celebrate.
I didn’t need to.
The timer kept running.
4:51
Derek pushed himself up.
His face had changed.
He wasn’t looking at a boring HVAC salesman anymore.
He was looking at a man he couldn’t understand.
4:58
4:59
5:00
The buzzer sounded.
Nobody moved.
Then I heard Claire whisper:
“Oh my God.”
I looked at Derek.
“You owe me half the house.”
He was still on his knees.
Then one of the older trainers walked toward me.
He stared at my face for several seconds.
Then his eyes dropped to my knee.
“You’re Cole Mercer.”
I froze.
The trainer swallowed.
“I knew a man with that name once.”
Derek looked confused.
“What are you talking about?”
The trainer looked at him.
“You don’t know who you just challenged.”
I didn’t say anything.
But Claire did.
“Who is he?”
The trainer looked at her.
Then at me.
