Page 115 of Truck Up

I walk past him and my brother. They both stare at me like they don’t know what to do. Christian no doubt wants to argue that I go with him, and Linden probably wants to insist I go see Aaron. I’m not doing either.

I take a deep breath as I get near my car. Badger is still leaning against my trunk, and I have to pass him to get to thedriver’s side. I feel his eyes on me, and it sends a chill through my body.

As soon as I round the back, he leans toward me and whispers so only I can hear him. “This isn’t over.”

I swear my heart stops beating for several beats at the sinister tone of his words. He means it. Nothing I say or do is going to get Badger to leave me alone. Even Christian’s threats aren’t enough.

Something has to change. ’Cause I can’t live the rest of my life with Badger constantly threatening me like this.

The only way to make him stop will be telling my family what he did to me and convincing them it’s true. I’m not sure if I’m ready for that.

But I might need to get over that fear sooner rather than later.

Men like Badger don’t like to lose. I fear he’ll never leave me alone. At least not until he hurts me far worse than he already has.

Chapter 24

Unwanted peace.

Christian

My frustration boils over, and I hurl the wrench back into the toolbox. It slams against the metal with a deafening clang, the sudden noise echoing through the silent garage.

I grabbed the wrong one again, my hands shaking with a mixture of anger and self-loathing.

Amelia didn’t come home last night, and the weight of her absence is crushing. My mind is a whirlwind of anxieties, my focus shattered. It’s all my fault. I knew it was a stupid, reckless move, taking Linden’s bet, but his incessant taunting, his smug smirk, had gotten to me.

Pride, that insidious beast, clouded my judgment, and I fell for his bait.

Now, the consequences are devastating. Amelia, hurt and disillusioned, is staying with Nova. I get that she needs space and time to process the wreckage of my impulsive actions, but I fear I won’t survive this.

The silence in the cabin screams with her absence, each empty corner a stark reminder of the damage I’ve caused.

I hate myself right now. If she doesn’t forgive me, I’ll never forgive myself.

My entire body itches, craving a high. If I use again, my life is over.

Add the shit with Badger to the already fucked up situation and I can’t function properly.

“Are you going to throw every tool you have?” Sophia stops next to me and crosses her arms over her chest. “’Cause this shit is getting out of hand. My ears are ringing.”

“Sorry,” I mumble.

Maybe I shouldn’t have come to work today. I’m not productive, and I’m taking my worry and frustration out on everyone else by stomping around and throwing shit.

Sophia rests her hand on my arm, and it makes me feel even more uneasy. She’s only trying to comfort me, but I don’t like it when people touch me. Only Amelia.

“She’ll forgive you. You know that, right?” she asks. “She just needs some time to be mad at you.”

I nod. Logically, I know she’s right, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. She’s my angel. My peace. I need her far more than she’ll ever need me.

Digging through the toolbox, I grab the correct size wrench. This bike build isn’t going to finish itself and wallowing in self-pity is pointless.

Sophia stares at me, her gaze a mixture of disbelief and disappointment. Finally, she mutters something under her breath, shaking her head as if I’ve let her down. Then, with a frustrated sigh, she turns back to her work, attending to the needs of the client cars that have kept her busy all day.

Ash, who should be at the track with Mac, is stuck here, helping Sophia with the influx of customers. Mac has a big race coming up in a few weeks and needs to test out his car, but Chase volunteered to go instead, leaving Ash to play mechanic for the day.

I’m just starting to find my rhythm, my focus returning, when Ash slams a wrench down on the workbench, sending another metallic clang echoing through the garage.