Page 21 of Truck Up

I hold her stare for a few beats before I say, “I’ll go see how Sophia is doing with your car. See you inside in a few?”

She nods again before I rush past her and head back to the garage.

I should go back to her. Hug her. Hold her close. Tell her everything will be okay.

But I can’t do any of those things. I don’t know how to be the man she needs right now.

I’m a piece of shit, and she deserves so much better than the hellish life I can provide.

Chapter 5

The devil is in my house.

Amelia

My family is crazy. There’s no other way to put it than that.

My brothers are loud and obnoxious while my parents … well, I’m not really sure how to explain them. Oblivious might be a good word.

I love my family—I really do—but they can be a little hard to take sometimes. Especially when we’re talking about business and finances.

I can’t tell if my parents really are this clueless about how bad things are for them or if it’s all an act. I’m not even sure which reality is worse.

They ran, not one, but two companies into financial ruin. Then drained their life savings to keep them afloat. If they really are as clueless as they act, then it’s hard to blame them for the mess Jason and I inherited.

How can I be mad at someone who just didn’t know what they were doing?

But I have a hard time believing in that reality. My parents aren’t stupid. They managed the businesses fine for decades and built one hell of a nest egg to retire on.

If the documents I got my hands on are correct, they were millionaires. I can’t even imagine what that kind of money looks like. And it makes me sick to think about how they’ve lost it all.

I can’t for the life of me figure out why they’re choosing to ignore their failures now?

“Did you hire that guy I sent to see you?” Dad asks Jason with a mouth full of food.

I press my hand to my stomach and take a deep breath. I don’t actually see him chewing, but I hear it. That’s all it takes to make my stomach churn. Everything makes my stomach churn these days.

“Dad,” Jason says, dragging out the word. He sounds just as exhausted as I feel. Trying to save the family businesses is draining the life out of both of us. “We don’t have the money to take on more staff. I’ve told you this. I can’t hire anyone else until we’re out of danger.”

“What are you talking about, boy?” Dad frowns. “The only thing in danger is your sanity. You let too many people go when you took over. A lumberyard needs employees. You can’t keep working this hard.”

I swallow back the snort that threatens to come out. All Jason and I have done since taking over the family businesses is work too hard. We don’t have a choice if we want to save them.

Glancing around at my brothers, I’m grateful that they seem to have the same expressions on their faces. We all stare at Dad like he’s lost his mind.

“We didn’t have the money for payroll.” Jason insists. “Still don’t. It’s getting better, but it’s gonna take more time.”

“If you need money,” Linden says. “Let me know. I’ll find it for you.”

Jason shakes his head, and I furrow my brows. What the hell is that supposed to mean?

“I’m managing it,” is all Jason says in reply.

I stare at Linden, but his expression gives away nothing. He’s acting like what he said is the most normal thing in the world. Like he has millions sitting around to hand out to his family.

“How are you going to find money to staff a lumberyard?” I ask. “You’re an assistant school principal. Your salary can’t cover a business.”

Linden gives me a blank look and shrugs. Then he goes back to eating as if my question doesn’t warrant an answer. This is what they always do when I ask questions. They ignore me.