To Have It All(67)

It wasn’t long before I reached the shop. I was not surprised the bay doors were already open. Lenny always had been an early riser. As I walked in, he recognized me immediately and shook my hand.

“So, I hear you have my bike ready,” I began, casually.

Tilting his head, he slanted his eyes in confusion.

“The Panhead,” I chuckled as I walked over to it and inspected it.

“Wow,” he snorted. “I feel stupid,” Lenny chuckled as he scratched the back of his neck. “I had no idea this was your bike.”

“Sorry, man,” I apologized. I felt bad. When I had stopped by the shop a few days ago, there was no way I could have known Max had bought my dream bike and sent it to the shop where I used to work. I wasn’t sure why in those five days between the time I saved Max’s life and the time we switched bodies, Max would have bought it. There were so many questions I’d probably never have answers to. The only thing I did know was this might be the last day of my life, and I wasn’t going to waste it. I would ride this bike.

“I just wanted to come by and check the place out without making you feel weird,” I explained. It was a lame excuse, but I had nothing else.

“Well, she looks good,” he noted. “Runs good, too.”

Smiling I asked him, “Did you ride her?”

“Uh . . .” he didn’t know how to answer. He was worried I’d be pissed if he said yes.

“I hope you did,” I told him.

He grinned, relief taking over his features. “I did,” he admitted with a chuckle. “Sorry, sir. I had to.”

He followed me as I rolled the bike out of the shop. Stopping, I pulled on my helmet and tightened the strap. There was so much I wanted to say to him, but couldn’t. It wasn’t only because he didn’t know I was Liam, but also because saying goodbye was hard.

“We’ve enjoyed working on her, and hope you’ll use us again in the future,” Lenny offered.

Reaching in my back pocket, I pulled out a check and held it out to him. “Oh, they handle the payments in the front office.”

I snorted. “The bike’s been paid for. This is for you.”

Taking the check, his brows rose when he looked at it. “Fifty thousand dollars?”

“I’m in the business of finding talented mechanics. Not just talented, but good people. I can tell you’re a good guy, and you’re way too talented to work for someone else. You need to start your own business.”

Darting his gaze to mine, he frowned. “I don’t understand.” I couldn’t explain to him I was Liam. I couldn’t explain he’d bought my bike, my most prized possession, just so I’d have money to keep a roof over my head, and held it for me even though it didn’t seem likely I’d be buying it back anytime soon. And had my foolish pride not been in the way, he would’ve let me crash on his couch if I’d needed to. He was a true friend, through and through. I’d been damn lucky to have a friend like him.

“Good deeds render good luck. Today is your lucky day. Open your own shop, man.” Reaching my hand out, he took it and we shook, his face was void of any expression. He didn’t know what to say—he was in shock. I know it was Max’s money I was giving to him, and maybe that was wrong, but Lenny, in a way, saved my life at some point. I needed a roof over my head, and he gave me one, which led to me saving Max’s life. Swinging my leg over the bike, I sat. “Thank you, Lenny.” The words meant more than he could have known. He thought I was thanking him for the work he’d done on the bike; it was so much more for me.

“I’ll repay you,” he offered.

“No. You don’t owe me a thing.”

There was a knot in my throat when I fired up the bike as I realized this might be the last time I ever saw him—that this might be my goodbye. When my body came off life support, I had no idea what would happen. I didn’t look back, though. I couldn’t. I drove away knowing I’d given my friend a chance to do more; be more. No matter what happened, I could rest easy knowing he had a chance to make our dream come true.





When I opened my eyes, I was in bed. Max’s bed. It wasn’t where I’d fallen asleep in the wee hours of the morning, but I guessed Max must’ve carried me to bed.

“Liam,” I reminded myself. When I committed to giving him this last day, he made me promise to call him Liam which would be difficult considering he was Max. At least, physically. “Ugh . . . I’m insane,” I groaned into my pillow. Was I really doing this?

Yes. Yes, I was.

I’d agreed to it with hesitation, but in the hours that followed, I was more accepting. Liam and I had stayed up all night talking. He told me a million stories about his childhood and Helen. He listened to everything I spoke about from school, to Pim, to my dreams. It was one of the best nights of my life.

Sitting up, I looked over at Pim’s travel crib, and she was gone. I smiled. Liam must’ve gotten her so I could sleep. Climbing out of bed, I hurried into the bathroom to brush my teeth and hair before heading out to the living room.

I found the living room empty and made my way to the kitchen where I found Helen feeding a pancake to Pim that she’d just cut up.

Pim gurgled in excitement when she caught sight of me causing Helen to turn.