Page 106 of Truck Me
“Charlotte!” Garret’s deep gravelly voice, the one that usually sends shivers through my body, surrounds me. But not this time. All I feel is anguish and hurt and a betrayal I’m not prepared to process.
I try to push to my feet, to run again, but I can’t get my body to listen to me. I’m spent, both physically and mentally exhausted.
“Go away!” I cry out.
“Charlotte.” His plea is softer, closer. I feel his body next to mine as he reaches for me. “I can’t leave you out here. Please. Let me take you home.”
“No.” I push at him, and he falls back. Scrambling to a seated position, I scoot back, putting some distance between us. “You don’t get to help me anymore.”
He holds his hands up in surrender. “That’s fine,” his voice cracks as he speaks. “Let Chase take you home. Please. I need to know you’re safe.”
I didn’t notice the figure behind Garret until he said his name. Chase steps closer and leans down next to me. “Hey, Char. Can you walk or do you want me to carry you? That was quite the run you went on.”
He reaches out his hand for me, and I take it. He stands first and helps me to my feet. My legs are weak and wobbly, and I fall backward before I’m even completely upright. Chase grabs a hold of me and swings me into his arms.
“Looks like I’m carrying you, sweetheart.” He hugs me close, not giving me much choice in the matter. Then again, I couldn’t fight him off even if I tried.
“Where’s Rayne?” I ask. My voice is raspy, and it hurts to speak. I thought I felt like shit after Brad publicly humiliated me, but that night has nothing on how I feel now.
“Ash has her. He’s taking her home.” Chase’s voice is calm and soothing. It puts me a little at ease knowing someone has made sure Rayne is safe.
I glance over Chase’s shoulder and can just see the outline of Garret’s body still sitting on the ground where I had fallen. His head is down, and his shoulders are shaking. I can’t be sure, but it looks like he’s crying.
My grumpy beast of a man is crying, and a little more of my heart breaks.
* * *
The next twenty minutes are a blur. Once Chase got me back to the community center, he took me straight to his truck, where Amelia was waiting with my belongings. She said something about not worrying about my booth, and that she had it taken care of.
The drive to my parents’ house was quiet. Chase never asked me questions, and I didn’t offer any answers.
Not that I have answers. My life just imploded more than I thought possible. This ache in my chest hurts far worse than when I found out Brad was cheating on me, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why.
You know why, dummy.
I squeeze my eyes close attempting to fight back the tears.
In the few short months I’ve been home, Garret’s gruff demeanor and caring heart broke through all my defenses.
I didn’t realize until his outburst over Brad’s proposal just how deep my feelings for him have grown. The minute he said I couldn’t marry Brad, I knew. I love him. Completely and with all my heart.
Then everything went to hell.
Chase pulls into my parents’ driveway. I grab my purse and reach for the door handle before he even comes to a stop.
“Thanks for the ride,” I say as I open the door.
“Are you okay?” he asks.
“Not even a little bit.” I give him a weak smile before I slide out of his truck and shut the door behind me.
It feels like I’m walking through molasses as I make way up the driveway and to the front porch. Mom opens the front door before I reach it, a look of panic and concern all over her face.
“Char, what on earth is going on?”
“Where’s Rayne?” I ask, ignoring her question as I push past her.
“In her room.” The sigh that comes out of my mom is heavy with exhaustion. “She won’t come out or talk about why she’s so upset. What happened tonight, and why did Ash bring her home? Where’s Garret?”