Truck Me How I Like It

Chapter 2

Ten minutes later, the pallets were unloaded and Mr. Fontana signed off on the sheet. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it.”

I opened the truck door, but before I got in, he stopped me. “Hold up,” he said. I stepped back and looked at him. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry you’ve been having problems with the deliveries lately, and with Buzz in particular.” So that’s the name of the moron on the forklift. Figures.

“Whatever. I’m just trying to do my job, you know?” I got into the cab and rolled the window down. “Thanks again, sir.”

“Anytime,” he replied, and smiled, a toothy grin that did something funny to my insides, for some reason. “You know, you can call me Paul, Derrick.”

“I might just do that in the future, Mr. Fontana. See you next time,” I said, ignoring his mild flirtation as I started the engine.

Paul stepped back and I watched him in my side view mirrors as I pulled out of the lot, his shoulder-length, salt-and-pepper hair blowing in the light breeze. Huh, who would have thought…

I made it to my last stop right before closing, thank goodness. Sam, my regular off-loader was already waiting on his forklift, so it was a quick in and out. By the time I returned to ConcreteXpress, I was pretty exhausted, as well as covered in dust.

I cleaned out the truck since it was my last run of the week, and transferred all my equipment, bags and coffee mugs to my 2002 Subaru Legacy, Peaches. Don’t judge me. I like the fruit, is all.

Adrian was at his desk as usual when I entered the trailer office. I handed over the keys along with my paperwork.

“Everything work out okay with the stop you texted me about?” he asked, hanging the set in its customary spot on the board.

“Yes, it did. I found a manager to help me get that fucker to move his ass.” I ran a hand over the ponytail at the back of my head. “He has it in for me, and I don’t know why.”

“Who gives a s**t? Maybe he’s just a miserable snot of a human being. Don’t let him get to you,” Adrian said, and leaned back in his chair. “You comin’ to the barbecue tonight? Brandon’s doin’ pork ribs.” The smile on his face was full of contentment, and I felt a twinge.

It wasn’t that I begrudged the man his happiness; it was just…I’d never had the time to pursue anything serious—with a guy or girl—though I wasn’t even remotely a virgin. What with Joey’s problems, our parents dying and trying to make ends meet, life had just been too complicated lately. s**t, I hadn’t even f****d my fist in months.

Now that things were leveling out, however, maybe I could start hooking up again. I might even get lucky, like Adrian, and find my soul mate, if there was such a thing. I’d start with a random f**k tonight, maybe.

“I’ve got plans, but thanks,” I replied. “I’ll stop by briefly on my way out, just to say hello to everyone.” I watched Adrian study me. He was a hard-ass but fair, and had done me and Joey a good turn, providing us a place to call home, and letting me keep my job after some major f**k-ups.

“Well, you know where we are if you change your mind.”

“That I do. See you,” I said and left.