Page 68 of Truck Up
Laughter fills the air, and it actually causes my lips to tug up. It pleases me immensely that my family has welcomed Amelia so readily. I wish her family would do the same.
If our relationship could relieve some of the tension between our two families, maybe we could finally put an end to this feud. I never see myself being friends with her brothers, but we could at least reach a point where we tolerate each other.
I shrug my jacket off and toss it over the armrest of the sofa and I make my way to the kitchen. I stop in the doorway and furrow my brows.
Liam, Warren, Chase, and Lina are sitting at the table. All of them are laughing. Even Warren. That man frowns as much as me. But that’s not what has me puzzled.
Amelia is at the stove cooking while Grams is at the table with my siblings. She’s never sitting. She’s the one that’s always at the stove even when she has help preparing dinner.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Grams looks up and gives me a huge grin. “Lia is making us dinner. Isn’t that nice of her?”
My frown deepens. “And you’re okay with that?”
Her frown matches mine. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because you never let anyone else cook,” I say. “You love it.”
“Just because I love to cook doesn’t mean I don’t deserve a break.” She insists.
“That’s not—”
“I know what you meant.” She waves me off. “Lia insisted, and I couldn’t refuse her. Now sit and tell us about your day.”
I scratch my head and take a step back. Am I in the right house? This entire scene confuses me. “No one ever asks me about my day?”
“Come on now, boy. There’s a first time for everything.” Grams looks annoyed. She’s not used to me questioning her. Then again, I’m not used to being asked questions. My family usually leaves me alone. “Tell us how it went. You finished up a custom bike today, correct?”
“Yes,” I say bluntly. Then I head to the refrigerator to grab a beer. I stop behind Amelia and give her a kiss on the cheek. The room is instantly filled with way too many sappy sighs. This time I growl.
But the huge smile on Amelia’s has the opposite effect. “Hi,” she says.
“You okay?” I whisper.
She nods. “Now go sit and appease your grandmother.”
She pats my chest and gives me a light shove. It puts a small smile on my face. When I turn around, everyone is staring at us with wide, disbelieving eyes.
Whatever hint of a smile I have instantly fades into a deep frown.
“What?” I ask, a little too harshly.
“Young man.” Grams points her finger at me with raised brows. A clear sign she’s not happy with me. “Do not take that tone with me. I’ve taken way too many liberties with you, and it’s time you learn how to share and communicate with your family or you’re going to lose that girl.”
I growl in frustration while everyone else laughs. Including Amelia. “I fail to see what’s so funny,” I grumble under my breath.
I take a seat on the opposite side of the table so I can watch Amelia. She turns around and gives me a smile and a wink. I fight back the urge to smile in return. My family’s already giving me enough shit as it is. I don’t need to give them more ammunition.
“You need to start talking.” Grams says. Her voice is stern and clearly irritated.
“I don’t know why you suddenly want to hear me speak,” I say. Actually, I sound more like I’m complaining. I preferred it when they left me alone.
“It’s called sharing.” Chase interjects. “Something you’ve never been good at.”
“What do you want me to say?” I ask way too loud.
“Christian,” Amelia whispers my name. When I meet her glare, she shakes her head at me.