Page 101 of Truck Up
She’s pulling dishes out of the refrigerator and piling food on a plate before I can argue otherwise. This is how Grams always is. She’s not happy unless she can feed everyone. Cooking and feeding people are love languages for her.
Amelia must sense my desire to object because she rests her hand so my shoulders and leans close to my ear. “You know this makes her happy. Just eat.”
“Yeah, I know.” I take another drink of my beer before I pull Amelia into my lap and hold her close. She wraps her arms around my neck and rests her head on my shoulder.
I hear a fewawscoming from the other women at the table and try not to wince. This level of affection from me is rare.
“Charlie was released from the hospital this morning.” Charlotte, Garret’s girlfriend says. She’s a hair stylist and works at the only salon in Beaver. It’s gossip central. If somethinghappens in this town, she’s usually the first to hear. “I also heard the cops took him in for questioning. He said Hannah attacked him. He wants her arrested.”
“Does he know who took her to safety?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “There are rumors about your involvement, but no one knows for sure what happened. There’s also talk that she’s secretly involved with the Unholy Ghosts, and she ran away with Edge. No one’s seen him since yesterday either, so you can imagine. It’s all ridiculous gossip. I guess that’s what small towns do when they don’t know anything. They make it up.”
“They can make up all they want,” I say, feeling even more relieved. Edge’s work is important and the last thing we need is for the people of this community to find out about it.
“Thank you for helping her,” Lina says. She’s usually just as quiet as I am and a little rough around the edges. She’s the opposite of my brother Chase in almost every way, but they make a great couple. “I’ve always liked Hannah and suspected Charlie beat her. I’m glad you got her out of there.”
“Who said I helped her?” I grumble and hide my face in Amelia’s hair. My family shouldn’t know what really happened either. It’s safer that way.
Sophia snorts. “We know what you did. And we’re glad you did it.”
“Don’t worry.” Charlotte reaches across the table and rests her hand on my arm. It’s a weird feeling. No one ever touches me, yet she didn’t hesitate. “We won’t say anything. Your secret is safe with us.”
“Liam told you?” I ask.
The kitchen falls silent, and that’s all the answer I need. Liam has probably been a wreck since I left him at Charlie’s house. I guess I would be too if I suddenly discovered I had a twelve-year-old son with the woman I was still in love with.
I don’t even think I want to know how that came to be. She married Charlie before she got pregnant. At least that’s what everyone has assumed all these years. Liam and Hannah broke up right after high school. Shortly after that, she started dating Charlie. Their relationship came between Charlie and Liam’s friendship and put a wedge between two best friends.
“Yeah, he’s pretty torn up about it,” Clara says. When I look over at her, the sadness in her eyes hits me hard. She’s practically family and knows Liam’s history with Hannah just as well as the rest of us. “Is Cameron really his son?’
I shrug because at no point did Hannah actually use those words.
“Oh, come on.” Amelia lightly slaps me on my chest. “You saw him.”
I let out a deep breath and rub my forehead. “I saw him. There are strong resemblances, yes.”
“Strong resemblances? He’s the spitting image of Liam.” Amelia insists. “You can’t deny that.”
“I don’t know what to think,” I say through gritted teeth. I’m trying not to raise my voice, but it’s hard.
“Did Hannah tell you anything?” Lina asks.
I shake my head. “She wasn’t really in a position to talk. Charlie did a number on her. But—”
Before I can finish, the front door slams open and Liam’s voice booms through the house. “Where is he?”
I close my eyes and pat Amelia’s thigh. “You better get off me. This is going to get ugly.”
Instead of listening to me, she tightens her grip around my neck. She didn’t see the rage in Liam’s eyes last night when I took Hannah away. He’s going to want answers, and he’ll likely start with a fist in my face.
“Please, babe.” I kiss the side of her head and tug at her arms. “Give him this. He needs it.”
“But he’ll hurt you.” The look in her eyes is begging me not to do this.
“I know, and it’s okay. I’d do the same thing if it were you.” I hold her worried gaze and her eyes shift to understanding. At her request, I didn’t beat the shit out of Badger the last time, but she knows if Badger ever touches her again, he’s a dead man.
Reluctantly, she releases me and slides off my lap. As soon as she’s safely out of the way, Liam grabs me by the shoulders and pulls me out of the chair. He slams me against the wall.