Let Go (2 page)

Jimmy begins
to protest, “Now is not the time to celebrate, we need to hit it
hard…”

Carlo cuts him
off, “Actually Jimmy I think it’s a good idea. Let Grey go out and
have this moment. It’s a big win for him. He deserves it.”

Those words
from Carlo are a surprise to all of them. Greylan laughs, “Did I
really just hear you tell me to go out and celebrate?”

“Yeah, dude,
you deserve it.”

“This is a
first. I’m gonna take you up on it though. I can’t even focus on
the next fight right now. I’m still letting it settle that we won
this one.”

“No Grey,
you
won. All the work you’ve put in to get to this point has
made all the difference, go out and enjoy this. But we’ll start
training tomorrow. And you’re going to work your ass off.”

Greylan heads
straight to the shower shaking his head as Meyer empties the locker
room assuring everyone that he’ll watch over Greylan and make sure
he is ready to start training the next morning.

When Greylan
steps out after letting the water flush his sweat and blood down
the drain, Meyer calls, “Hurry up dude, I need a drink and we have
a long drive ahead of us,” his voice echoing through the small
space.

Greylan shakes
his head as he pulls on dark jeans and fits a long sleeved, blue
henley over his head. He runs his hand through his dark hair
leaving it jutting out in different directions on top. He slides
into his low black boots, grabs his gym bag and walks out to meet
Meyer by the warehouse doors.

A few girls
are lingering in the lot and their eyes brighten at the sight of
Greylan as he follows Meyer to the parking lot. They hurry over for
autographs which he rushes through before trailing behind Meyer to
his black sixty-seven Mustang. Angled with her arms across her
chest is another girl, with soft red hair, dressed in a barely
there jean skirt and a gold tank top. A shy smirk forms on her
mouth as they approach. She looks up to Greylan taking him in. He
notices that her eyes are green, but not just any green, vibrant,
glistening with specks of gold floating through them. He misses a
step as he guides his feet closer. Her lips turn up in a smile as
her gaze sweeps over him from head to foot. His heart beats quickly
with her blunt look. He squints enjoying the obvious interest of
this beautiful red-head.

Meyer who is
the exact opposite of Greylan with a shorter build and much slimmer
stammers, “Ah, I think we need to get on the road.”

This distracts
Red’s attention and she seems reluctant when she loops her arm
through Meyer’s. She looks back to Greylan and tells him over her
shoulder, “Hey congratulations. That was an exciting fight. You
make it look so easy.”

Greylan smiles
uneasily, “Thanks.” He’s not sure who this chick is but he suddenly
wants to know her and not just her name. As he follows them to the
car he decides his first thoughts are right, regardless of her
name, Red fits her.

Meyer parts
from the girl once they near the car and introduces her with a
hesitating breath, “Um, Greylan Pace, I’d like you to meet Mollie
Andrews.”

Her name
doesn’t do her justice he decides. The name he made up for her,
Red, is definitely more appropriate. Greylan takes her hand and
makes a big deal of leaning in to kiss it, causing a flourish of
pink to spread across her cheeks. Meyer shakes his head urging,
“Okay Casanova, let’s get going and celebrate before I have to beat
your ass for hitting on my girl.”

Shit,
Meyer, you had to go and say that shit didn’t you. Fuck!
Greylan smirks, to hide his disappointment that Meyer called her
his girl. He looks to Mollie one last time before climbing into the
backseat. Something about this girl intrigues him. But he pushes it
away because she’s obviously with Meyer. Instead he comments, “That
would be interesting.”

Meyer speeds
the hour and a half back home to East Brunswick. While the car
moves Greylan listens to her soft voice in the front seat as Meyer
attempts to make small talk. Where the hell did he find this one?
She is nothing like what he usually brings around. She actually has
a brain as far as Greylan can tell. It pisses him off even more
that Meyer claimed her.
What the hell, are we like cavemen or
something? What the fuck is wrong with me
?

