Page 87 of Truck Stop Titan

“I know, right? He gets all grumpy, acts like it’s a burden when Mim needs him, but behind closed doors, he’s all gooey and sweet with her. He sings to her when he thinks nobody is listening.”

“That’s Dane. When we were kids, his cousin, Addison, used to get herself into all kinds of trouble. He would get so mad at her, but swear to God, he was always there to bail her out, even when she didn’t ask for help, even when she fought him tooth and nail.”

“Where’s Addison now?”

“She died.” Slade turned her head. Rubbed the back of her hand over her cheek. “Almost eight years ago.”

“Oh.” I finished pouring creamer into my cup, then joined Slade at the table, resting a hand over hers. “Must’ve been hard losing your friend.”

She nodded, teary gaze aimed over my shoulder. “Harder for Dane, I suspect. Although he’d never admit how much he misses her.”

Slade took a sip of coffee, set her mug down, then fidgeted, dragging her fingers over the flyer Mim had set down earlier. “Have you heard from Dane? He isn’t returning my calls.”

God, that question hit like a punch to the gut. “No. Haven’t heard from him in a few days.”

Slade studied my face, her bright blue eyes reflecting the turmoil that ate at my insides.

“Can I ask you something?” She leaned forward, crossing her arms on the table.

I nodded, unease slithering through me.

“Are you and Dane an item?”

My blood ran cold, eliciting a shiver. Dane and I were something, though I was hesitant to add a label to our unusual relationship. My brain reeled, searching for a suitable answer.

A problem solved by two effin’ kids.

Rocky came barreling down the hall, Mim in tow, their hands entwined like long-time best friends. “Mom! Mom! Guess what Mim just told me?”

Much to my horror, he did not wait for Slade to guess.

“Mim is going to have a baby brother or sister and Dane is going to be their daddy!”

Slade’s coffee landed on the floor with a dull thud, splashing my feet and legs. Neither one of us acknowledged the spill, sharing a silent stare down laced with tension.

I silently begged her, “Please keep this between us.”

She wordlessly communicated disappointment, her eyes narrowing, a red glow spreading across her cheeks.

Unable to bear the scrutiny, I hopped up to grab a towel, then gripped the counter, fighting a wave of nausea.

Behind me, Slade said, “Mim. Go grab your swimsuit and a towel. It’s supposed to be hot today.”

I waited for the pitter-patter of feet to reach Mim’s room before turning, and blurting, because I really needed her to know, “I love him. I don’t know how or why, or that I could fall in love with anyone that fast, and I know it sounds crazy, but I love him.”

“Oh, Moriah.” Slade wrapped her arms around me once again. “I’m so mad at Dane right now, and I wish I could tell you why, but I can’t. And I am happy for you. I really am. And I think I’m happy for Dane, too. At least, I would be, if I wasn’t so mad at him. But. Oh, God. He’s going to be a dad, and you’re going to be a mom, and if there’s one thing I know about that big jackass is that he’ll move heaven and Earth to take care of you and that baby. He will.”

She took a deep breath. “But be careful, okay? He hasn’t had an easy life. He grew up surrounded by crazy, and you should know what you’re getting into.” She leaned back, studying me, then brushed a tear off my cheek. “I get it. I do. Underneath all the scary ink and muscle, and his grunts and one-word conversations, he’s a good guy. He doesn’t believe he’s got a redemptive bone in his body, but I’ve seen it, and you have too, obviously. But if you love him, and want any kind of relationship, you have to know things are not going to be easy. With Dane, you’re going to get dark and dirty. You’re going to live and breathe all the gritty, ugly details of his life.”

“That’s the thing, Slade. I think that’s what I love most about him. He lives unapologetically. He knows who he is. Doesn’t try to hide it.”

Slade snatched the towel from my hand and cleaned her mess. I watched, unable to move, considering her words.

Despite her warning, I sensed she had my back. And I could swear she hid a smile as she squatted to mop the spilled coffee off the floor.

# # #

“Thank you, Lettie. I would love to come for dinner. Can I bring anything?”

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