Page 40 of Truck You

But what I really mean is we better get back before I do something really stupid like kiss her until I’m the only man she ever thinks about again.

Chapter10

I touched you first, therefore you’re mine.

Sophia

Black grease coats my hands, my back aches from laying under cars all day, and my knee still hurts from when I banged it against the corner of a toolbox. But I can’t stop smiling.

I’ve gained more valuable experience these past few weeks working for the Mutters than I have from my last three jobs combined. They take me seriously and go out of their way to teach me new things.

This week, Ash has been rebuilding the engine from one of Mac’s racecars. In between oil changes and tune-ups, he’s let me help him. He takes the time to explain to me what he’s doing. He’s even guided me through some steps so I can get hands-on experience.

“You coming out tonight?” Ash leans against the sink where I’m attempting to wash the grease off my hands.

“To the Oktoberfest?” I ask.

“Yeah. We all go every year. You should come out.”

“Clara mentioned it earlier this week. I’m going with her.”

Ash smiles and taps his fingers on the edge of the sink before he backs away. “Good. It may be a small event, but we always make it fun.”

“So I’ve heard.” I chuckle.

Clara told me all about Beaver’s Oktoberfest. It’s Beaver’s one and only annual event. They close the entire stretch of Main Street, which isn’t that much area. Main Street probably isn’t even a tenth of a mile long.

There will be arts and craft booths, along with food trucks, games, baking contests, and a center stage where live bands and various performances will take place. There will even be a few rides set up on the old elementary school’s—now turned community center—former baseball field.

It sounds like a lot of the same things I saw at Jackson’s Apple Festival, just on a much smaller scale.

When I look up from drying my hands, I catch Mac staring at me again. He quickly diverts his gaze. He’s done this a lot since the day he drove the ATV out to the cave.

It’s been a week, and he hasn’t really spoken to me since. I get the occasional hi or a grunt. But we haven’t talked. He’s been distant, maybe even a little cold toward me.

Every time I catch him watching me, he grumbles something under his breath that I can’t hear. Then he walks away. He’s making it quite clear he doesn’t want me here.

Which is sad, because I thought we had a breakthrough sitting by that cave. I shared something personal that I thought helped him better understand me.

I guess I was wrong.

I stick my head in Liam’s office and say, “I’m done for the day. See you later tonight?”

“Sure thing. Thanks for all the hard work.” He smiles and waves as I walk out.

I wave to Chase and Christian, who are both still working on a motorcycle, and they wave back. Chase with his usual grin, and Christian with his typical stoic expression. Those two couldn’t be more different for identical twins.

“Hey.” Ash calls before I exit the main door. “You wanna have a few beers with us before you head out? Bring Clara along.”

“Can’t. The rest of my stuff arrived, and I wanna get some of it unpacked tonight.”

“Unpacked?” Mac’s eyes shoot to mine. He’s wearing a scowl that confuses me even more.

“Yeah. At Clara’s house,” I say.

“Why?” His question sounds accusatory, and I don’t like it.

I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him for asking me questions he knows he has no business asking. At least he has the decency to look regretful.

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