Page 17 of Truck You

Ash presses a hand to his chest and acts wounded. “I would never do such a thing.”

“Sure you wouldn’t.” Grams shakes her head in disbelief before her eyes land on me. “You seem to know these two, but we’ve not been officially introduced. I’m Mila Mutter, but everyone calls me Grams.”

“Hi.” I take the hand she holds out for me. “I wouldn’t say I know them, we just met moments ago. But I’m Sophia. It’s nice to meet you.”

“You’re Mac’s girl, aren’t you?” Ash’s smile doesn’t fade as he narrows his eyes like he’s studying me.

“Oh, no.” I wave him off. “I’m nobody’s girl. I just arrived in town on Wednesday.”

“So you have met Mac,” Clara says like I’ve committed some small-town crime.

“Yes. We met briefly on Wednesday.”

Grams eyes me up and down, causing me to shift on my feet. “Is this the young lady you were teasing Mac about yesterday?” Grams asks as her smile turns mischievous.

“It sure is.” Ash grins like the cat that caught the canary.

“Well, then.” Grams rushes out from behind the table and pulls me into a tight hug. My body stiffens and my arms hang tight to my sides. My own parents don’t hug me like this, let alone a stranger. “It’s about damn time one of my grandsons finally found someone. You’ll have to come to the house for dinner sometime. I love cooking for my boys even if they are little shits that don’t deserve it.”

“Oh, no, no, no.” I wave my arms nervously after she releases me. “I amnotMac’s girl. I hardly know him.”

“Is that why you let him drag you into a dark alley on Wednesday?” Ash taunts in a low voice, but it’s still loud enough for Grams and Clara to hear. He follows it up with a silly kissing face.

My eyes widen and my mouth drops at how easily those words fall out of him. I’ve no doubt my face is bright red, along with my neck and arms. Hell, I’m so embarrassed right now. Every inch of my body is burning hot.

“Ash!” Grams swats Ash’s arm. “That’s no way to talk to a young lady. You apologize right now.”

Ash’s smile fades, and he lowers his head. “Sorry, Sophia. No disrespect intended.”

“It’s okay.” I take a couple of tentative steps back and point over my shoulder. The urge to run is strong. Not just because of Ash’s teasing, but because of the reminder of how easily I gave in to that kiss with Mac. I’m not that kind of girl. “I’m going to go get myself some dinner. It was very nice meeting all of you.”

“Don’t go!” Clara reaches for me, a look of panic on her face, and rests her hand on my arm. “Don’t let this ogre chase you away. He’s really trying to pick on Mac, not you. Which should tell you how unintelligent he can be, considering Mac isn’t here tonight.”

“Hey! I’m not unintelligent.” Ash wraps his arm around Clara’s neck and puts her in a loose headlock. “Take that back.”

Clara giggles and jabs her elbow into his stomach, forcing him to release her. “Only if you promise to be nice to Sophia. I like her.”

“I promise.” He tosses his hands up in surrender and gives me a pleading look.

“And you have to buy both of us dinner.” She adds.

“Fine, play hardball.” Ash turns back to Grams and pulls her in for a hug and a kiss. “Bye, Grams. See you at home.”

After a quick round of goodbyes and another hug from Grams before she hands me a boxed-up pie, we head off in search of dinner.

“So what will it be?” Clara asks. “Corn dogs, tacos, hamburgers, bad stir fry, the options are endless.”

“I was thinking steak sandwiches and fresh-cut fries.” I add. “The smell from that food truck has been tempting me for three days.”

“Ah, good choice. I love fresh-cut fries with vinegar.” Clara holds her hand out to Ash. “Give me some cash. We’ll get sandwiches and fries. You go get us fresh squeezed lemonades.”

He lets out a grumbling noise that might be some sort of protest, but it’s not clear. Then he leans in close to Clara and whispers, “Woman, you aggravate the hell of me sometimes. You know that.”

Clara simply shrugs with awhat are you going to do aboutitattitude. “Yep. That’s what friends are for.”

Ash slaps a couple of twenties in her hand and heads in the opposite direction of the steak sandwich truck. Clara turns to me and grins, waving the money in the air. “Let’s go get some food.”

As we’re standing in line waiting to order, I notice Clara keeps looking over her shoulder in the direction Ash went. I can’t get a good read on those two and their relationship. Are they just friends or something more?

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