Page 42 of Truck Off

Chase

It’s been five days since Lina found out about our little mistaken identity issue. I’ve called. I’ve texted. I’ve even tried to catch her outside of Country Ink. She refuses to talk to me.

I can’t say I blame her, but I refuse to give up on us.

There’s no denying the way she makes me feel. I know she feels it too. It’s evident in the way she kissed me back. Both times.

She may have thought I was Christian, but she reacted to me. I just need to figure out how to get her to give me a chance to prove that to her.

A sharp jab to my ankle pulls me from my thoughts. When I look down, Princess Fluffybutt is pecking at my leg.

“Sorry girl.” I drop some feed at my feet, and she immediately starts pecking at the ground instead. Now that she’s distracted by food, I rub behind her neck. This chicken may be a pain in my ass, but she’s my favorite. She’s got so much personality and spunk. Exactly how I like my women.

I finish feeding the chickens so I can gather the eggs without getting overrun. My girls are greedy when it comes to feeding time. Probably because I’ve spoiled them. Only the best for my girls.

Not only does it make them happy, but it ensures they produce the best eggs. That means Grams’s cooking is top-notch. Selfish, yes, but we all win in the end.

I’m back in the barn, sorting the eggs into cartons, when I hear shuffling behind me. I glance over my shoulder to find Grams leaning against the wall, watching me.

“Hey, what are you doing out here this morning?” I ask. “Need some eggs? I’m going to have to run to town and sell some of these before they go bad. The fridge is full.”

I keep a refrigerator in the barn for egg storage. I have enough chickens that it doesn’t take long to fill it up. About once a week, I take most of them to the market in town to restock their shelves. They usually sell out of our eggs within two days.

“Nah, got plenty for now. You go ahead and sell those.”

There’s something in the tone of her voice that I don’t like. I meet her gaze and see worry looking back at me. “Everything okay?”

“Dunno. You tell me.”

“Uh, not following.” I turn to face her and lean against the counter. Something is on Grams’s mind and I’m not getting out of this conversation until she says her peace.

“I haven’t seen you all week. Not once.” She raises a brow as if to challenge me to deny there’s meaning behind my absence. She’s not wrong, but I deny it anyway.

“You know this time of year is busy. Had to get the fields planted. Also been working on our private garden.”

“Bullshit.” She growls out and shakes her head. “Been doin’ that for years and that’s never stopped you from eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner with your family. What’s goin’ on Chase?”

“Nothing.” I lie. “Until now, I’ve lived at home. Got my own apartment now. Working on learning to feed myself.”

She narrows her eyes and studies me. Then she takes a step closer, shaking her head. “Not buyin’ it. Somethin’s wrong. There’s sadness in your eyes. You’re never sad.”

“Nope, not sad.” I insist, even though she’s not wrong. I’ve never been very good at hiding my feelings. “I got several new peach trees this week,” I say, hoping to change the subject. “Gonna plant them along the fence line behind the house. Should make for some great cobbler or preserves in a few years once they fruit.”

“That’s great. Can’t wait,” she deadpans. “But I don’t want to talk about fruit or gardens or eggs right now. I want to know why my happy-go-lucky grandson is sad.”

“I said I’m not sad.”

She gives me a knowing stare that says she knows me better than I know myself and that I am definitely sad.

I sigh, knowing she’s not going to let this go. “I’m fine, Grams. I swear.”

“Is it Lina?”

“Now, why would you ask me that?”

“Because you’ve had a crush on that girl since first grade. I’m guessing it didn’t go over so well when you told her the truth.”

“What? … How? …” I scrub my hands down my face. “Grams, what are you talking about? It was just one date. No lifelong crushes going on over here.”

---