Let Go (12 page)

Greylan nods
securing his hands in his gloves. He places his mouth guard in and
steps up onto the mat. His opponent bobs back and forth on the
balls of his feet, opposite his side of the octagon. He is slightly
taller than Greylan with broader shoulders. His arms are sleeved in
tattoos. He bites his mouth guard and runs his gloved hand over his
shaved head. He squints and nods to Greylan. Greylan meets his nod
with his own and the whistle rings signaling the beginning of the
match. They rotate around one another before Greylan takes a step
forward grabbing the other man’s arm. His hand comes to rest on the
man’s other arm. Their heads angle forward with the force of their
bodies, each one trying to get the upper hand. They rotate on the
mat as if one body. Shouts from the crowd pop out here and there.
Some shout Greylan’s name, others shout James which is his
opponent’s name. Greylan takes a deep breath and moves his leg to
sweep the other man’s feet out from under him. He’s successful;
James loses his footing and goes down on his side pulling Greylan
down with him. Greylan scurries to move onto his knees and comes
down on the other man’s side with an elbow to the ribs. The man
reacts crunching his body into a fetal position. Greylan moves up
and slams down again but the man rolls out of the way before he can
connect with his body. Greylan falls down hard onto his side. James
takes the opportunity to pounce on top of Greylan pinning him to
the mat.

A slight
moment of doubt creeps into Greylan’s mind but he shoves it away
and sways under the man gauging for an opportunity out of the pin.
He gets it when the man moves his arm up in an attempt at a ground
and pound in which Greylan knows he’ll be done if he gets the
chance. He twists his body uncomfortably and brings his legs around
kneeing James in his already sore ribs. The man loses his balance
further allowing Greylan to move behind him taking him in a choke
hold. He closes his eyes as he tightens his arm around James’ neck.
A few more seconds…He waits, his eyes closed as the tightening
continues and the man grabs at his locked arm. Finally, a flurry of
tapping along his arm lets him know he won this one. He opens his
eyes to shouts and a whistle ending the round.

Greylan moves
back to his side of the cage. Jackson is there with a water bottle.
He squeezes Greylan’s shoulder before the whistle signals the next
round. Greylan approaches the man with a flurry of hitting and
kicking. The man tries to block the hits but a few get by. He is
favoring his side where Greylan came down on him in the previous
round. He grabs Greylan’s arm as he moves to bring it back to his
chest. But the man twists, forcing Greylan to his knees. He knows
if he lets it go his arm could break but he can’t tap out. It’s not
an option. He sinks to the mat further forcing the man to alter his
footing. Greylan sweeps his foot under the man causing his
opponent’s grip on his arm to release. Unfortunately the damage was
done. Greylan can feel a slight change in his forearm, probably a
tiny fracture. He shifts, moving on top of the man. He puts all of
his weight onto the man forcing him into the mat. A slight tap
vibrates through his back. He lifts off of the man and backs to his
side just as the whistle blows again.

Jackson
whispers into his ear, “One more Pace, just one more.”

He nods trying
to catch his breath and surges back into the center meeting the
other man just as the last round commences. This time the man
punches Greylan across his jaw. He steps backward with the force.
He wasn’t expecting it. Another punch surges forth hitting him in
the gut. He doubles over for a moment. The other man takes the
opportunity to kick him. Instead of connecting, Greylan grabs his
foot and pulls with all of the strength he has left. The man falls
onto his back. He tries to get back up but Greylan lands over him,
his hand punching his uninjured side. He doubles over as Greylan
launches a flourish of hits to his face and sides. The man’s hand
comes out to the mat and taps loudly. Greylan stops, his arm drops
to his side as he stands. The referee brings his arm up as he
announces Greylan as the winner.

The warehouse
erupts in cheers and boos. He smiles as blood seeps down from his
nose onto his teeth. His first win and it feels just as grand as
his last. This time though, he vows to savor and enjoy each step of
the climb. As he leaves the cage he sees Carlo and Christina in the
crowd. Carlo raises his arm in a firm fist and smiles. He nods and
looks to Christina who seems as though she’s been through almost as
much as he has. He chuckles, she probably got into the fight just
watching it. Knowing her, she did. She smiles and mouths,
“Congratulations.”

When he enters
the locker room, Greylan is faced with a flourish of de ja’ vu.
Trinity is sitting sullenly at the end of the bench exactly where
he left her. She looks up apprehensively to gauge his mood. When he
smiles at her she leaps up and into his arms knowing he won. He
squashes her nose forcing her to squirm away. Christina finds her
way back into the cramped room. She seems genuinely happy and
congratulates him again, giving him a quick hug.

He notes how
similar yet so different it is from the last time he fought.
Meyer’s face runs through his thoughts. He looks around at the
faces that have been there always and the new ones he’s happy to
call his friends now. Tonight would have been perfect if his old
friend could have been here. Unfortunately they lost touch after
that first year he went away. He thinks about tracking him down
sometimes but always gets distracted with something else.

A hand grasps
his shoulder, “Hey, where are you Grey?”

He shakes the
memory and looks down to Trinity, “Sorry, just remembering the last
time this happened.”

She smiles and
tells him, “Tonight though, you are going home, straight to bed,
right?”

He nods and
ruffles her head. Carlo asks, “Hey, where’s Jimmy?”

