Page 85 of Truck Up
I nod. “It’s okay. I know you’re just concerned about me.”
“So, he’s got a lot of money?” Hadley asks.
“I wouldn’t say a lot, but he’s a saver.” I ring my hands together, fighting back the anxiety that’s building inside me. I wasn’t prepared to answer these questions. “Just like most of his brothers, he’s lived at home, so his expenses are minimal. And he makes great money building motorcycles.”
“Are you putting any money into the renovations?” Nova asks.
I shake my head. “He’s taking care of all of it. He wants me to focus on the flower shop.”
“So this will technically be his house.” Nova’s tone has a hint of worry behind each word.
“No, it’s our house.” I stare at her, not liking where she’s going with this. “We’re building this together.”
“With his money.” Now Nova sounds frustrated. “Is your name even on the deed?”
“Well—” I huff. I know she means well, but I really hate this line of questioning. It’s making me uneasy. “I trust him.”
“Why?” She looks confused. “Christian Mutter is probably the least trustworthy of all the Mutter brothers.”
“Nova. Don’t be mean,” Hadley says. Then she steps up next to me and wraps her arm around my shoulder for support. “All we have to do is trust Lia. If she says Christian is okay, then he’s okay.”
“Has he even told you he loves you yet?” Nova continues, ignoring Hadley’s speech altogether.
“What?” My voice cracks and the single word sounds more like a screech than a question.
“Does he love you?” she asks.
“Yes!” I yell. “He doesn’t have to say the words for me to know how he feels. He loves me. I know he does.”
She shakes her head. “This is too risky, babe. I don’t like it.”
“What don’t you like?” I pull away from Hadley and pace in front of my friend. “I thought you supported my relationship with Christian.”
“Please don’t fight.” Hadley begs, fear lacing her words.
“It’s not that. It’s just—” She squares her shoulders, making it clear she’s not going to back down. “This is all happening so fast. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean you have to move in with him. This doesn’t even mean you have to be together.”
“You listen to me.” I poke her in the shoulder, knocking her off her balance. Her eyes widen in surprise. “I know Christian better than just about anyone. We didn’t just have a one-night stand that led to this. We’ve been dating for two years. I love him and he loves me. Got it?”
She stares at me for a moment before she gives me a single nod. “Okay. I just wanted to make sure you’d really thought this through.”
“I’ve thought it through,” I say. “And I don’t want—”
The sound of Christian’s motorcycle coming up the long drive cuts me off. I rush over to the window just as he pulls into the spot next to his truck.
I turn to my friend and point a finger at her. “Be nice.”
Nova tosses her hands up in surrender. “I’m good.”
Hadley falls into the closest chair and drops her head. “This is way too stressful.”
“Just act normal,” I say right before the door flies open.
Christian freezes in the doorway and looks around the room. Then he glances over his shoulder. His eyes fixate on Nova’s car.
“I didn’t notice you had company,” he growls.
“Hadley and Nova came out to see the house,” I say.