Page 22 of Truck You

Christian may not be the biggest of us—that honor falls to Garret—but he is the toughest and the dirtiest fighter. It’s the company he keeps. He spends a lot of time with a local motorcycle club. There’s even been rumors they’ve tried to induct him as a member.

Thankfully, Tanner walks away. Amelia gives me an apologetic look before she turns her gaze on Christian. Her eyes soften, and his nostrils flare before he says something under his breath and walks away too.

I hate this fucking feud. It’s stupid and an unnecessary annoyance. Maybe if the Kochs weren’t such sore losers, this thing could end once and for all. But something tells me they’re never going to stop trying to get the house and property back.

My eyes flicker past Amelia and land on the one woman Iwasexcited to see tonight. Sophia Becker is standing next to Tanner’s truck, gaping at us. Has she been there long? And who in the hell told her where to come tonight? I sure as hell didn’t.

Tanner sees her and rushes to her side, instantly turning on the charm like he didn’t just insult her to God and everyone within hearing distance.

I clench my fists and growl at how close Tanner leans into her. I want to rush over there myself and teach him what happens when he messes with something that’s mine. Only she’s not mine. Not now. Not after what she did.

Instead, I head to the back of my truck. I refill my beer from the keg and hop up on my tailgate.

“You okay?” Chase asks as he hops up next to me.

I nod, but don’t speak. I’m not sure if he’s referring to the altercation with Tanner, the fact that Tanner is now flirting with Sophia, or that I lost the race. The race is the last thing I want to talk about right now.

“Dude, I can’t believe your girl from Wednesday night races cars. How fucking cool is that?” Ash’s grin is a mile wide as he steps up next to us. “I liked her before, but now she just might be the perfect woman.”

I glare at Ash and bark out my response. “Why would you say that?”

His smile fades slightly. “Say what?”

“That you like her. You never met her.”

His smile turns mischievous, and he waggles his brows. “Yeah, I did. Hung out with her last night at the Apple Festival. Had dinner together and everything.”

A low growl rumbles out of my chest. My first instinct is to kick my brother’s ass. How dare he take a woman that I’ve already touched, kissed, and fantasized about to dinner?

“Ash, stop being an ass.” Clara rushes to stand between us before she turns a gentle smile in my direction. “It wasn’t like that, Mac. I ran into Sophia at the pie contest. We hit it off and hung out for the night. Ash just happened to be there.”

The tension in my shoulders instantly releases its hold. I study Clara’s face. She’s telling me the truth. “You invited her here tonight?”

“I did.” She glances over to where Sophia is laughing at something Tanner said. My body instantly tenses again. “I like her. It’s not often I meet a girl I get along with. I hope you don’t mind.”

I let out a deep huff. There’s a part of me that wishes Sophia weren’t here tonight. I’m not in the right headspace to deal with her. But I’m also glad to see her again. I turn to Clara and shake my head. “Of course not.”

“Great.” She smiles. “Let me go rescue her from the Kochs before they steal my new friend.”

I can’t deny Clara a friend. Making friends has never been easy for her. Growing up, she preferred to play in the mud with Ash over playing with dolls. She was a tomboy as a kid and grew up to be an awkward book nerd.

A moment later, Clara returns with Sophia on her heels. “For those of you who haven’t officially met her,” Clara starts, “this is Sophia. Sophia, you’ve met Mac and Ash, but let me introduce you to the rest of their brothers.”

Garret grunts his hello. Chase gives her one of his typical charming smiles. Christian nods with an apathetic expression.

But Liam smiles like he knows a secret. Then he reaches his hand out to offer her a shake. “S. Becker, huh?”

I narrow my gaze at him, confused by the way he’s greeting her. Then I remember that’s how she listed her name for the race today.

Sophia gives him a sheepish smile and says, “Yeah, that’s me. Using my initial has become a necessity. Unfortunately, most people respond like Tanner did when they find out a girl can race cars.” She shifts her eyes to me briefly before looking back at Liam. She heard our exchange. “It’s the only way I can ensure I’m given a fair chance. It sucks being rejected before I even start simply because I’m a woman.”

“Well, we’re not sexist at Mutter Truckers Auto & Racing. Prove you’ve got skill, and it’s all good.”

Liam glances at me and winks. I raise my brows, completely lost over the direction this conversation took.

“Good to know.” Sophia smiles and turns to Clara. “Any chance I can get a beer?”

“Of course.” Clara’s shoulders relax. She looks relieved that my brothers have accepted her into our circle. I’m not sure how I feel about it. She and I still need to talk about how she lied to me.

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