Page 55 of Truck Off

She takes a slow, measured drink of her wine. Jayla isn’t a fan of beer like me. She typically thinks before she reacts, whereas I fly off the handle before I even allow myself time to process what’s happening. We are opposites in a lot of ways, and yet we see the world similarly. It’s why we’ve always been such good friends.

Based on the look on her face, that’s about to change. She’s going to push me to forgive Chase.

“Lina, you know I love you like you’re my blood, but sometimes your stubbornness hurts you.”

“Stubbornness? You’re messing with me, right? He lied to me. About his identity. I can’t forgive him for that.”

“Sure you can. You just don’t want to.” She pins me with a serious stare. “You and I both know that you really like the man who took you out on a date. He had you feeling things you haven’t felt in a really long time. That man was Chase. Give him another chance.”

I’m shaking my head before she even finishes speaking. “You know I can’t. Lying is a deal breaker for me. And this isn’t just some simple white lie. He lied about his identity. That’s huge. I can’t let that kind of behavior into my life.”

“Whatever you say.” She slips off her stool and pats my back. “I’m going to the restroom. Be back in a minute.”

I watch Jayla walk away before I take a moment to scan the bar. It’s a little early for the poker crowd. There are a few regulars huddled around tables, but it’s mostly just us and a few MC members. I imagine the Kochs and the Mutters will be here soon. A few of them play poker and the rest always come to hackle the players.

“Here you go, doll,” Sally, the bartender, says as he slides a fresh draft in front of me. I’m not a huge fan of Bud, but they keep Sam Adams lager on tap. That’s much more to my tastes even though it is more expensive.

“Thanks.” I nod in Sally’s direction. I can’t help but smile as he heads to the other end of the bar to pour another drink.

Sally is one of the oldest members of the club, and one of the few from my dad’s days as a member that’s always been kind to me. He’s getting close to seventy, but unlike my dad, he’s still as spry as ever. I’ve no clue what his real name is. Everyone has always called him Sally because of his obsession with the actress Sally Field.

From the jokes I hear tossed around some nights, he makes the younger members watch all of Sally Field’s older movies. I don’t think they’re fans, but they appease Sally because they respect him.

Jayla’s bar stool shifts and I turn to face her. Only it’s not her taking the seat.

“Edge.” I frown at the current MC president. He’s nothing like Smoke, but his presence still makes me uneasy.

“Lina.” He nods in Sally’s direction and within moments a whiskey neat is in his hand. He takes a heavy sip before he turns his steely blue-gray eyes on me. “Did your dad tell you we stopped by?”

My entire body tenses at his words. Not because I’m afraid of Edge—I’m not—it’s because I want nothing to do with the MC. I don’t care that he’s a better president or that he’s one of the best-looking men in this area. I don’t want their help.

I don’t know how old he really is, but he has to be in his early fifties. He’s one of those handsome men that just keeps getting better looking with age. His hair is still dark, but his short beard is mostly gray. Add in his large muscular build, tattoos, and firm abs, and he’s hard to not stare at. I kinda hate him more for it.

My hand tightens around my mug, and I sit up straight. I refuse to let him intimidate me. “He did.”

“And he told you I want to help?”

I let out a frustrated huff. “I refuse to be indebted to the club. I can’t accept your help.”

Edge lifts his hand in surrender. “The debt is all ours. Your family was unfairly treated by the former president. I want to make it right.”

“We’re fine.” I snap. “There’s nothing we need you to do.”

He raises his brows, calling my bullshit. “You have no hot water, the ceiling is falling in on you, the carpet is moldy, and you can barely stock food in the kitchen. You’re not fine.”

I internally growl about the fact that Dad shared our struggles with him. I don’t want others to know how bad things are. “I’m handling it.”

“How long before the electricity is shut off? You can’t keep this up, Lina. And you shouldn’t have to. The club takes care of their own. Current and retired.”

My eyes snap to his, and there’s fury burning deep within. “Since when did the club ever take care of us?”

“Lina.” He sighs in exasperation and rubs the bridge of his nose. “I wish I could change how Smoke treated you and your family. I can’t change the past, but I can pay the debt owed to you and your family because of those actions.”

He picks up his whiskey and downs the rest in one swallow, and then he turns his gaze back to me. It’s cold, but non-threatening. “I’m a patient man. I’ll give you a little more time to get used to the idea, but mark my words, I will fix this with or without your approval. I can’t sit back and let you struggle. You deserve better. Your father deserves better.”

He pushes to his feet and leans into the bar. “Sally, her tab is on the house. Whatever she and her friend want. I’ve got it.”

Sally nods and Edge charges off before I can object. And I definitely want to object to it all. My pain and pride refuse to accept anything from the club. Even free drinks.

---