Page 111 of Truck Me
The back door to the house opens before I reach it. Grams stands in the doorway with her hands on her hips, watching me as if I might vanish before I make it inside.
I stop in front of her with my hands stuffed in my pockets. She looks so tiny, at only five-foot-three, standing next to my tall frame. Where I’m broad and thick, she’s narrow and petite. But that doesn’t make her any less tough.
Grams is the toughest lady I know, and if she chooses, she could kick my ass without breaking a sweat.
I brace myself for her harsh German tongue but am surprised when she looks at me with nothing but love. Then she reaches for me and wraps her arms around me in a tight hug. I remain frozen for a moment—too surprised by her action—before I wrap my arms around her too. She holds me for a few moments, and it feels so fucking good to be hugged right now. I had no idea how much I needed this simple act of love and affection.
She pats my back and sighs. “Get in here. Dinner is about ready.”
I let out a deep breath. “I’ve really made a mess of things, Grams.”
“Maybe so, but it’s nothing we can’t handle. Not gonna sugar coat it. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but we’ll fix this mess just like every other mess that comes our way. Don’t you worry.”
I close my eyes and the hurt look on Charlotte’s face is all I see. “But I am worried.”
“Just tell me one thing.” She pauses and waits for me to look her in the eyes. “Do you love her?”
She doesn’t have to tell me who she’s talking about. She heard what I said to Charlotte, just like everyone else at the bake sale. I all but demanded she marry me instead of that asshole from Chicago.
“Yes.” I admit, not just to Grams, but also to myself. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but it did. I am in love with Charlotte Weber. Knowing that I caused her and her family pain is destroying me.
“Well, then.” Grams waves me inside. “Get in here so we can get to work. We’re not going to get anywhere with you moping around outside.”
Reluctantly, I follow Grams inside, bracing myself for whatever response I’m going to get from my brothers. We’re generally a very supportive bunch and will do just about anything to help when one of us is in need. But we’re also relentless when it comes to teasing and goading each other when we make mistakes.
And I’ve made a really huge mistake.
I stomp my feet on the mat just outside the door before I step inside. Keeping my eyes down, I slip my coat off and hang it on an open hook in the washroom.
When I turn around, silence falls over the kitchen, and my brothers stare at me. A quick glance around the kitchen confirms they’re all here. They even patched Warren in via a video call. I don’t see Dad, and that gives me some comfort. I’m not ready to face him right now.
Liam is the first to move. He walks right up to me, pulls me in for a hug, and pats my back. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mac stand and head to the refrigerator. He takes a beer out and pops the top.
Liam releases me just as Mac reaches us and hands me the beer. “I assume you need this.”
I nod and take a long pull before looking my older brother in the eye.
“You okay?” Liam asks.
“Nope.” I pop the P as I push past him and take a seat at the table. Resting my elbows on the edge, I lean forward and run my hands through my hair. “I really fucked up, and I don’t know what to do to fix it.”
Liam lets out a low breath before he takes the seat next to me. “That’s what we’re here for, but we need more information. We’re going to need you to start at the beginning. Like with you and Carol.”
My nostrils flare as I huff. “That’s not an easy story.”
“They never are.” This comes from Warren through the video call. I glance over at the laptop in the center of the table facing me.
“Hey,” I say with a quick nod.
“Hey,” he says back. He must see the hesitation on my face because he leans closer to the camera and adds, “Just spit out, man. Dragging it out only makes it more painful.”
I drop my head and close my eyes, so I don’t have to look at any of them as I say this. I’m not proud of how I handled it, and I don’t want to see their disappointment.
I take a deep breath and start. “I don’t know if Rayne is my child, but it’s possible. I started messing around with Carol right after I bought that RV and parked it on my lot. She’d come over and keep me company while I worked on my house. It was just friendly at first. We were both lonely, and a little pissed off at the world. It wasn’t anything specific for me. I’ve always been pissy.”
“No lie there,” Ash says as he leans his chair back on two legs.
Chase knocks him upside the head, causing him to crash forward on land on all four legs with a loud thunk. “Not the time, dude.”