Page 217 of Unhinged

I glare at the cocksucker but reply, “No way. Batter up.”

I step closer and shove Candi out of the way. She yells, and I hear a commotion behind me. “You attacked my wife, motherfucker.”

As I twirl the bat with one hand with a crazed look on my face, his eyes go wide, his smile becomes pleading, and he probably pisses his pants. “Who?”

“Don’t even. It’ll only make me hit a homer.”

“You’re Simone’s husband? I didn’t know!”

“Really? So, you would’ve assaulted her, anyway?” I haven’t twirled a bat in years, but it’s like riding a bicycle over a cliff. And like any swing of a bat to a pitch, you follow through.

“No! I’m sorry!”

I laugh and then seethe, “You missed that fucking exit ramp three days ago when you shoved her, causing her miscarriage!” I hear gasps and groans behind me.

“What? No!”

Flipping the bat in my hand, I catch the handle and grab onto it with both hands, and in slow-mo, I swing it into the glasses on the table. Glass shatters, and shards spray the wall. It doesn’t hit anyone, but it scares the shit out of Tanner and probably most of the sober people here.

I scream, “You killed our baby!”

“No! She fell! I didn’t shove her!” He trips over himself as he makes a clumsy retreat.

Though I’m drunk, I know I can’t kill the prick as much as I fucking want to. Amos is behind me, yelling to put down the bat. Tanner stumbles out the door, and taking Vaughn’s advisement, I lose the bat before running after the prick.

I snag the dickhead’s coat in the parking lot and spin him around, punching his mouth, probably loosening some teeth. Before he hits my face, I throw him to the ground. My rage controls me. He yells for me to get off, and I hear footsteps coming from every direction. I grab him by the throat and squeeze. “You were going to rape her. Remember that when I laugh in your face as I choke the living shit out of you.” I’ve said nothing remotely close to that in my life. Maybe I’m fighting the fight I couldn’t fight once before.

“No!”

Tanner rams me hard, and I fall back. He punches me, but I move, so it only clips my jaw. I swing and hit beneath his eye, knocking him on his ass. I climb over him and kneel on his chest, but someone yanks me up while a small crowd descends upon Tanner to help him. I yell, elbow, and kick the asshole who trapped me.

Amos pleads, “No, Greg!”

I break free and shove the Keebler Elf before storming back into the bar. Seeing everyone stare at me, I yell, “What? Everyone loves to laugh at the town clown! Most of you motherfuckers have! Get this! A bunch of my classmates held me down while they rode and sucked my dick! Graduation night! That’s hysterical, right?” Candi’s hands go over her mouth as I hear her muffled laughs while Kleo is bent over on her stool, laughing her ass off. I hear everyone’s judgmental laughs, and I scream, “And my wife left me, and our baby died! I have the truck, so if I get a dog, I’ll be a goddamn country song!” More people turn away from me or cover their laughter. Some laugh so hard they cry.

I see the baseball bat on the floor and pounce for it—I don’t know why—but Amos grabs me into a bear hug me from behind. “Get the fuck off me!”

“Greg, stop!” his voice shakes with giggles, making everyone laugh more. Candi laughs so hard she hugs dumbass Harold, who stares at me like a hooked largemouth bass.

I kick Amos, but this fucker is too solid, I’m too drunk, or I’m this tired of fighting. “Don’t trap me! God, please no!” I beg. I punch his hands and his gut as I kick. I’d headbutt Amos, but I’d probably knock myself out. Still, he holds onto me. “Simone fucking left me!”

“I’m sorry.”

“No! I love her!”

I cry as I finally give up the fight, and I slacken in his arms. I hear his shaky voice in my ear. “I know.”

Amos releases me, and I spin around to leave, but he stops me again. I’m in his face. “You helped her leave!”

“She wanted to, Greg. It’s over.”

“Fuck you, Vaughn! At my lowest point, you both kicked me in the balls! Nobody wants to help me get her back!”

I’m breathless, lightheaded, and everything’s blurry, but I see tears on Amos’s pudgy face. I sway and lose my balance, but he catches me as I fucking cry in front of Durham’s elite.

Amos holds on to me while I wail. Everyone laughs as a loser realizes he lost it all.

Chapter 31

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