Page 62 of Let Me Be the One

Yes, he still needed her to go. Being with Liam today reinforced that, but he didn’t want her to be unhappy.

He didn’t reallywanther to go.

It was for the best, he reminded himself over and over again. Back when he’d been lost and alone, when he’d about given up on the world, he’d received what he needed most: encouragement, someone who cared. A purpose.

Now he knew a dozen kids facing the same turmoil he’d once faced. How could he let them down?

“Day-yum,” Liam murmured, once he’d uncovered the car.

The awe on his face should have been reserved for a Rolls Royce, not a twenty-year-old, two-tone BuickRendezvous. Granted, Reggie had kept it in good shape, but still…

With the way Liam ran his hand over the old Buick, his handsome young face split with a smile, he already loved it in a way nearly exclusive to nineteen-year-old boys.

“She’s in sweet shape, isn’t she?”

She? Yup, definitely a young dude thing. “From what I remember, she runs great, too.”

From outside the garage, her caution evident as she looked all around, Callie asked, “Would you like to take it for a drive? I brought the keys.” In her hand, she held up a goofy peace sign keychain that used to be Reggie’s. The car key, and several others, dangled noisily.

Round eyed, Liam asked, “For real?”

Callie actually laughed. “Fingers crossed it runs!” She tossed the keys to him, then backed up. “Forgive me, but I’ve had enough snakes today.”

Did that include the kind that stood on two legs? For Tanner, it did. Her ex was far, far worse than any rat snake, or even a copperhead.

Quickly, Liam cleared the way to ensure he could pull straight out. Tanner helped, then waited until Liam got inside and started it up. The car purred as Liam caressed the steering wheel.

Making a split-second decision, Tanner opted to let him go on his own. He stepped back. “How much gas does she have?”

“Quarter tank.”

Nodding, he said, “Don’t go too far, maybe just around the block a few times.”

Like a kid on Christmas morning, Liam put it in Drive. “I’ll be extra careful.”

“I know.” Tanner had taken him to get his license afew years back. Whenever possible, he let Liam drive the truck. He was a good, hardworking, independent young man, largely because he hadn’t had other options, at least on the hard work and independence. The good…that came straight from Liam’s heart. “Let me open the gate.” He jogged across the yard and pulled the gate wide open.

Wearing a tempered smile, Liam slowly pulled through.

Callie came to stand beside Tanner while Liam went down the driveway, passed alongside her car, paused before turning on the road, and then drove out of sight.

“That was pretty awesome,” she said. “Thank you for letting me share it.”

Always with her, it was the unexpected. “It’syourcar.”

“No, it was Reggie’s. Mine is that cute red Escape in the driveway.” She grinned. “Seriously, I have no need of another car. As far as I’m concerned, that’s just another place for snakes to hide. If he still wants it, you can consider it Liam’s.”

“Just like that.”

“I mean…yes? I’ll have to find the title and sign it over to him, but it made me happy to see him so happy.”

Not crushing her to him for a long, deep kiss proved difficult. Every single time Tanner saw her, she said or did something that made him want her more. Sharing in Liam’s happiness was a biggie, one that hit him right in the heart.

Locking his hands at his sides, Tanner stepped away from enticement. “We can discuss it with Liam when he gets back.” Time to put a little more distance between them. “The title should be in a box with Reggie’s other important papers, stored in the spare bedroom.”

“You know that, how?”

“He told me. Since he didn’t have any close family—and no, that’s not a dig at you—he said he needed someone to know where to find things in case anything happened to him.”

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