Page 68 of Truck Off

She stares at the container of fruit. Her eyes go wide like she’s seeing food for the first time. It causes something inside me to break. I know Lina has a tough time at home. She doesn’t have much, but the thought of her not having enough food to eat tugs at my insides. It makes me want to drag her to Grams and let Grams do what Grams does best—feed her.

Nobody goes hungry with Grams around. It didn’t matter how little we had growing up, Grams always made sure we had good food on the table.

I see the moment she gives in. Her shoulders drop and she lets out a slow breath.

“Thanks,” she whispers, then reaches out and plucks a small piece of pineapple from the container.

“Any time,” I say. “I always pack too much. I can’t eat all of this myself.” I lie.

Truth is, I eat a lot. Way more than the average person. I’m always on the go. Plus, working outside burns a lot of calories. I need to eat a lot to replenish my strength. But I’ll go without if it means Lina gets to eat.

I start to offer her all the fresh vegetables and fruits she wants once our crops are in, but Clara cuts in before I get the words out.

“Chase, tell them you can sing,” she demands.

“Uh?” I turn a confused gaze to her. I’d been so focused on Lina that I completely tuned their conversation out.

“We’re talking about Tide Waters and her amazing singing voice.” Trevor cuts in. “I said there’s no one in this county that could sing with her. Clara says you can. Is that true?”

I snort. “Fuck no. That woman sings like an angel.”

“Oh, come on.” Clara scolds. “You’re being modest. You have a great voice. You should duet with Tide sometime.”

“You can sing?” This comes from Lina. I meet her stare. The curious and needy look in her eyes has me nodding.

“Just at home and when no one is around.” I admit. “I just mess around on my guitar for fun. It relaxes me. No one ever hears me.”

“But Clara has?” Lina pushes. If I’m not mistaken, I hear a hint of pain and disappointment in her tone.

“That’s just because she’s like a sister to us. She’s always hanging around the house with Ash.”

“Not anymore,” Clara says under her breath.

I inwardly cringe at my mistake. After Clara stormed out of the bar when Ash showed up with his new girlfriend, I should have known better than to mention him.

Thankfully, Trevor keeps the conversation moving. “You should sing at karaoke night. I bet the crowd would love it.”

I wave him off. “The only way any of you are hearing me sing is if you sneak out to my house at sunrise and spy on me. Otherwise, it ain’t happening.”

“Boo! You’re no fun,” Karla teases.

“Spying it is.” Trevor jokes. “Just don’t go calling the cops when it happens.”

I flip them off and go back to eating my lunch. A few moments later, Lina gathers up her trash and pushes to her feet.

“Thanks for the sandwich,” she whispers, so only I can hear. I nod and then stare at her ass as she heads back toward the bus.

* * *

After an hour, a few new scrapes on my hands, and countless f-bombs later, Karla and I are finally putting in the last new spark plug. This old beast decided to be difficult with us on this last step. It took us most of that time getting the old plugs out. They were so corroded and covered in grime, they didn’t want to budge.

“Now what?” Karla asks as she pops in the last one.

“Now we change the oil filter and get some clean oil in this thing. Then we’ll see if she’ll start.”

“Sounds good, boss.”

I grumble at the nickname she started calling me after lunch, and she laughs.

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