Page 88 of Truck Up

I glance around to find her still sitting at the table with her friends. Mac won a major race today, so we all came out to Posey’s Lounge to celebrate. This might be the first time in a really long time that all my brothers have been out together at the same time. Even grumpy Warren and Garret came out to join in the fun.

Amelia waves me over to the table as she pushes to her feet.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“I think I’m going to leave. The smoke in here is bothering me.”

The smoke is bothering me too. A drag from a cigarette sounds so good. So far, I’ve resisted.

I pull her close to my side and kiss the side of her head. “Give me a minute, and I’ll drive you home.”

She pats me on the chest. “Nova and Hadley can take me. You stay and have fun.”

“You sure?”

She nods. “I think we’re going to watch a movie. Knowing me, I’ll fall asleep.”

I smile because she’s probably right. This pregnancy has made her exhausted, and she struggles to stay awake past nine o’clock.

“Okay. I won’t be too late.”

She cups my cheeks and gives me a kiss. “Stay as long as you like.”

Then she waves goodbye to everyone as she exits the game room with her friends.

“Man, you are whipped,” Ash teases. I glance over at him. He’s sitting next to Clara, and they’ve been chatting about some book she read. His girlfriend, Andrea, is sitting next to him with her arms crossed over her chest, frowning.

I nod in her direction. “Maybe you should worry about your relationship and stay out of mine.”

He looks at Andrea, and his frown matches hers. “What?”

She huffs and rolls her eyes. “You’re an idiot.”

He furrows his brows, clearly clueless as to why she’s upset. He’s hardly said two words to her all night.

“Why does everyone keep calling me that?” He asks, and everyone in earshot laughs, including Clara. He turns to her, his expression shifting from frustration to confusion. “And why are you laughing?”

Clara clears her throat and tries to hide the smile on her face, but fails. “Because your girlfriend is right. You’re an idiot.”

Ash falls back into his chair, clearly not catching on to what’s being said.

Andrea is a nice girl, but she doesn’t fit in with us. Maybe that’s because none of us have really accepted her. She’s not Clara and never will be.

We’ve all seen what Ash hasn’t been able to see in his entire life. Clara has been in love with him since they were kids, but all he’s ever seen her as is his best friend. Even Andrea can see how Clara feels.

“I can’t do this anymore.” Andrea pushes to her feet and shrugs her jacket on.

“Do what?” Ash reaches for her hand, but she pulls away. “Andrea, talk to me.”

“Why?” She snaps. “I don’t even understand why I’m here. All you’ve done is talk toherall night.”

She points at Clara with an angry look on her face. Ash stares at her with a blank expression. He really doesn’t get it. “She’s just my friend. You know that.”

“Yeah, but does she?” The accusatory tone of her voice has the room falling silent.

Clara freezes, her eyes widening in disbelief. In all these years, no one has called Clara out in front of Ash like this before.

Ash furrows his brow and looks at Clara. He stares at her for so long I think he’s finally seeing what we’ve seen for years. But then he busts out laughing.

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