Page 3 of Just Let Go

Embarrassed. Frustrated. Ashamed.

Someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him off Jimmy. Only then did Grady realize he’d unleashed the full force of his rage on the man, who now lay beneath him, bloody and moaning.

He shrugged from the grasp of the person who’d pulled him away and wiped his face on his sleeve. He scanned the diner and found pairs of eyes darting away from him. All but one. The blonde’s. She stood off to the side, unmoving, watching him.

He looked away.

He didn’t need to be judged by Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes.

Jimmy’s friends pulled him to his feet as two officers in uniform yanked the front door open. Grady glanced at Betsy, who wouldn’t meet his eyes. He should apologize. He’d made a huge mess of the place. Tables were overturned, at least one of them broken. The glass from the shattered picture frames crunched underneath his feet, and there was at least one place where they’d put a hole in the wall. Oh no, make it two.

He didn’t even remember doing that.

Before he could say anything to the wild-haired waitress (or anyone else), one of the cops—an older man with a wrinkled face—grabbed him by the arm. “You’ll have to come with me, son.”

The other officer did the same to Jimmy, who immediately launched into his side of the story, spouting about how Grady “freaked out for no reason” and “I’m the victim here, man.”

Grady let the older cop lead him through the small crowd, avoiding the stares of the people who’d just witnessed yet another of his colossal mistakes. The blonde stood near the door, arms crossed over her chest. She said nothing, but her eyes never left his as the officer pushed him through the door and into the street.

“Do I need to cuff you, or have you calmed down?” the cop asked.

“You don’t need to cuff me,” Grady said, wishing he’d never stopped in this ridiculous town in the first place. What was it that made him pull off at the Harbor Pointe exit? He wasn’t particularly hungry—he was just tired of driving. He should’ve kept going. If only he could rewind the last hour.

Who was he kidding? He’d have to rewind a lot further back than that to undo the mess he’d made.

The second officer was shoving Jimmy into the back of a squad car parked at the curb.

“Look, Officer—” Grady turned toward the older man—“I’m sorry I lost my temper back there. I’ll pay for the damages to the diner.”

“I’m sure you will.” He opened the other back door of the car and motioned for Grady to get in.

“There’s really no need for this,” Grady said. “I screwed up. I get it. But I’m fine now, and I’ll make it right.”

“Well, your version of ‘making it right’ might not be the judge’s version of ‘making it right.’” He eyed Grady. “There’s still time for the cuffs.”

Grady let out a stream of hot air, anger prickling the back of his neck as he leaned down and got into the car. Jimmy sat on the opposite side, sulking. At least he’d shut up. For now, anyway.

Through the windows of Hazel’s Kitchen, Grady saw the people who’d witnessed the fight picking up overturned tables and chairs and sweeping broken plates into a dustpan. What a mess he’d made.

The main stretch of Harbor Pointe was made up of cotton candy–colored buildings neatly stacked together on either side of the street. As they drove, he saw a bakery, a flower shop, a couple more diners, antique stores. Old-fashioned lampposts shone on alternating sides of the street, casting a warm yellow hue over the brick road in front of them.

They drove in silence for several seconds until finally the older officer turned around and looked at Grady.

“I know you’re not from here. What kind of beef could you possibly have with Jimmy?”

“He’s crazy,” Jimmy said.

“I’m not talking to you,” the cop said.

“No beef. Just don’t like people with smart mouths.”

The cop laughed. “That I understand.”

“It’s not funny, Sheriff,” Jimmy protested. “I’m pressing charges. Assault and battery. And I want a lawyer because I didn’t do anything here.” Jimmy was still riled up, and normally Grady would be too, but he’d been here before. He knew exactly what would happen next. He’d be arrested. Booked. Pay a fine and be on his way.

Though, sadly, this time, he wasn’t even sure where he was on his way to.

CHAPTER

---