Page 58 of Truck

Back at the house I notice the few things Grady has left on the coffee table and take them into his room. I make his bed and open the window a little to allow some fresh air into the room.

Walking into my room, or I should say our room now? After making the bed, I sit on the edge and think about how fast Truck made his way into my life. One date, that is all we had, and yet here we are living together. I smile to myself because, honestly, if anyone had told me I would jump into a relationship this fast, I would have said they needed counseling.

My heart beats a little faster when I think about Truck, and wonder why I don’t see him as Troy, which is his given name. Troy Whitestone. It’s a good name, but Truck, brother with the Restless Demons MC seems to suit him more. It is who he is, and I’d not try to change that. He has asked me to call him Troy because no other person can do that. He also said that we’d be taking a trip as he has a surprise planned.

It’s Friday already, and it is the last day Grady is at school. Summer break is now upon us. I wonder what Jill has planned for them both? I’ll have to ask how she wants to deal with the time Grady is not at school because she and I will both be working, and that’s a given.

Walking back to the kitchen I make a drink of peppermint tea, which seems to be my go-to at the moment. I sit at the table and take a sip, releasing a little tension I have going on in my neck.

I pick up the placemat that is set for Grady and move it to the side of the table ready to put it into the cabinet once I have finished my tea. What I don’t expect is that placemat to slide back to where it began.

I shoot back in my seat, but I’m shaking so hard that standing isn’t going to happen. “Are you the ghosts from the clubhouse?” I ask, noticing my hands are shaking badly as I grasp the edge of the table.

The placemat moves slightly. Is it a coincidence? Is it answering my question? “Move the placemat if you are saying yes?” The placemat moves. I freeze while I stare at it, and my mind is spinning. I wait for what comes next, and when nothing happens, I feel my bravery happening.

“Are you Terence?” I ask while staring at the placemat. When nothing happens, I ask, “You are someone who is not Terrence?”

The placemat moves, and my heart jumps a little more. Beating fiercely with anxiety. “Are you one of the three brothers who are at the clubhouse?” The movement happens again.

I frown as I do my best to remember the names of the brothers I’ve heard mentioned.

“Pyro?” No movement.

“Bono?” No movement.

Remembering the conversation, Truck relayed to me about Tracker and Finger making bets on who Ayla would say next. I bring to mind the last one.

“Tank?” Again, the placemat moves.

“You cannot tell me what you want to say, and I cannot guess. But you are not here to hurt me, are you?” The placemat stays, and with no movement, the anxiety eases. Knowing they are not wanting to hurt me has me letting out an enormous sigh of relief.

“Is this because you frighten me?” I ask when the thought flashed across my mind. The placemat moves.

“Okay. I’ll do my best not to be scared of you anymore.” The placemat stays.

“I’ll speak to Cilla about my fear.” The placemat moves.

It is hard to describe, but the kitchen feels lighter all of a sudden, and it crosses my mind that Tank has left. “Are you still here?” When the placemat doesn’t move, I jump to my feet, grab the darn thing and throw it into the cabinet. I’m not sure it is making me feel any easier, but at least now I’m not staring at it.

I’ll speak to Truck about what has happened and ask him to go with me to speak with Cilla. I’ll feel better if I have him by my side. That’s another thing that strikes me. I’m seeing Truck as my man. I include him in my thoughts and what I am going to do, or am doing. I wonder if he ice skates?

My phone rings making me jump. Seeing it is Coin, who had given me his contact number previously, I quickly answer. “Hi, Coin.”

“Hi, Rory. Can you come over to the clubhouse when you are free and look at some of the businesses for us? Check if there is anywhere we could make changes?” Coin quickly fills me in on a problem he thinks he has found with the dumpster business.

“From next week, Grady is on summer break. Truck has said he’s going to be at the clubhouse earning a few dollars by helping do chores. I can come over one day with them, if that is any good?”

“Perfect. Thanks, Rory.” Coin cuts the call, and I sit looking at my phone for a moment. Men, they are all useless at saying goodbye on the darn telephone!

TRUCK

Sunday and time for church. It’s been a hell of a week, and yet I’m more upbeat than I have been for a long time. Living with Rory is nothing but awesome. I love going home and having our meal around the kitchen table while listening to Rory and Grady talking about what sort of day they’ve had.

Grady is home with Jill now that he’s out on summer break, but I’ll pick him up and drop him at the clubhouse because I can’t spend all day there when I have to be at the gas station.

I’ll bring Grady to the gas station some days, but I’ve heard Rory talking about going skating one morning, and I’m up for that. It’s years since I’ve done anything like that, but I’m sure it’s going to be fun.

An elbow nudging me brings me back to the present, as it seems I’ve been daydreaming again. I call it contemplating so the fuckers don’t take the piss out of me, but it doesn’t always work.