My Second Chance – Epilogue
Claude
Sitting waiting to connect with Titus and Cali over Facetime, I was nervous. With Cali in New York, a lot had happened since the last time the three of us talked. I wasn’t sure how either of them would take it.
“Claude!” Titus said, joining the call first. “How’s beautiful Pensacola?” He asked cheerfully.
“It’s beautiful,” I told him with a smile.
He looked at me strangely. “Well, I don’t know what that means.”
“You don’t know what beautiful means?”
“I don’t know what that look you’re giving me means.”
“Hey,” Cali said, his mood clearly lower as he joined the call.
“Cali, how’s New York?” I asked him.
“I’m at home,” he said stone-faced.
“Okay,” I replied confused by his expression. “Anyway, I have news to share.”
“So do I!” Titus chimed in, his enthusiasm unaltered.
“So do I,” Cali said downtrodden.
“That’s funny,” I told them. “But I’ll go first. It looks like I’ll be the starting quarterback for the Pensacola Cougars,” I said, unable to hide my excitement.
Titus’s face lit up.
“I thought that was off the table!”
“The owner saw the showcase and reconsidered. I’m told that he and I met, and things went well.”
“Apparently,” Titus said excitedly. “Wait, what do you mean that you were told that you met with the owner? Weren’t you there?”
“Long story. And I’m still feeling the hangover. But it means I’ll be moving here,” I told him nervously.
“Oh,” Titus said caught off guard. “Permanently.”
“I think so. It’s a three-year contract, and Merri’s here. So…” I shrugged.
“Merri?” Cali interjected. “You mean the Merri I met?”
“Yeah,” I said, still smiling.
“Good for you. I liked her,” Cali said, his voice warming a bit.
“So did I,” Titus added. “Does that mean you’re leaving the business?”
“I’ll have my off-seasons, but I don’t know where Merri will want to spend them. Maybe it will be better to now think of me more as a silent investor.”
“Okay,” Titus responded, taking it in. “Well, I’m happy for you. That’s fantastic news about the contract and Merri.”
“Thanks. I guess practice makes perfect. Or at least, practice makes not awful.”
Titus chuckled.
“If that was your news, it’s my turn. Cage proposed to Quin.”
“No way!” Cali said surprised.
“Yep. Quin asked Lou to be her maid of honor and Lou told me. I’m not sure she was supposed to. So keep it under wraps until one of them tells you, okay?”
“You got it,” I assured Titus. “Do you know when they’re getting married?”
“Not sure. In a few months, I think. It’s gonna be big, though. Marcus is catering. I think the whole town will be there.”
“That’s wonderful! Good for them,” I said, genuinely happy. “Cali, what’s your news?”
Cali stared at the screen before lowering his head.
“What’s wrong?” I asked him.
Straightening up, he steeled himself.
“Remember when Claude’s mom gave us the name of our father?”
“Of course,” Titus said while a knot formed in my stomach.
“I said I didn’t recognize the name, but that was a lie.”
“Okay,” Titus replied cautiously. “And how do you know the name?”
“From my first trip to New York.”
I thought back to what he told us about that trip. His girlfriend Hil had been kidnapped and he had rescued her.
“And how did you come across his name in New York?” I inquired, my nerves on edge.
“I didn’t just come across his name. I met him. I met him in person,” Cali clarified, his tone grave.
My and Titus’s reactions mirrored each other, stunned silence.
“When?” Titus implored.
“When I went to rescue Hil. Armand Clement, our father, was the man who shot me.”
Chilling prickles covered my face hearing Cali’s words. I couldn’t believe it.
“More than that,” Cali continued soberly. “Now we need to rescue him.”
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