Greylan looks
down and starts to remove his gloves. He shakes his head, “You know
Jimmy, he said he doesn’t want anything to do with me until I’m on
the up.”

Jackson chimes
in, “What’s that asshole afraid of? He already has a rotten
reputation.”

Greylan nods
but the look across his face is full of guilt. Jackson’s voice is
forceful when he asks, “What, he didn’t, he didn’t tell you that it
was your fault, did he?”

“Not in so
many words. I can see how it would have been hard for him after I
left.”

Jackson
curses, “Shit, that guy is bad all the way through. I can’t believe
he told you that. He’s a piss ant Pace. After you left he rode your
coattails. It was good publicity for his business whether you went
away or not. You made it Pro, he used it to his advantage. He
caused his own downfall when he represented that shit fighter Jesus
Reyes. He was into some illegal crap and took Jimmy down with
him.”

Carlo pipes
in, “In Jimmy’s defense, he’s not here tonight probably to keep
from tarnishing your reputation.”

Greylan shakes
his head at typical Jimmy. He was always looking for the easiest
way to get ahead. Any shortcut and he would be the first one to
jump. He smiles knowing Carlo is right about his absence tonight.
Jesus Reyes, he knows that name for some reason. He looks to Carlo
and asks, “Jesus Reyes…”

Carlo finishes
for him, “Yeah, Parker’s only loss.”

He turns
absorbing that information and kisses his sister’s cheek. He turns
to Christina and kisses her cheek but she shifts moving her lips to
his instead. He pulls away and looks questioningly. She stands on
her toes and whispers into his ear, “If you need another good
night’s sleep, you know where you can get one.”

A smile creeps
across his lips at that prospect. Jackson herds them all out. He
comes back just as Greylan is heading for the showers.

“Pace, that
was a great performance but you’re gonna have to better convince
me.”

Greylan smiles
and nods. He knows the guy almost had him a couple of times. He
can’t let that happen again.

A muffled
pounding forces Greylan out of a deep sleep. He shifts recognizing
Christina’s bedroom and the smell that is uniquely her, jasmine and
freshly washed sheets. He looks over at her, she is so peaceful
breathing softly through her slightly parted lips. Instead of
waking her he climbs off the bed and pulls his jeans on. The
pounding continues. He looks back to Christina and how unaffected
she is by the noise. He smiles thinking this is more fuel to chide
her about later. He makes his way out into the living room and
realizes it’s coming from the front door. He unlocks the door and
pulls it wide to face a very annoyed Juno. She forces herself past
him and looks around, “Where’s Christina?”

He looks to
the tiny hall leading to the master bedroom, “Still sleeping,
apparently she’s a sound sleeper.”

She stares at
him trying to divert her eyes from his bare chest but failing
miserably. He shifts and asks with an amused smile, “Do you want me
to go and get her?”

She looks away
and nods uncomfortably. He walks back to the bedroom and fits his
grey t-shirt over his head. He leans over Christina and whispers in
her ear, “Hey you, your aunt is here.”

She rolls over
not bothering to open her eyes. Her hands come up his chest to his
shoulders and she pulls him closer. He chuckles at the lack of
force. Her eyes open at the sound and she asks, “What’s so
funny?”

“You’re a
weakling, that’s what. Did you hear me, your aunt is here and she
seems a little peeved.”

She moans
rolling away from him, “What does she want Rookie?”

“I’m not sure
Christina but I think she was at the door for a while.”

She moves her
hand through her hair and sits up. Her blue t-shirt displaying
Nirvana across the front. Movement in the doorway causes them both
to look up as Juno walks into the room. She glances to Greylan and
back to Christina.

“Christina I
have things to do today. You might be considerate and answer your
door.”

Christina
shakes her head still trying to wake up, “I didn’t hear you. What
time is it anyway?”

Juno looks to
her watch, “It’s time you get out of bed and get your shit
together.”

Christina
glares at her and to Greylan. He holds his hands up in surrender
and states, “I know when it’s my cue to leave. I have to get over
to Jackson’s anyway. See you girls tonight.”

He tries to
slip by Juno but she grabs his arm. She looks back to Christina and
tells her, “Don’t you chase him away. We’re lucky to have found
him. He’s a hard worker and doesn’t give me shit like some
people.”

She releases
his arm and he scurries off before he has a chance to hear
Christina’s response. The last thing he needs is a lecture from
Juno.

He drives to
the gym, finally feeling, that his life has taken a turn in the
right direction.

As he enters,
an onslaught of clapping commences throughout the room. He looks to
Jackson who is overseeing a couple of fighters going at it. He
shakes his head and announces loud enough for them all to hear,
“Better quit that crap or it’ll go to his head and he’ll think his
shit don’t stink.”

Greylan smiles
and walks to the locker room to change. A few people mutter
congratulations as he passes through. It feels great to be on his
way back.

He spends the
day getting hammered by every possible muscle inducing ache that
Jackson can think up. After the fight last night he had an x-ray of
his arm and found it wasn’t a fracture, just a rough sprain.
Jackson doesn’t seem to care in his pursuit of killing Greylan.

He makes it
back to his rental, just as three o’clock hits; to collapse once
again onto the grungy bed he calls his own at the moment. Just
before his eyes close he makes a promise to himself to find a new
place tomorrow.