A Boy I Used to Love(53)

"Then maybe … "

"Hey, River. I don't know what the fuck you're trying to figure out here. Do it on your own, though. My time is kept for real problems. Not some romance bullshit that didn't work out. You want something from her? Come out here and get it. But you have until tomorrow night. He's going to propose and she's going to say yes. End of discussion. Fuck."

The call went dead.

I leaned against a wall and nodded.

I had my answer.

I lowered my head and placed a call for Pin.

"You got my answer, motherfucker?" he asked without even a hello.

"My answer is no," I said.

"No?"

"I don't want your fucking opportunity."

"You're a dumb shit," Pin said. "I'm trying to pull your ass off the street and help you."

I ended the call.

I'd never speak to Pin again.

I left the mop against the wall, went into the back of the gym, and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. Outside, I sat against the building and looked up to the clear, starry sky.

I drank myself drunk and then drank some more.

It was my last night of freedom but I was brokenhearted.



"Hey, I heard some shit about this one," my buddy Jones said to me. "Heard that the big dogs were sniffing around. They bust in, we're all going to jail."

"I don't care," I said. "Let them take me in. Fuck it."

"Hey, this is a big deal. The earnings aren't that great on this one," Jones said. "We can pass it up."

"Either drive the truck or I'll walk," I said.

I was hell-bent on going to the fight. All I could picture was Lacey getting proposed to. Some guy sliding a ring on her finger. Her looking down at him. That moment that I wanted. My moment.

Jones put the truck in drive.

It was all silence until we got to the building.

Everything felt off about it.

Jones was right. We should have skipped it. I should have gone to a bar and gotten drunk and found someone to comfort me for the night.

The second I got out of the truck I took my shirt off. I grabbed some tape and started to tape up my wrists.

"Jesus, man," Jones said. "You're ready, huh?"

I ignored him and walked toward the building. I kicked open one of the doors and heard the murmur of voices. I walked right to the main floor and stood there. There weren't a lot of people there. That meant the bets and payouts were going to be shitty. I'd probably make the same as what Pin had been offering.

But that didn't matter.

I was done with Pin.

I was done with the straight life for the moment.

Lacey was getting engaged.

She was going to wear another man's ring and carry another man's heart.

I walked right to the middle of the floor, stuck my fingers into my mouth, and whistled.

All eyes started to fall on me.

"I want a fucking fight," I yelled. "Someone get out here and fight me."

The promoter of the illegal fight came pushing through the crowd. He had two goons with him who had all intention of beating me up for disrupting the night. At that point, guys were still taking bets, buying drinks, getting settled.



       
         
       
        

I just stood there.

"Come on. Where the fuck is someone?"

My voice echoed around.

The goons of the promoter came within striking distance of me. I planned on fighting them.

That's when the doors to the building blasted open and in came a flood of police.

Shit.

Jones had been right.

The place had been under surveillance and the cops were making their move.

The crowd quickly started to break up and I darted for a door. I worked my way through the crowd, dodging the grabs of police officers dressed for war.

When I got outside I looked for Jones's truck.

It was gone.

The fucker left me.

He let me walk to the building and then took off.

"Put your fucking hands up!" a voice boomed from behind me.

I slowly turned and came face to face with an officer.

He had a gun in one hand and club in the other.

"Right now, asshole!"

I thought about Lacey. At the opposite end of the country. She was three hours ahead of me. That meant for sure she was engaged by now. A diamond ring on her finger. Having the night of her life. Making a memory she'd never forget.

So, do the same, River. Make a memory you'll never forget.

I smiled.

"What the fuck is funny?" the officer growled.

I lowered my shoulder and charged. I tackled the officer as he swung with this club, getting me good and hard in the shoulder. He should have just shot me. It would have been better for both of us. Instead, his backup arrived and they all beat me to the ground.

I was cuffed and taken away.