Page 12 of Truck Me
There are seven Mutter brothers, with Garret being the third oldest. Liam and Warren are older and share the same mom with Garret. I went to school with the twins, Chase and Christian. Those two boys are complete opposites. Chase is outgoing, charming, and funny, while Christian is quiet, aloof, and broody. I don’t know the two younger brothers as well, Ash and Mac.
The twins, Ash, and Mac all have different moms than Liam, Warren, and Garret. None of the moms stuck around for long after they were born. I don’t know what really happened, but they were the topic of a lot of gossip growing up. I always felt bad for them. They weren’t responsible for their parents’ actions and yet they paid the price with whispers and pointed fingers.
The main house comes into view and Rayne picks up her pace. By the time we reach the back porch, I’m out of breath, trying to keep up with her. When she reaches the door, she opens it and runs in.
“Rayne! What are you doing? You don’t just barge into other people’s houses.”
“It’s okay, Aunt Char.” Rayne calls over her shoulder. “I do it all the time.”
“Rayne!” I call after her again, but she ignores me and passes through a mud room as she enters the house unannounced. I hesitate for a moment before I follow her. The Mutters may be close family friends, but it still makes me uncomfortable entering their house through the back as if I live here too.
The mud room opens up into the large kitchen. Rayne is standing next to Grams with her arms wrapped around her waist. Grams is smiling, so I assume that means she’s not upset with Rayne.
“Sorry,” I say with a hint of nervousness in my voice. “She just barged in before I could knock.”
“Oh, don’t you worry about that.” Grams gives me a gentle smile. “You all don’t have to knock. Our house is always open to your family.”
“See, I told ya.” Rayne looks up at me with a mischievous smirk. Then her eyes widen, and her smirk turns into a broad smile. “Garret! You’re here!”
She releases Grams and runs past me. When I turn around, Garret is standing right behind me next to the large dining table. His tall, broad frame sucks up all the available space in the room, leaving me feeling a little breathless.
Rayne wraps him in a tight hug, which he returns. There’s even a hint of a smile on his face. He’s a handsome man, but when he smiles, he’s heart-stoppingly gorgeous.
But then his gaze shifts to mine and those warm chestnut brown eyes turn to stone. His smile fades.
“Why are you here?” He asks in an accusatory tone.
I don’t even bother to stop myself from rolling my eyes. “Why are you such an asshole?”
Grams laughs, Garret growls, and Rayne huffs. “Aunt Char. Don’t use bad words.”
Garret looks down at her and his expression instantly softens again. The way he looks at her is confusing and endearing and makes him so much hotter than he already is. I kind of hate him a little for it. He has the kind of relationship with my niece that I should have.
“So, Charlotte,” Grams says, dragging my attention back to her. She’s smiling at me like she knows a secret. “How long are you back in town?”
“For the foreseeable future. This is likely a permanent move.”
“You don’t say.” Her eyes dart between Garret and me a few times before she settles on me again. “I bet that makes your parents happy. They’ve missed you something fierce.”
“I hope so. I’ve missed them too. Plus, I’ve missed out on too much of Rayne’s life. I’m enjoying getting to know her better.”
Rayne releases Garret and rushes to me. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
I smile down at her before wrapping my arms around her and kissing the top of her head. I’m about to say something else when she releases me and runs back to Garret.
“Where’s Bullet?” she asks with all the excitement you’d expect from a ten-year-old girl.
“Who’s Bullet?” I ask.
“Garret’s dog.” Rayne answers.
Garret’s eyes are trained on Rayne as he answers her question. “She’s at home. Didn’t know you’d be here or else I would have brought her.”
“Can we go see her?”
“Sure.” He glances up at me before he looks back at her. “As long as it’s okay with your aunt.”
“It’s fine.” My voice cracks and I clear my throat. I hate how nervous he’s making me.