Second Chance: A Military Football Romance

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll go.”

“Chloe, you can’t—” my mother started to say, but my father shushed her.

“Let her go, Claire. She’s making her choice, and we’re not going to stop her.”

“I think it’s really unfortunate that it’s come to this point,” I said. “I haven’t done anything wrong. You guys are acting like I’m some sort of criminal or drug addict or something. I’ve met someone that I actually like, and I’m spending time with him. So what if he doesn’t happen to fall into the same socioeconomic class as us? So what if he doesn’t look exactly how you think he should? I didn’t realize you would be so closed-minded.”

There was a part of me that knew my parents really only socialized with other people “like them,” but I had always assumed that they’d be welcoming to others, especially if they actually got the chance to know them. But now it seemed like they weren’

t even willing to go that far.

My father started to say something, but I’d heard enough. I walked out of the room. I went upstairs and dug through my closet for my duffle bag. I threw in some clothes, went and grabbed my toothbrush from the bathroom, found my purse, and then trotted back downstairs. They were both in the living room, arguing. I paused at the bottom of the stairs, out of their line of sight.

“I’m going to tell her she doesn’t have to leave,” my mother was saying.

“You’ll do no such thing.”

“But John, we can’t throw her out! Where will she go?”

“Claire, it’s not our problem. And Chloe knows she is always welcome here so long as she is willing to follow the rules. If she wants to come back tonight—fine! We’re not asking that much. She’s making a big deal of it because she feels she needs to take a stand, but she’ll come around.”

“I just ....” My mother’s voice broke and I knew she was about to start crying.

“I’m leaving,” I said. I debated whether or not I should go in there, but decided against it. Nothing I said, short of promising to never hang out with Graham again, would change my father’s mind, and nothing they could say would change my mind, either.

After I pulled out of the driveway and had driven a little ways, I called Tara.

“Are you home? Can I come over?” I asked when she answered.

“Of course you can,” she said. “I’m just hanging out by the pool. Everything okay? You sound upset.”

“My parents just threw me out.”

“What?!”

“I’ll tell you when I get there.”

“This has to do with Graham, I assume.”

“You got it.”

“If you need a place to stay, you’re more than welcome to stay here! It’ll be like old times when we used to have slumber parties and sneak down and watch horror movies!”

I laughed. “You know, that sounds exactly what I’d like to do tonight.”

“Well, you better get your ass over here then! I’ll see you soon.”

I hung up, still laughing a little. It felt good.

*****

Tara’s mom, Melanie, answered the door. She immediately pulled me in for a hug.

“Tara told me there’s a bit of upheaval happening at your house. I want you to know you’re welcome here as long as need be.”

“Thanks,” I said.

She pulled back from the hug and squeezed my shoulders.