Page 42 of Truck

“In the morning, come to the gas station. We are filling some vehicles free of charge as a promotional stunt. I’ll make sure your vehicle is one of them,” I don’t wait for her reply. I kiss her again and make sure her toes will curl and her lady parts start to sing. “Night, Rory.” I kiss the tip of her nose and walk away, smiling at the flushed cheeks and not quite clear-eyed Rory I’ve left behind me.

Rum walks out alongside me and shoves me with his shoulder. “I reckon you and Rory will make a good couple, Truck. Treat her like she’s the best treasure you ever found and you’ll not go far wrong.”

“Yeah, I reckon you are right, Rum. I think she is my woman, and I’ll treat her well. She’s had enough bad in her life with losing her husband as she has. Life sometimes kicks those of us who don’t deserve it, while we see assholes seeming to walk through life with nothing bad ever happening. I’m hoping that Rory will feel the same about me as I’m thinking about her,” I reply, and I mean it with all honesty.

“I’m sure she will, Truck. I’m sure she will,” Rum replies as he slaps my shoulder. “I’ll see you in the morning. I reckon it’s going to be a long, busy day.”

Chapter 22

RORY

Parking my vehicle in the parking area in front of the gas station, I walk inside and cannot help thinking, wow. The store is amazing at first glance. The main counter is easily reached as it’s only a few steps from the door. The glass partition is impressive, and I’m seeing how much forethought has gone into the counter. They are protecting anyone on the registers, while preventing anyone from thinking of robbing the place.

Xero is behind the counter and hearing my name I turn and smile at Collins. “Hello both.” I give a bright smile. “Have you been busy this morning?”

Collins laughs, “We have. This is the first lull we’ve had since we opened at 5:00 a.m.”

“I like the electronic billboard. It will be easy to keep your customers informed of any changes to prices. If you have any convenience store specials, make sure you put them on the billboard too,” I suggest as I look down one of the aisles.

“That’s a good idea, Rory. If you have any more throw them our way,” Xero replies as he steps out from behind the counter and stands next to Collins. “Off the top of your head can you think of anything else?”

“Leave her alone. Rory is here to take a look, not to work,” Truck says as he appears from down one of the aisles.

I laugh because honestly, he’s being a bit of a caveman at this point. But when he throws an arm around my shoulders, tucking me into his side, right before he kisses the top of my head I will admit I melt against him.

Collins chuckles, “Oh, it’s like that is it?”

“Yep, sure is,” Truck says as he leads me away from the pair of them and to what I find is the office.

Rum is sitting at a desk, watching a monitor and looking up as we enter. Rum gives me a bright smile. “Morning, Rory. This is a pleasant surprise.”

“Morning, Rum. I’ve come over to support the team, and the opening of the gas station,” I respond as I wiggle my way out of Truck's arms. Stepping closer to Rum, I can see he’s working on a program that controls the billboard. “Oh, that’s interesting. I’ve just told Collins and Xero they should put any special offers for the convenience store on the billboard too. Maybe have the price of gas and any specials scrolling so customers get all the information.”

“That’s a good idea, Rory. We can also run a mention about the vehicle recovery business,” Rum mumbles more to himself than to me.

Looking at Rum, I continue, “You could advertise local businesses, but they pay you a monthly fee for doing it. That would bring in another small income for the gas station without really putting in much effort.”

My eye catches movement, and I stare for a moment. As I thought I was seeing things, I see the movement again. Gasping in shock, I point at Rum’s desk. “Rum, that pen has moved by itself.”

“Yeah, it’s been doing that on and off. I’ve seen other things move too. Very odd, I can tell you, but Cilla said it’s just my wife letting me know she’s watching what I’m getting up to.”

Now, Rum says this with such conviction that I am not sure if he’s taking the piss or believes what he’s saying!

“Cilla will tell you if anyone is trying to contact you, Rory. I’m not sure if your husband has reached out and you’ve missed it? Maybe we should ask Cilla?” Truck is looking at me seriously, but you know what? If they don’t shut up, I’m outta here and I’m not coming back.

“Okay, I’ve gotta go. See you later.” I’m out of the office, through the store, wave at Xero behind the counter and am quickly at my vehicle before Truck knows what’s hit him.

Collins appears at the side of me. “Are you okay, Rory? You look as if you'd seen a ghost.”

That does it for me. I’m in my vehicle, and out of the gas station before anybody can stop me. Looking in my rearview mirror, I see Truck and Collins are standing where I’d parked my vehicle, both watching me leave.

“Not sure about dating Truck if he’s batshit crazy…” I mumble to myself as I head home.

I don’t even get inside the house before I get a phone call. “Hello, Rory. It’s Coin speaking. I hope you don’t mind me giving you a call, but I wondered if you’d pop over to the clubhouse and look at the financials for the gas station. It would give you an idea of what we have set up, and us an idea if you could help us with this business and the others.”

“Did you speak to your President, Coin?”

“I did, and he is the one who suggested you come and take a full look at what we have going on.”