The scenery
changes as they pass into the central part of New Jersey. It’s fall
so the air is chilly and the trees have changed, shedding their
summer greens for autumn yellows and oranges. The buildings grow as
they glide closer to Brunswick. Meyer maneuvers the car down a side
street with very little traffic. He turns again onto a darkened
stretch with the lights on the far end of the street in neon colors
glaring off the windows of local shops. It’s the only light to be
seen on that end of the street. The sign advertises, Brutis’ Bar.
Greylan shakes his head at Meyer’s choice. Of all the places they
could have gone, he chose this one. Of course Meyer would pick
Brutis’, situated in the depths of their old stomping grounds.
Meyer turns to Greylan in the back as he parks and asks, “You good
with Brutis’?”

“Do I have a
choice?”

“No, not
really.” He laughs and grabs Mollie’s hand.

When they step
into the bar, applause sounds throughout the building. It’s packed
with old friends. Obviously Meyer set this up. Greylan eyes Meyer
with a glare before walking through the throng of congratulations.
He turns catching Mollie’s eye before greeting his friends. She is
holding Meyer’s hand and it pisses Greylan off. A flourish of shots
line the bar in salute to Greylan’s accomplishment. He’s glad for
the distraction. This chick getting under his skin is the last
thing he needs right now. Before the first shot Greylan turns to
Meyer and asks, “What if I would have lost. All this shit, it would
have been depressing.”

Meyer pushes
his dark hair from his eye and glances around the bar.

“Na, bro, they
all woulda been here to cheer you up. Besides, I knew you’d win.
You’re gonna go to the top now.” He leans in to Mollie and whispers
something into her ear before excusing himself. She nods glancing
to Greylan before timidly looking away again. He can’t help but
smile. One minute Red is friendly and open and the next she’s shy
again. He wants to pull her to him and taste those plump pink lips
but he stays planted where he is. She looks back over at him, her
hair falling across her eye. He takes a step toward her but Mickey
Jones, an old family friend, fully grey and wrinkled, comes up to
him and slaps him on the back. He mumbles in a scratchy voice, “I
remember when your mom put you in karate class at five. She wasn’t
sure how you’d take to it. I guess this answers her question. I
wish she could be here to see you today. She’d be so proud.”
Greylan looks away from the angel only a few feet away.

He nods his
appreciation at Mickey wishing his mom was here to see him but he
doesn’t respond beyond that. His mom’s death is still fresh for him
even though she passed two years ago. He lifts a shot and tips it
back. He grabs another shot and slides that one back too. He’s glad
for the distraction. The thoughts running through his head about
Red would not be good for his friendship with Meyer.

A few more
friends walk up to congratulate him. After a while he eyes the area
around the bar for the red head that seems to linger on the edges
of his thoughts but she has disappeared just as Meyer had
earlier.

“Fuck it,” he
mumbles to himself deciding it’s a moot point.

A couple of
hours into the night when Greylan is feeling pretty good and he’s
played a few rounds of pool with some of his old friends, he starts
looking for Meyer and Red. He hasn’t seen either one of them in a
while. He’s pissed because he suspects that they are probably all
over each other somewhere. He’s tired and ready to get home; ready
to try and forget about Red. Thoughts about Meyer with Mollie make
him want to get home even more. He needs to focus on training
tomorrow for the next fight. He shouldn’t be thinking about
anything else right now.

He pushes
through the bar in search of Meyer or Red. It’s a small space
littered with old historical pictures from the town. Brutis has
held a long standing position in the city over the years. His bar
is the only place left of the ‘Old Town’ as he affectionately calls
it. He thinks it’s his duty to remind everyone of how things used
to be.

