Page 35 of Truck Me
I’ll be sure to give Mrs. Engle hell about it when I get inside. She knows better than to schedule us back-to-back.
Hesitating, I debate on saying screw it, and leaving despite my long hair. It doesn’t bother me that much. I’d rather deal with my hair than Tanner.
But I stay put. I don’t need more drama in my life and being a no show on Mrs. Engle would definitely create unwanted drama.
I turn off the ignition and hop out. I don’t have to acknowledge the asshole. I’ll pretend he’s not even there. I’ve mastered the skill of not talking or responding to people that annoy the fuck out of me. I can do the same with him.
But that all changes when I open the door and hear her laugh. It’s sweet and melodic and instantly calms the jumbled emotions inside of me. There’s something calming and alluring about the lyrical way her laugh rolls out of her chest and fills the air. I want to listen to it on repeat because it makes me feel that fucking good.
Until I realize Charlotte is laughing like that for Tanner. He’s sitting in the chair while she runs her fingers through his hair and snips the ends. Every carnal instinct inside me rises to the surface and screams mine.
I stumble back at that thought. I have no claim over Charlotte. If one of us has a claim over her, it’s him. And that pisses me off even more.
Charlotte and Tanner were in the same grade growing up, and they dated in high school. They were even homecoming king and queen together. It sickens me to remember how he used to hold her, dance with her, kiss her. I want to rip his—
“I’ll be with you in a few minutes, Garret.” Charlotte’s smooth, calm voice drags me out of my head and back to the moment. “I’m almost done here.”
I meet her gaze, and it instantly calms the raging bear inside me. She’s happy to see me, and I like that realization way too much.
“Where’s Mrs. Engle?” I ask, though it sounds more like a demand with the way it grumbles out of me.
Her smile widens. “She’s off today. I just started working for her and took over Saturdays. So, you’re stuck with me.”
I grumble my nonverbal response and take a seat in one of the chairs lining the wall. Then I cross my arms and glare at Tanner. He’s got that shit-eating grin on his face that makes me want to punch him. Is this what Mac felt like when Tanner kept flirting with Sophia before they started dating?
The very idea of being jealous about anything related to any of the Koch brothers makes my stomach turn. They don’t have anything I want. Charlotte isn’t his anymore, and I don’t want her.
Keep telling yourself that, asshole.
While they take a trip down memory lane, I close my eyes and rest my head against the wall and try to pretend I can’t hear them. They’re talking about something they did together in high school that’s apparently funny because they both laugh.
Instead, I focus on my bike restoration. I didn’t get as far on it this morning as I wanted, but I at least have a good list of parts that I need to hunt down. I also got the fuel tank and airbox off so I can get those painted. The fenders will probably need to be replaced. They’ve got too much rust on them, and the edges are brittle in places. The rest of the frame looks to be in good shape. I didn’t find any major issues there.
“Come out to the house sometime.” Tanner’s voice cuts through me like a knife and my eyes fly open. He and Charlotte are now standing next to the desk by the entrance. “Mom would love to see you. I don’t think she ever got over us breaking up.”
“Your mom is so sweet. I’d love to see her again.”
Sweet my ass. Johanna Koch is just as bad as the rest of them. Every time she loses a baking contest to Grams, she accuses Grams of stealing some sacred Koch recipe. As if Grams would need to steal a recipe to kick ass. No one can bake like Grams. Except for maybe Charlotte. Those cookies she brought me were damn good.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Tanner says as he takes his card back from Charlotte. “See you around.”
“Bye, Tanner.” The smile she gives him makes me growl, and they both turn to look at me. Charlotte chuckles and Tanner’s smile grows.
“See ya at the poker game, Garret.” Then he fucking winks before he walks out the door.
I turn my angry glare back at Charlotte once the door clicks shut. “Why are you nice to him?”
“Tanner isn’t quite the asshole you all think he is. He’s actually a nice guy.”
“The fuck he is!” I growl way louder than I should. It only seems to make Charlotte laugh harder.
“Come on, big guy.” She waves me over to the chair that’s now clean and ready for the next customer. “Let’s get that hair trimmed up.”
She pats the chair like she’s calling over an unruly child who refuses to listen. Or maybe it’s a dog. Is she treating me like a damn dog?
My brows furrow deeper, but I push to my feet and cross the room to where she’s waiting. I tower over her. I have a strong urge to wrap her up in my arms and demand she never speak to Tanner Koch again.
If he picked up on my reaction to him talking to her, he’s going to use that against me. The feud between our two families is bad enough. I don’t need to add fucking around with his ex-girlfriend to the mix.