is on high alert. I cannot let her find out this way that I’ve lied to her.

She’ll never forgive me if she does.

Chapter 9

Grumps gives it away

Lina

My gut is screaming at me that this is not Chase, but Christian. My body is aware of him in the same way it was when we ran into each other at Koch’s Pit Stop and again on our date.

There’s something about his eyes that’s so familiar and telling. The slight sparkle that always lightens his chocolate brown eyes calls to me. I know those eyes. Even his smile—though much wider than normal—is familiar.

Is this a twin thing? They are identical.

I shake my head and try to focus on the reason I’m here. I may have known Christian and Chase my entire life, but it’s not like I’ve spent a lot of time with either of them until recently.

It definitely has to be a twin thing.

“Lina, have you met Karla and Trevor?” Clara says, dragging me back to the here and now. I push my confusing thoughts aside and focus my attention on her.

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