Page 65 of Let Me Be the One
“—I was fine. Rattled, for sure. Jumpy for a few weeks. I think he backhanded me, though I didn’t see it coming. I just know if he’d used his fist, he probably would have broken my jaw.”
Or killed her, and knowing that destroyed Tanner. There wasn’t enough air in the sky to relieve the constriction in his chest.
Callie touched her cheek now, as if remembering the pain. “I stayed with Glory for a month. Then I got rid of my apartment and moved.”
“Tell me there were severe consequences for him.”
“I guess it comes down to perspective. He spent a few days in jail, lost his scholarship for using steroids—as if the coaches hadn’t known—and got fired from his job. He tried to apologize but I wanted nothing more to do with him.”
Tanner told himself to release her, to step away again, and instead he drew her closer. “How can you stay here alone now after going through that?”
She replied, “How can you be so good and caring after what your father put you through?”
Damn it, this wasn’t about him. “Not the same thing, honey, and you know it.”
“I do. What you lived with for years is a million times worse, but overall you’ve conquered it to be the person you want to be. What happened to me was a one-off, and it was years ago. Sutter is oblivious to me but he’s not abusive.”
Tanner was of a different opinion. The bastard had abused her feelings.
“I’m wary with unknown guys, now,” she admitted. “But I refuse to let Warren’s drug-fueled lapse affect me long-term.”
What rang loud and clear in Tanner’s head was that she’d never been wary with him. What that meant, he didn’t know for sure—but he liked it.
Just then, they heard Liam returning, the tires rolling slowly up her gravel driveway. Together, they went out front to greet him, with Callie saying, “No reason for him to park back here when he’ll be taking it with him, right?”
Tanner suppressed the grin, saying instead, “Ask him—and then find the title.” He already knew what Liam would say, but he felt like this should be Callie’s doing since the gift was coming from her.
She took up the challenge, greeting Liam the second he stepped out by saying, “So what do you think? You want to keep it?”
Liam contained himself, just barely. “It runs nice, no problems that I could see.” He looked to Tanner for guidance.
Feeling about ten feet tall—thanks to Callie’s generosity—Tanner said, “I know Reggie took care of it, until he couldn’t anymore. There shouldn’t be anything major but if something does come up, Kam or I could help you with it. It’d just be the cost for used parts.”
Liam cleared his throat.
He looked so damned young that Tanner wanted to mess up his hair, but he remembered himself at nineteen, how serious he’d been about everything, especially his independence, so he afforded Liam the respect he deserved.
“I’d love to have it,” Liam said. “If I can afford it.”
Callie clapped her hands. “Awesome! Consider it yours. No charge. I’ll just have to locate the title.”
Eyes going wide, Liam said, “Wait…what?” with a touch of panic. He wasn’t used to getting gifts, or consideration. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat. “Ms. McCallahan—”
“Callie, please.” She held out her hand. “The snakes kept us from a proper introduction.”
Liam immediately took her hand, held it a split second, and then withdrew. “Thank you, but I can’t just take it from you.”
“You’ll be doing me a favor, getting it out of my way. Plus…” She crossed her fingers. “I’m still hoping you’ll help me with getting the locks changed and dead bolts added.”
“I… I mean…” Liam’s mouth snapped shut so he could grin. “Yes, ma’am. I’m happy to do that for you. Tanner already picked up what we’d need.”
“Oh.” Callie gave him a level look. “He did, did he?”
With a shrug, Tanner said, “Liam starts work early tomorrow. I figured I’d save him some time.”
“Well.” She looked at each of them. “I guess we should go inside.” Callie led the way around the house to the back door.
Deliriously happy, Liam followed her.
