Page 44 of Truck

“I don’t have anyone following me around. Well, your husband has spoken about me being good to you, but I don’t need him to tell me that. I’ll get Bono to move him on if he doesn’t go away easily,” Truck states, and I don’t know who Bono is, so I look at Coin.

Coin swallows, then quietly speaks, doing his best not to be overheard by Truck. “Bono is one of our military brothers, but he’s dead, Rory.”

Cilla walks into the office and stands, taking in what is going on, but I ignore her and speak to Truck again. “If my dead husband is speaking to you, then you can tell him to go be dead quietly because I’m not listening to any dead man.”

Truck huffs, then snarls. “I’ll speak to you later, Rory. We’ll work this out.”

I don’t even wait for more, I cut the call. Then turn to Coin, point and snap. “I’m not into speaking with no dead man, or men.”

Cilla giggles. “Your husband is warning Truck to be good to you. To look after you. He’s here now if you want to speak to him.”

I look where she’s pointing, throw my hands on my hips and snort. “If you are really there, Terrence, you need to move your ass over to where you belong. I’m still learning to live without you in my life. Now buzz off, move along, whatever is needed. Love you always, goodbye.”

Cilla is laughing, Coin is shaking his head, and I stand as tall as I can as I pass Cilla. I pause and look her in the eye, “You are all batshit crazy.”

Cilla continues laughing as I leave the office and hear her shout, “Probably, Rory, probably.”

Chapter 23

TRUCK

I’m not sure the things moving on the desk yesterday was a good thing to happen on whoever's part that did it, because Rory was out of here so fast her ass was on fire. Rum, of course, thought it was hilarious and has not stopped chuckling for the last hour.

I will have to sit down with Rory and explain fully about Cilla, the ghosts, and who they are. I’ll always have to warn her that Tracker is doing his best to see them, and I’m guessing that he fuckin’ speaks to them when nobody is around.

Walking from the staff area to the store, I give nods to a young woman with a child, and a trucker who has made a pit stop. Reaching the counter, where Xero is busy serving a customer, I ask, “Where’s Collins?” as I lean on the edge of the counter and glass partition.

“He went outside to check one of the gas pumps,” Xero replies before turning and thanking the customer for supporting the gas station.

“Is something wrong with the gas pump?”

Xero shakes his head, “Nah, it’s the woman trying to use it.”

It’s the way he laughs that has me turning and stepping outside. Leaning against the wall, arms folded, I watch the shit that’s going on with Collins. The woman has a blouse that has nearly every button undone. She’s wearing a skirt that only just covers her butt, and she’s doing her best to keep stroking Collins’ arm, which he is doing his best to dodge.

Chuckling, I shout, “Collins, are you going to come and get some work done today? Leave the bitch to fill her own gas. We can all see what her game is, and unless you want in her pussy, get your ass in here.”

The woman looks at me with daggers in her eyes. I don’t give a shit what she has to say or how she reacts. She’s here to get herself a biker. We’ve all seen these women and can spot them a mile away. Not one of us will take these women as old ladies because they are not what we see as our forever women.

Collins shakes her off again, right before he leans in and whispers something quietly to her. Her face lost all color, so whatever he said wasn’t flattery. Leaving her standing next to her car Collins walks over to me, slaps me on the shoulder-blade and we turn and head inside. Neither Collins nor I make any comment regarding the woman and what he said. We head inside to the office where Rum flicks his hand to show us both something on his monitor.

“What’s that?” Collins asks as he leans over Rum’s shoulder to take a closer look.

“This is the program for the billboard. I’ve been learning how to do scrolling and other things. But, what do you think of this?” Rum hits a key on the keyboard and the monitor shows the billboard scrolling through the gas prices and the other club businesses. When it passes the dumpster business, an advertisement for advertising space has me nodding toward Rum.

“That’s what Rory was talking about, isn’t it Rum?” Collins asks as he steps away from the desk.

“Yes, and I’ve been doing some goggling to see what I could find…”

“You mean googling, Rum,” I say as I chuckle at his error.

“Whatever, Truck. I’ve done my research, and it tells me we could make some easy money by allowing town businesses to rent billboard space. Rory’s idea is viable, and well worth our consideration,” Rum turns to look at both of us and waits for us to comment further.

“Do what you think is best, Rum. I’m good with it. I’m going to relieve Xero from the counter. He’ll be ready for a break,” Collins throws out as he walks out of the office.

The day is going well. The gas pump sales are good, and people are using the gas station more than I thought they would in the first week. The convenience store had quite a few people walking around and filling their hand baskets. I reckon we have priced the stock well, as I’ve heard some comments that they expected us to be more expensive than we are.

The door opens to the store, and Cilla walks in, giving a bright smile to all of us. “Are you okay, Cilla?” Collins asks as Xero gives her a chin lift and passes through the store to the staff area.