Page 5 of Truck Hard

Mac’s waiting in my office, parts order in hand, expression dubious. “Everything okay, bro?”

“Yeah.” I take the paperwork from him, not really seeing it. “Everything’s fine.”

But we both know that’s a lie. Nothing’s been fine since Hannah left. And now that she’s back?

Things are about to get a whole lot more complicated.

I sink into my chair, staring at the ledger without seeing it. The numbers still don’t add up, but right now, that’s the least of my problems.

My phone buzzes.

A text from Hannah.

Hannah

I saw the message. It’s okay. I know it wasn’t meant for me.

Three dots appear, disappear, appear again. I hold my breath, waiting.

Hannah

But we do need to talk. Soon. About everything.

Everything. Does she mean...?

Before I can respond, another message comes through.

Hannah

Just not today. Please.

I type back quickly

Liam

Whenever you’re ready. I mean it.

The three dots appear one last time, but no message follows. After a minute, they disappear completely, leaving me staring at a conversation that feels both unfinished and overwhelmingly final.

Soon, she’d said. Abouteverything.

I look down at the ledger again, at the numbers that refuse to make sense. Funny how some things can be counted, quantified, balanced to the penny. While others—the important things, the life-changing things—resist all attempts at calculation.

Like how many days it took for Charlie to ask Hannah out after we broke up.

Like how few years it took before they got engaged.

Like how quickly I talked her out of cancelling her wedding after we hooked up two days before she said I do.

Like how many chances I’ll have left to make things right.

Mac clears his throat from the doorway. “Still need that signature, bro.”

I pick up my pen, but my hand hovers over the paper, unwilling to commit. Just like thirteen years ago, when I couldn’t commit to Hannah—couldn’t promise her the life she deserved. And look how well that turned out.

“Bro?”

“Yeah,” I say, finally scrawling my name across the bottom line. “Here’s your signature.”

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