Page 22 of Truck Hard

“But we can’t keep eating the cost of replacements.” I finish for him. “I’ll make some calls, see if I can find someone more reliable.”

Mac nods, but doesn’t move to leave. He’s fidgeting with the zipper of his coveralls, a tell-tale sign he has more on his mind.

“What else?” I stare at my youngest brother.

He hesitates, which is so unlike him it immediately puts me on edge. Mac’s never been one to hold back his thoughts. “It’s just... are you okay? You’ve been kind of...” He waves his hand vaguely. “Distracted lately. You never let shit get this far behind.”

Am I that obvious?

“I’m fine.” The words come out sharper than intended. “Just busy with paperwork.”

Mac’s eyebrows shoot up, clearly not buying it. “Right. Because you always spend hours staring at your phone when you’re doing paperwork.”

Heat creeps up my neck. “Don’t you have work to do?”

“Actually, no.” He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Finished my last job ten minutes ago. Which you’d know if you weren’t so busynottexting Hannah.”

Busted.

I close my eyes and sigh. “Mac—”

“Look, we’re all thinking it.” He cuts me off. “You’ve been walking around like a zombie since she came back. Just talk to her already.”

“It’s not that simple.” I stand up, needing to move, to dispel some of this restless energy that’s been building for days. “She needs space. Time to sort things out with the divorce and—”

“Bullshit.” Mac’s voice is uncharacteristically serious. “You’re scared.”

The accusation stops me in my tracks. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” He meets my glare without flinching. “The great Liam Mutter—my big brother, who’s never backed down from a fight in his life—is scared of talking to a woman he’s known practically since birth.”

“You don’t understand—”

“No,youdon’t understand.” Mac stands too, his usual easy going demeanor replaced by something fiercer. I’m caught off guard seeing my devil-may-care brother taking charge of a situation. “That woman has been through hell. Her piece of shit husband beat her so bad she nearly died. And now she’s back home, trying to rebuild her life, and you’re what? Hiding in your office playing phone games?”

Each word lands like a punch to the gut. Because he’s right—of course he’s right. Iamscared. Terrified of facing theconsequences of choices I made thirteen years ago. Choices that led Hannah straight into Charlie’s arms.

“You’re right.” I admit, not bother to argue. He’s telling me the thing everyone else has told me, but for some reason it hurts differently coming from my baby brother.

Mac’s expression softens slightly. “I am?”

“Yeah.” I sink back into my chair, suddenly exhausted. “I feel like everything I do is wrong. I don’t know what the right thing is anymore.”

Mac studies me for a long moment, then nods like he’s come to some decision. “Well, I do.” He heads for the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. “The right thing is whatever gets you off your ass and actually doing something instead of just thinking about it.”

The door closes behind him with a definitive click, leaving me alone with thoughts I’ve been trying to avoid for days. Every time I close my eyes, I see Hannah begging me not to give up on us.I love you, she’d said.Isn’t that enough?

It should have been. God, it should have been more than enough.

My phone buzzes, making me jump. For a heart-stopping moment I think it might be Hannah, but it’s just a text from Grams asking if I’ll run to the store after work to pick up some milk. I type back a quick affirmative, then find myself scrolling through my previous messages.

The last text I sent Hannah stares back at me, mocking in its accidental cruelty

Liam

Hey asshole, where the fuck are you?

I groan, dropping my head into my hands. What must she think of me? That I’m still the same immature kid who pushed her away? That I haven’t spent every day since then regretting it?

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