Page 46 of Truck Me
But maybe Lina would be alright for one night just to clear my head. I stare at her for a moment, then immediately kill that thought. There’s no sexual attraction toward her. Not even a little. Besides, I think she has a thing for Christian. She can’t seem to take her eyes off him tonight.
“Dude!” Ash punches my shoulder. “Are you even listening?”
I turn a scowl on him, and on instinct, I ball my hands into fists. “What?”
“Grams’ birthday later this year?” He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. Which, for the record, may be true considering my recent actions. “That’s why we’re all here tonight. It’s her eightieth and we want to make it special.”
“Okay.” I narrow my eyes on him. “But did you have to punch my arm? Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”
“You know,” Liam points his beer bottle at me with a frown, “it wouldn’t hurt you to participate in the conversation.”
I turn my glower to him. “I don’t know shit about planning parties. Why would you even want me to participate?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because she’s your Grams too.”
“Thanks. I never would have known that if you hadn’t told me.” I deadpan, and now Liam’s the one to glower.
I shake my head and go back to drinking my beer. Thankfully, he doesn’t push me further and they go back to making plans without my input. As if I’d have any.
A few minutes later, the front door slams open, causing all conversations to fall to a whisper. Even the music seems to fade.
All eyes turn toward the door, and Liam grumbles. “Fucking Charlie.”
We all mumble in agreement. Charlie Fisher is one of those men who acts like he’s your best friend to your face, but then talks shit about you behind your back. Everyone lets him get away with it because of his family’s money.
Not very many people in the area are from money. Most of us are poor or have worked our asses off learning a trade to make an honest living. We’re no strangers to poverty in this county.
Not the Fishers. Charlie’s dad, Charles Watson Fisher, Sr., is a retired congressman. They could live anywhere, but they maintain a home in the hills of southern Ohio and raised their kids in the same public schools as the rest of us.
Charlie hasn’t had to work for anything a day in his life. Every penny in his bank account was handed to him by his dad or the opportunities his dad helped him get.
He’s the same age as Liam, and they grew up together. They were friends in high school, but shortly after they graduated, they stopped hanging out. It was a weird time. One day, they were friends, and the next, they weren’t.
It probably had something to do with how fake he is all the time.
“Well, if it isn’t the entire Mutter clan,” Charlie says as he approaches our table.
“Not quite,” Ash says with a huge smile on his face. “Warren isn’t here, but then again, you know that don’t you?”
Charlie’s smile grows. “Yes, I suppose I do.” He takes a quick scan around our table before his eyes settle on Liam. He holds his hand out for a shake, but Liam doesn’t take it. He just stares at him with something resembling contempt in his expression. “Good to see you, Liam. It’s been a while.”
“Surprised to see you here. I thought a place like Posey’s Lounge was beneath the mayor of Waverly.”
Waverly is the closest city to Beaver, and the seat of our small county. It’s not much of a city with a population barely over four thousand, but Charlie thinks it makes him God in these parts. I guess that’s what happens when you have a retired congressman for a father and you’re the highest public official in the county.
Aside from Waverly, there are only two other villages in the entire county—Beaver and Piketon. The rest of the county is spotted with countless unincorporated communities. That’s largely why so many struggle with poverty. With no big cities, there aren’t a lot of jobs.
I don’t know how, but Charlie’s smile grows. “I get out now and then. Gotta stay in touch with my community. Might need their support next year. Looking to run for state representative.”
Liam snorts. “Figures.”
Charlie’s smile falters, but only for a second. If I weren’t glaring at him, I would’ve missed it.
“Well, I’ll leave you boys to your evening.” He knocks his knuckles on the table and nods like he’s our father or something. “Don’t cause any trouble.”
“We rarely do,” Chase says, his smile far wider than Charlie’s. Those two would be fun to watch in a pissing contest to see who can be the most charming. My money’s on Chase.
Charlie nods toward the back corner. “I see the Koch family is here, and I know how much y’all like to stir up trouble with them boys. I’d hate to drag Ricky away from karaoke night on account of a fight.”