Greylan walks
down the hallway to the back and steps out into the alley in search
of Meyer. The swinging screen door slams behind him as he takes in
the blacktop littered with beer bottles and cardboard boxes. He
spots a couple kissing each other in the corner, leaning into the
shadows. But at a closer glance he notices red hair, the red hair
that he wants more than anything to run his hands through.
Immediately he notices that the man shielding the woman isn’t Meyer
and he’s pretty sure the girl is Mollie. His blood starts to boil
at the protective feelings he suddenly has for this girl. Greylan
frowns and inches closer not sure how serious Meyer really was
about her but determined to help her, to protect her. A moment
passes where he considers letting them have some privacy against
his desire to have her for himself. Maybe she isn’t into Meyer and
it’s really not his business. But he lingers a moment wanting more
than anything to rip the man away from her. A few seconds pass with
his anger rising before a slight scream echoes just before the
sound of skin hitting skin in a loud slap. This propels Greylan
forward. Red is cornered behind this guy and he’s inching her skirt
up as she protests.

He hears a
muffled, “No.”

Greylan
demands angrily, “Hey, you should get away from the girl!” His hand
darts out to reach for the guy’s shoulder attempting to halt his
hand from progressing any further.

The man turns
quickly and throws a sorry punch at Greylan slurring a warning,
“Dude, this is none of your business. Get the fuck away.”

Greylan
catches the guy’s hand and pushes his own forward meeting the man’s
chin. His head is thrust backwards into the brick wall beside him
in a spray of blood. The guy’s grip on Mollie loosens and he
diverts his full attention to Greylan stepping forward in an
attempt at another punch. His hand sails through the air connecting
with nothing. Greylan brings his fist up again and knocks the guy
into the wall a second time. A loud, hollow, sounding thump
resonates through the air making Greylan wince. This time the man
crumples instantly to the ground.

Greylan looks
to Mollie, “Are you alright?”

She looks
rattled but her eyes are still so clear. She nods.

A rush of
breath leaves Greylan, “Where’s Meyer?”

Her eyes
divert to the man’s motionless body on the floor of the alley.
Greylan follows her gaze realizing that he doesn’t see the guy’s
chest moving. He leans over and presses his fingers to the man’s
throat, then looking to Mollie he urges quickly, “Hurry, go find
Meyer.”

She hesitates
a moment looking confused as if she wants to say something but
quickly turns toward the screen door. She looks back, her stare
meeting Greylan’s for a second before she disappears. In that look
he sees sorrow and regret. Both looks he knows all too well. He
stares at the still body at his feet and nausea rises in his
stomach. Greylan takes out his phone and punches in 911. The
operator picks up the line, “What is your emergency?”

“A man has hit
his head in an alley at 1458 Main Street. He doesn’t seem to be
breathing.” Greylan’s middle feels as if he’s been punched and the
breath has been stolen from him.

“We are
sending an ambulance right now. Please remain on the line.”

The screen
door behind him opens and Mickey strides out followed by Brutis and
Mollie. Slowly other patrons find their way into the alley forming
a semi-circle around the scene.

Mickey takes
over on the phone as Greylan sinks to the filthy ground in shock.
Red sits next to him and grabs his hand while tears silently make
their way continuously down her cheeks. Neither of them speaks for
fear of voicing their real thoughts about what Greylan possibly did
to the man. His thumb moves in circles across her knuckles trying
to soothe both of them.

As the
paramedics arrive they rush down the alley, hooking the man to
wires and machines. The police follow and the night drags on while
people are questioned and Greylan confesses to having an
altercation with the man. Greylan has a bad feeling about this and
Meyer is still nowhere to be found. His earlier anger at his friend
turns numb. He just wants him to be here. He might be able to help
or at least talk Greylan down from the panic rising.

Finally as the
crowd disperses, a police officer approaches Greylan and Mollie
with remorseful eyes. He states, “Greylan Pace, I need to take you
down to the station. Theodore James, the man you had the incident
with tonight, has just died from his injuries.”

Greylan runs
his hand through his hair and stands as the breath rushes out of
him. His body moves in a line pacing back and forth as more panic
rises in his chest, “Are you arresting me?”

“Yes, Greylan
Pace, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of
law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an
attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the
rights I have just read to you?”

Greylan nods
completely defeated. Red stands up and grabs his hand again. She
squeezes tightly trying to keep his mind from what is happening and
he’s thankful for her.

“With these
rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?”

“I’d like to
wait for my attorney.” Greylan’s words are strangled as the events
of the night wash over him.