Page 107 of A Thousand Second Chances

I resist the urge to shrink away, tightening my grip and standing tall. “Hi, Dad. You remember Chris, right? From high school?”

Chris holds out his left hand since I’ve still got a death grip on his right. “Hi, Mr. Wentworth. It’s good to see you again.”

I hold my breath, watching my dad carefully. His initial shock gradually morphs into a warm smile. Ignoring Chris’ outstretched hand, he steps in and wraps him in a hug.

“Of course! Chris Rawley, right, from the track team? You boys were inseparable in high school.” He frowns as he pulls back. “I always wondered what happened between you two.”

“We sort of had a falling out freshman year,” I admit.

“My fault,” Chris interjects quickly.

I shake my head. “Definitely both of ours.” I smile at Chris. “But I think we’re finally working things out.”

Chris holds my gaze, returning a lopsided grin.

My dad clears his throat, and I blush, turning from Chris to find my dad beaming at us. “I can see that.” Sorrow flits across his face. “I’m glad this trip did you some good after all,” he adds, slightly choked up. “I started to second guess myself when you didn’t respond to any of my texts—thought maybe going back there alone had been too much for you. But this is the happiest I’ve seen you since…well, since your mother passed. She’d be so glad to see you smiling again.”

My own throat tightens. “I’ll always miss her. But it helped, confronting the memories we’d shared. I don’t want to get so caught up mourning her death that I forget to celebrate her life.”

He chuckles wetly. “I’m certain she’d like that, too. There’s nothing more important in this world than joy. Never take it for granted because before you know it, it might slip away.”

His voice cracks, and I pat him awkwardly on the back. Looking over at Chris, I’m surprised to see my own tears reflected on his face.They’re tears for me, I realize.For the loss my dad and I have had to endure.But beneath the tears, shining out fiercely like the sun behind the clouds, there’s also an almost overwhelming abundance of love.

“I think I’m starting to get that, Dad,” I say quietly, surrounded by the two most important people in my world. “Sometimes, you just need the universe to give you a good kick in the pants.”

Epilogue

Chris

Eight Months Later

“Come on, Rawley, getyour ass into gear!” Devon shouts. He’s already in position in his lane, doing some warm-up stretches.

I bend down, cupping my butt cheeks. “Didn’t know you appreciated myassets so much, Jackson! But then again, you get plenty of chances to stare at it when I’m leaving you in the dust.”

“You wish, Rawley! The only person who will be admiring your ass today isyou.”

Footsteps patter on the grass behind me, and I smirk. “Don’t be so sure about that.”

I waggle my eyebrows, and Devon groans, pressing his hands over his eyes. “Come on, dude! Like I needthatmental image haunting me all practice!”

“Any particular reason we’re talking about my boyfriend’s ass?” Percy asks, draping an arm over my shoulders.

He looks as adorable as ever in khakis and a button-down, his laptop bag smacking against his leg. He’d insisted on being here to support me even though it’s not a real meet and he’s busier than ever working on a new game idea. This was our compromise. He can do a bit of extra coding in the stands while I do my best to whip myself back into shape.

After all, Devon’s not the only cocky teammate I plan to trounce.

“Just making sure everyone knows this ass is off the market,” I reply, pressing a quick kiss to Percy’s cheek.

A faint blush colors his skin, but he smiles and doesn’t flinch away like he once would have at such a public display of affection. Of course, he’s had plenty of practice dealing with it by now.

It’s the summer after our trip to Mackinac Island that didn’t want to end, and I still can’t believe how lucky I am to have Percy back in my life. Things aren’t perfect—what relationship is? But instead of pulling away when the going gets tough, we face our problems head-on. Together. And while my mom and I may never see eye to eye on mylife choices, the one thing we can agree on is that Percy and I make a good team. He inspires me to be a better person, and I can’t remember ever being happier.

“All right, everyone, line up!” Coach Farrow barks as she strides out onto the field. She eyes Percy and me, and though she’s scowling, I can sense her hidden amusement. “That includes you, Rawley. Your adoring fans will have to shout their adulations from the stands like everyone else.”

True to his word, Devon and the rest of my former teammates made a colossal stink once we returned to campus. Farrow replaced the old track coach less than a month later. She was even tougher on us than he’d been, pushing us to our limits andbeyond every practice. But she hadn’t batted an eye at Percy and me, and for that, she’d earned my eternal loyalty.

“I guess that’s my cue,” Percy says.