Page 60 of Truck Up
“Do you do this often?” Ember finally breaks the long stretch of silence.
“What do you mean?”
“Rescue abused women and then not tell your girlfriend what you’re doing?”
I glance over at her. She’s staring at me like she can’t decide if she likes me or not. I don’t like me so she can join the party. “Can’t tell anyone what I’m doing. Too risky.”
“Hmm,” is all she says before she turns her attention back to the window and stares into the darkness.
“You don’t approve?” I’m not sure why I ask her that. I don’t really care what her opinion is of me. In about an hour, I’ll drop her and her sisters off and I’ll never see them again.
She shrugs. “What do I know? I’ve never had a healthy relationship and I’m almost thirty. But if I were in a healthy relationship, I’d want to know what my partner was up to when he left me for days on end.”
“Who said I had a healthy relationship?”
“Maybe you should ask yourself why that is,” she says matter-of-factly as if fixing my issues with Amelia is easy.
“I said it’s complicated.” It takes great effort to keep my tone calm. This conversation makes me very uncomfortable.
“Then uncomplicate it or dump her.”
I snap my eyes at her in surprise. Her suggestion sends a wave of panic through me.
When our eyes meet, she laughs. “That’s what I thought.”
“Just say what’s on your mind.” This time I don’t hold back my irritation. I don’t want to scare her, but I don’t like how she’s dissecting me either.
“Love is rare.” She sighs and her expression turns hard. “There was a time when I didn’t think it really existed. But I had it once, and I lost it.” She turns to me with tears in her eyes. “If you have it, don’t let it slip away. You might never find it again.”
I grunt, not wanting to listen to her words, but they hit me hard. I don’t want to lose Amelia. But I don’t know how to give her what she deserves.
And now we have a baby on the way.
Complicated doesn’t even begin to describe the mess I’ve gotten myself into. Some of it can’t ever be fixed or changed. Her family will always hate mine and vice versa.
Do I care?
No, I don’t think I do.
Her family might never accept me, but mine will accept her with open arms. Maybe that’s enough. It’s gonna have to be because I don’t think I can figure this out on my own.
It’s still darkout when I pull my bike up next to the garage. The loud rumble likely wakes up my entire family.
I shut off the engine and let out a deep sigh. I’m exhausted and in serious need of a shower and clean clothes. I was so desperate to get out of town that I didn’t prepare for this trip.
I also feel like I could sleep for days. Though I suspect sleep is not in my immediate future. I have a family to face and then I have to find Amelia.
Shower first. I don’t want her to see me like this. It’ll only worry her more.
Unfortunately, I barely make it ten steps toward the house before I’m charged by my brothers. Mac and Ash reach me first. They grab me and slam me against the back wall of the garage. Pain radiates through my entire body from the impact. I’m too tired to brace myself, and it nearly knocks the wind out of me.
“Get out of my way,” Chase calls out. When I look up, I don’t see him. Liam and Warren are right behind Mac and Ash. Liam has a murderous look in his eyes, but Warren looks confused.
A moment later, Chase pushes his way through my brothers and fists his hands in my jacket. He pulls me close until our eyes are within inches of each other. They’re filled with pain, worry, and anger.
Before I can say anything, he pulls his fist back and punches me in the jaw. My head bounces off the building. My vision blurs as a sharp pain shoots through my head.
“Chase, stop!” Liam yells as he pulls Chase off me. I blink until my eyes refocus. Whatever worry Chase felt a moment ago is gone. All I see is rage coursing through his body. “What if he’s high?”