Trucker (The Good Guys #1)(10)

As Travis pulled the semi up next to the side of the white brick  building, the gravel of the parking lot crunched under the tires and the  apprehension I'd been feeling earlier returned with full force.                       
       
           



       

For a second, I honestly thought about making a run for it. Looking  around, I saw nothing but a couple side streets and a lot of cornfields.  We were literally in the middle of nowhere, so, unfortunately, making a  run for it was out of the question.

Travis killed the engine then turned to me. "Let's go meet Hank." He smiled, seemingly oblivious to my inner panic attack.

Before we got out of the truck, he grabbed his bag and I did the same  because he told me we'd be leaving the semi at the shop. As we were  walking, he lifted my backpack off my shoulder and carried both bags in  one hand.

Show-off.

I scoffed. "I can carry that, you know."

He shrugged. "It looked heavy."

Two garage doors were at the front of the building, one of which was  open. Travis sauntered into the shop while twirling the keys around his  finger.

"Yo, Hank!" he bellowed and I had no choice but to follow behind.

As we walked through, I saw a blue sedan with the hood propped up. The  scent of tire rubber and motor oil permeated the air with the typical  auto shop smell. An older man came out of a small office on the right  and stopped in front of us, glancing back and forth between Travis and  me.

"This is Angel," Travis introduced me, and I gave an awkward wave.

"Hi, there. I'm Hank Evans." He smiled. "Welcome to my shop. I'd shake  your hand, but mine are a little dirty right now." He held his hands out  and I could see that they were dark with motor oil and grease.

"Angel Thomas," I responded, wishing I could read his mind. He was looking at me as though he was trying to solve a puzzle.

Another guy, close to Travis's age, came from the back of the garage.  There was no doubt in my mind this was Hank's son. Both men were wearing  gray coverall uniforms with ‘Hank's Auto Shop' embroidered over the  left breast pocket, but the similarities didn't end there.

While Hank had hair that was mostly gray, Colton's was a dirty blond and  both men had it buzzed short. They also had the same color eyes-a blue  so light it almost looked silver. As I studied them, I noticed they also  had the same build. Hank and his son were an inch or two shorter than  Travis, but their shoulders were broader.

I wondered if all the men of this town were good-looking.

Is there something in the water?

"Look what the cat dragged in," the guy clapped Travis on the back. "And  who do we have here?" he asked while giving me the same inquisitive  look as Hank.

Both men had their heads cocked slightly to the right as they eyed me  curiously. It would have been comical if I hadn't been so nervous.

"You must be Colton," I said, and I suddenly had to fight off a grin  because I was picturing a younger version of him and Travis stuck in a  shirt together.

"Colton, this is Angel," Travis said. "Angel, this is Colton. Best  friend. Roommate. Pain in my ass," he said as he roughly hooked his arm  around his friend's neck.

Colton guffawed. "I'm the pain in the ass? Tell her about the time you  threw guinea pig poop in my mouth." He reached up and knocked Travis's  hat off before attempting to get the upper hand on their impromptu  wrestling match.

"You deserved it," Travis grunted as they started grappling in earnest.

"Alright," Hank interrupted their good-natured ribbing. "That's enough, boys." He turned to me. "So, Angel, where are you from?"

"Maine." I knew the questions were coming. My plan was to keep my answers short, if possible.

"And what brings you to these parts?" he asked.

"I was just …  traveling. And Travis gave me a ride. I'm on my way to California," I answered vaguely.

"When you say ‘traveling' you mean hitchhiking?" Hank crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a very effective ‘dad' look.

I sighed. "You're not going to let me get away with the shortened version of this, are you?"

He chuckled. "Not a chance."

I took a deep breath, preparing to give my entire life story to someone  who was not only a complete stranger, but also a father figure to the  guy I was crushing on.

Thankfully, Travis came to my rescue again.





TRAVIS

"Yeah, she was hitchhiking, but it was the only time she's ever done it.  She wants to find her mom in California and doesn't have much money to  get there," I cut in before Angel could ramble on about sushi and The  Beatles for ten minutes.

Not that I minded her rambling. Actually, I thought it was pretty cute,  but I could tell she was uncomfortable. Angel shot me a grateful look  and mouthed a ‘thank you' for taking over the conversation.                       
       
           



       

Technically she was a runaway, but we left that part out as we told Hank how I picked her up on the side of the road in Ohio.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous hitchhiking is? Especially for a  young woman." Hank's eyes burned into Angel as he gave her his most  stern voice. He wasn't usually a serious guy, but he had the ability to  make a person feel two inches tall if he wanted to.

Angel swallowed hard. "Yes. It's the only time I've ever done it and I  know it was risky. I'm just glad it was Travis who pulled over for me."

"That's why she's going to stay in Tolson for a few weeks," I chimed in.  "And I'll drive her to California when I have the Sacramento delivery."

"I think that's a good idea," Hank said before turning his serious voice  on me. "And you. You know better. I set rules for you boys when we made  this business."

"I know you did. And I broke that rule, but I'm not sorry. I couldn't just leave her there," I said as I looked him in the eye.

‘No hitchhikers' had been one of the first rules he made, and at the  time that had been a given. Picking up a random person off the side of  the road had never been something I thought I'd do.

I knew Hank still saw me as a kid and he was just looking out for me.  But I couldn't be sorry about this. If I hadn't been at the right place  at the right time …  I didn't even want to think of where Angel could be  right now. Her eyes darted back and forth between Hank and me while a  silent communication passed between us. I could see he understood what I  meant. Then I saw the wheels turning in his head and a slow smile  spread across his face.

Ah, shit. He could tell I had feelings for her.

"Alright then," he said, still grinning like an idiot. "I'll see you on Monday, Travis. It was great to meet you, Angel."

On that note, Hank walked back to his office while whistling a random  tune, and I realized Colton was still hanging around. He'd been  pretending to fiddle with a carburetor while eavesdropping.

Nosy prick.

"So, I guess that means you're coming with us to The Brick House tonight?" he asked Angel.

"The what?" She looked confused.

"Dinner, dancing, drinks … " Colton explained.

"Oh, well, I'm not old enough to drink." She nervously toyed with the end of her braid. "Is it a bar?"

"It's a family restaurant," he informed her. "And it also happens to be a  bar. They don't usually let people under the age of twenty-one in after  nine, but if you come before then, they won't kick you out."

"I don't want to be party pooper. Maybe you guys should go without me.  Plus, I don't really have anything to wear … " She looked at me for help.  People had a hard time saying no to Colton. The guy was so damn  friendly, not to mention persistent. "And I don't dance," she added.

"Hey, that's perfect actually." He gave me a pointed look. "Because Travis doesn't dance either."

"Can I think about it?" she replied.

"Nope," he said and walked away while yelling over his shoulder. "See you tonight!"

I laughed and grabbed our bags. "I'll show you to my place. It's not far."

I led her out of the open garage and took a left down Main Street.

Illinois weather was always unpredictable and inconsistent, especially  when the seasons changed. The whole month of June could alternate  between hot and humid one day to rainy and cold the next. Today,  however, was perfect, with clear blue skies and temps in the  mid-eighties.

We passed an empty storefront that had been unoccupied for two years,  since the salon didn't work out. I gave Angel a brief history lesson  about the different businesses that didn't last.

Just on the other side of the vacant windows, there was a building that  used to be somewhat of a warehouse. Someone bought it and turned it into  four two-bedroom apartment units. One of them was mine.