Page 38 of I Knew You
“I’m not taking any chances with you.” He placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the side so he couldshut the truck door behind me. His fingers against me were intimate and calming, though I had no business being soothed by them. We were friends. Sometimes friends touched, and it wasn’t anything to wax poetic about.
“So, you drove here in that truck?” He nodded toward the U-Haul.
“Yes. I left my car with Brandon, Kallie’s boyfriend. He’s going to sell it for me.” I omitted the part where I didn’t think it could make the four-hour drive. “I plan to rent a cheap car until I find something else. I won’t drive much anyway. Obviously, I’ve got to find a job to afford something else. I’m hoping to find a remote position. A lot of marketing and social media jobs are done that way these days.”
His brow furrowed. “I’m not sure you should be working right now.”
“ButI’msure I should be working,” I replied firmly. “Ineedto make money. Ineedhealth insurance.”
He stared at me intently.
“You look like you have a lot to say,” I said.
“You didn’t ask my opinion.”
I made a sweeping gesture with my hands. “Let’s hear it.”
“I think you’re being stubborn. Maybe someday, you’ll see reason and let your brother help you. It would be easier for you if you gave in now.”
My eyes narrowed on him.
“I’m not asking my brother for money.”
“Hmmm.”
“It’s my decision.”
He turned and walked toward the front door. There was nothing worse to me than being dismissed. My hands balled at my sides.
“Why are you giving me grief?” I shuffled to join him on the porch, where he entered the code on the front door. He knewthe house’s code and could access me whenever he wanted. That would need to be changed as soon as possible.
“To get you riled up, why else?” He looked over his shoulder and winked at me. My face burned. “I respect everything you say, sweets. I only want you to take care of yourself.”
“How many ways can I explain it? I amfine.” The door unlocked, and we walked into the sterile living area.
“Says the woman who is having back surgery.”
There wasn’t much I could say to refute that, so I did what I did best: I avoided it. “I’ve gotta run to the restroom, and then we’ll unload the truck, okay? Would you mind following me to the U-Haul drop off and then driving me over to the car rental place?”
He ran a hand down the dark stubble on his face. He hummed, as if thinking over our options. “Or… I’ll unload the truck. You gather up some more things you need, and then we’ll be back at the farmhouse with Lakey by lunchtime.”
I frowned. “The only part I approve of in that plan is Lakey,” I said.
Bram shrugged. “We’ll talk about it.” Then he went into the garage without another word.
Exasperated with his refusal of my requests, I huffed and went into the hall bathroom. I had just sat on the cold toilet seat when my phone buzzed in my jeans pocket on the ground. I fished it out and checked the screen.
Kallie: Calling in five.
Talking to her wasn’t something I could do in front of Bram. I could call her now, but I couldn’t hide in the bathroom forever. What if he came in to check on me?
I finished and walked out to the garage, where Bram was carrying a stack of boxes that was taller than he was. I had onlybeen gone for a few minutes, and he had unloaded half my things.
“Let me help you.” I rushed toward him. He drew back when my hands went around a box at the top.
“Absolutely not. Get your little ass back in that house.”
“This is my problem, not yours. And my ass is larger than average, thank you very much.”
