Chapter 32: Callan Quinn

Chapter 32: Callan Quinn Cal leaned against the door frame with disguised sadness in his eyes as he watched Jamal zip up his suitcase in readiness to leave for the airport now that the conference was over. "Are you sure you don’t want to stay for two more days? We could hang out, and I’ll introduce you to some hot chicks," Cal said, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. Jamal chuckled, "By now you should know I’m not the type you can entice with ladies. The only hot chick I want is a fried or barbecued chicken glazed with barbecue sauce," he said, and Cal laughed. "Yeah. My bad. What can I say to convince you then?" He asked, but Jamal did not respond as he grabbed his phone, glancing at the time. They had just enough time to get to the airport, but as he turned to pick up his jacket, his phone vibrated with a new notification. Personal Paradise – New Episode Alert! His lips curled into a small smile. He hadn’t expected another episode so soon, especially since she had said she was taking a break. Excited to hear her voice, he took out his AirPod and plugged it in his ears. As soon as the familiar, soothing voice filled his ears, his tensed shoulders relaxed. He didn’t even realize he was smiling until he looked up to see Cal staring at him, one brow raised. "What?" Jamal asked, pausing the podcast. "Okay, what’s up with you?" Cal tilted his head. "You’re grinning at your phone like a teenager in love." Jamal smirked and raised a finger, silently telling him to wait. He quickly resumed the podcast, drowning out whatever else Cal had to say. The podcast had his full attention now. Cal turned to Stefan, who was seated quietly with an exaggerated sigh. "What’s he doing now, Stef?" Stefan, already used to this routine, barely glanced up from his own phone. "Listening to his favorite podcast." "A podcast?" Cal scoffed. "You mean to tell me he just shushed me over some podcast?" Stefan smirked. "Seems like it." Cal shook his head in disbelief. "Let me guess... it’s run by a lady, isn’t it?" Stefan nodded. Cal snorted. "I swear, I need to get this man a real woman before he loses his mind completely." He folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "First, it was Dawn. He spent years obsessing over her when he should be having fun. Then it was Abigail. Now some podcast girl? This is getting ridiculous." "It’s better than being with dozens of girls you can’t remember their names," Stefan muttered. "Did you say something?" Cal asked, cocking a brow. "It depends. Did you hear me say something?" Stefan shot back, and Cal scowled at him, while Stefan smirked as he returned his attention to his phone. Jamal ignored them both, listening intently as the voice on the podcast spoke about hope— Jamal sighed inwardly. Was this a sign? A message from the universe telling him not to give up completely on love? Maybe he still had a chance with Dawn. Genevieve. Whatever her name was. Maybe he could overlook her reckless past—that was only if she had changed. If she was truly different now, then maybe... just maybe they could have another chance. When the episode ended, Jamal removed his AirPod and exhaled slowly. "Welcome back to earth," Cal said dryly. "So? Who’s this girl you’re obsessed with now? Is she perhaps blind? Or crippled? Jamal chuckled, shaking his head. "And this is exactly why Emily thinks you’re a jerk." Cal smirked. "I couldn’t care less about what Em thinks." "You should," Jamal shot back. "She’s your cousin." "Step-cousin," Cal corrected with a lazy shrug. Jamal snorted. "Why do you always emphasize the ’step’?" "Because it’s the truth. We’re not blood-related. My adoptive mom and her stepmom are sisters. We’re connected by marriage, not by blood." Jamal rolled his eyes. "You always have to be so practical." "Of course," Cal said easily. "Just because our dads are best friends and our moms are sisters doesn’t mean we have to get along." Jamal shook his head with amusement. "Whatever." Stefan, who had been checking the time, finally cut in. "Alright, Jamal, we need to go now, or we’re going to miss the flight," he said as he rose "You definitely should miss the flight," Cal said, and Jamal chuckled as he rose and picked up his backpack. "I’ll visit you some other time. Maybe I’ll come along with Emily and Mari," he said, and Cal rolled his eyes "Mari, I can stand, but Emily? Nope. I’d rather you don’t come at all," he said, and Jamal laughed. "I can never understand why you both don’t get along." "She thinks I’m a jerk and I think she’s a boring Miss goody two shoes. There, that’s why. And why aren’t you flying private?" Cal asked, changing the subject smoothly. "Because I don’t want to," Jamal said simply. Cal rolled his eyes. "You’re too simple and weird." Then, with a smirk, he added, "anyway it’s been nice seeing you, but stop visiting only when there’s a conference or business in Husla. Otherwise, I’ll release pictures of you to the media." Jamal laughed. "You should try it." Cal grinned. "I just might," he said, slapping Jamal’s back. As they headed out, Cal pulled out his car keys. "Come on, I’ll drive you to the airport." Jamal’s eyes widened in mock surprise. "You? Drive? The almighty Callan Quinn?" Cal chuckled. "What can I say? I missed you and I will miss you even more now." Jamal smirked. "Well, I can’t wait for you to come back to Ludus." Cal shrugged. "Soon, hopefully." When they arrived at the airport, Cal leaned against the car and turned to Stefan as he took out their bags. "Make sure you find this man a girlfriend soon. I’m tired of watching him go from crush to crush like he’s cursed." Unable to help it, Stefan laughed, and Jamal shot him a mock glare. "Is it funny?" "Yes, it is," Stefan said with a nod, making Cal laugh. "You must think I can’t fire you because my grandfather employed you," Jamal said, and Stefan’s lips twitched. Stefan had been raised in an orphanage home, the same orphanage home where Jamal’s mom and aunt had grown, and when his grandfather had gone there to see where his daughters had been raised, they had met Stefan there and Jamal’s grandfather had become a major sponsor to the orphanage home and had taken a special liking to Stefan who was two years older than Jamal, hence he had employed him to work as Jamal’s assistant even before Jamal graduated from college. "You can’t fire me," he said confidently, and Cal burst out laughing. "If I were you I’d fire him right here and now, man," Cal said, goading Jamal. "Because you’re not me I’m not going to fire him. I don’t want to be a jerk like you," Jamal said with a grin, and all three of them laughed. "Coward," Cal said as he embraced Jamal, "Get closure. Don’t go falling for a bitch like that again. You deserve better," he said, referring to Genevieve. Jamal scowled at him. "Don’t call her a bitch," he hissed but Cal ignored him and turned to Stefan. "Be good," he said with a wave before getting into his car. Jamal chuckled as he watched Cal drive away without looking back, knowing how much Cal hated goodbyes. Jamal and Stefan grabbed their bags and walked into the airport. Just as they were about to head toward security, someone rushing past bumped hard into Jamal. He turned quickly to steady himself— and the lady who had bumped into him.