Page 108 of Truck Hard

Her words stay with me as I head up to bed, turning over in my mind like smooth stones in a river. Maybe that’s what tomorrow needs to be. Not grand declarations or elaborate explanations, but simple truths spoken from the heart.

I lay in bed for a long time, watching moonlight paint patterns on my ceiling. Tomorrow stretches before me like an unopened gift—full of possibility and promise. And for the first time in days, I feel ready to face whatever it brings.

Just before sleep claims me, my phone lights up with one final message.

Hannah

Thank you for being patient with me.

I smile in the darkness, typing back.

Liam

Always.

It’s not much—just one word—but it holds everything I want her to know. That I’m here. That I’m steady. That no matter what tomorrow brings, my heart beats in time with hers.

The unusually busystreets of Beaver blur past my truck’s windows as I navigate toward Frank’s Frosty Kreme. My palms are sweaty against the steering wheel, and my heart hammers so hard I can feel it in my throat. Hannah’s text from last night still burns in my mind.Can we talk?

Those three words kept me tossing and turning all night. After days of radio silence, days of wondering if I’d ruined everything by telling her I loved her, that simple message feels like a lifeline thrown into stormy waters.

I spot her the moment I pull into the parking lot. She’s sitting alone at one of the picnic tables outside, lost in thought as she stares into the distance. The late afternoon sun catches in her hair, highlighting the golden strands that always make me want to run my fingers through it. Even from here, I can see the tension in her shoulders, the way she keeps fidgeting with her hands.

God, I’ve missed her.

These past few days without her have been torture. Every time my phone buzzed, I hoped it was her. Every time I drove past her house, I fought the urge to stop and beg her to let me in. To tell me what I did wrong, how I could fix it.

But I know Hannah well enough to know she needed space. After everything she’s been through with Charlie, the last thing she needs is another man trying to control her choices. So I waited, even though it killed me. Counted the hours until she was ready to talk.

Now, watching her through my windshield, I’m terrified I’ve waited too long. That whatever we were building has crumbled in the silence between us.

Only one way to find out.

Taking a deep breath, I step out of my truck. The gravel crunches under my boots as I make my way toward her. She must hear me coming because she looks up, and the vulnerability in her eyes nearly stops me in my tracks. There’s something different about her today—a quiet determination beneath the fear that makes my heart skip.

“Hey,” I say softly, sliding onto the bench across from her. “I’m glad you texted.”

“Yeah, me too.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, and she won’t quite meet my eyes. The silence stretches between us, heavy with all the things we need to say but don’t know how to begin.

Up close, I can see the shadows under her eyes, the slight tremor in her hands as she plays with a paper napkin. Has she been sleeping? Eating? The protective instinct that’s been a part of me since we were kids roars to life, demanding I do something—anything—to ease her pain.

“I’ve missed you.” I admit, unable to keep the words inside any longer. Her eyes flicker to mine, and for a moment I catch a glimpse of the same longing I’ve been drowning in. “I want to work through this with you. Together. Whatever’s holding you back, whatever I did wrong—”

“No.” She cuts me off, shaking her head. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Liam. I did. This one is all on me.” A bitter laugh escapes her. “I went to a support group meeting last night.”

That catches me off guard. “You did?”

She nods, finally meeting my gaze fully. “I’ve been meaning to go for weeks, but I kept finding excuses not to. After… Afterwhat happened at the lake, I knew I had to do something. They helped me see how much I’m still letting fear control my life.”

My heart clenches at the pain in her voice. I want to reach across the table and take her hand, but I force myself to stay still. To let her get this out.

“I’m also looking for a therapist. I think that will help me too. Help me see how I’m not just hurting myself but also those I care the most about. I thought if I pushed you away, it would keep me safe. Keep Cam safe.” Her voice breaks slightly. “But all I did was hurt us both. Hurt you.”

“Hannah—”

“Please, let me finish.” She takes a shaky breath. “When you told me you loved me, it terrified me. Because the last man who said those words used them like weapons. Used them to control me, to keep me trapped. And I know—” Her voice catches. “I know you’re nothing like Charlie. I know you’d never hurt me that way. But there’s this voice in my head that won’t shut up, that keeps telling me I don’t deserve this. Don’t deserve you. I need help working through that.”

“I see you, Hannah,” I say firmly, unable to stay quiet any longer. “The real you. The strong, beautiful woman who survived hell and came out fighting. The amazing mother who’d do anything to protect her son.Ourson.”

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