Damaged Souls (Broken Man)

by Scott, Christopher

  “I don’t know,” he had responded, although the idea had occurred to him. “But I’ll think about it.”

  Greg surprised himself by showing up on the first day of practice, curious as to what the reaction would be. The response from the other players turned out to be cold as expected, but warmed slightly as they soon realized his and Mitch’s relationship had not skipped a beat, at least not on the football field. Mitch found Greg open again and again, connecting with unspoken words and laser like passes that absolutely shredded the defense.

  As he put on a pair of boxers, Jack recalled the boisterous locker room environment after that practice, fueled by an excellent first day and led by the star quarterback. The loud music, the banging metal of the locker doors, the crude insults. It was truly a predator’s lair, and unfortunately, a weaker prey chose the wrong day to trespass.

  Greg couldn’t remember if the two boys who emerged from the showers were on the cross country team or in the band, it really didn’t matter where they came from. No, it was just the wrong place and wrong time for these skinny kids as they tried to make their way through the obstacle course of overgrown boys on the cusp of manhood. As he heard the sound of snapping towels and watched the animals circle their victims, Greg knew these boys were in trouble.

  Greg eyed Mitch, for once not at the center of the huddle that had formed. He waited for the leader to say something, anything to change the play that had been called. But, seeing the look in his eyes and the cruel smile on his face, Greg realized how much his grade school friend had changed and knew he wasn’t going to call the needed audible.

  “Cut it out,” Greg broke into the huddle as the lineman broke out the athletic tape and he saw two naked scared boys about to be taped to the bench.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are,” Greg remembered the biggest animal of the pack, Jeff Gross, cursing at him and looking to their leader for permission to continue.

  “Alright guys, cut it out,” Greg remembered Mitch smirking at him and waving off his soldiers like a Mafia Don. “They’ve had enough.”

  Greg had seen enough as well, and as he laid down on his bed, he recalled not returning to football practice the next day. He also remembered his and Mitch’s icy relationship from that day forward.

  But, he wasn’t going to tell Delaney that story. No, he had already said enough. Greg was done digging that hole, and knew that right now, being around her could only make matters worse.

  I wished I had asked her just a day earlier, Greg regretted one of his many near misses as he thought about Delaney and pictured her lovely face projected on his ceiling. Things would be different right now. We would still be talking, and then, we could figure everything out. If only I had been able to say those simple words.

  Then, she could have told that asshole no.

  * * *

  “We’re home,” Jack looked up from his tablet as he heard Hurricane Logan arrive home with Delaney.

  “Hey bud,” he smiled as Logan jumped onto the couch with him and he tried to buy Amanda a couple more minutes of sleep. “How was the movie.”

  “It was great, Dad. The dogs got their own hotel and Delaney got me some popcorn,” Logan gave a short description of his day. “Where’s Mommy.”

  “She’s in the bedroom napping,” Jack knew not for long as he suggested the inevitable. “Why don’t you go see her.”

  “Okay, Daddy,” he replied as he jumped off the couch and ran in the direction of the bedroom.

  “How much soda did you give him,” he questioned Delaney as she joined him on the couch.

  “Don’t worry, not too much,” Delaney replied without enthusiasm as Jack could tell something was wrong.

  “You thinking about Greg again,” he reluctantly assumed his wife’s usual role.

  “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it all day,” she hesitated to talk to Jack about it. “I just wish I knew what he was thinking.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t worry so much,” he tried to make her feel better. “Greg’s okay, everything will be back to normal soon.”

  “You think so,” she tried to find hope as she probed for information. “Have you talked to him.”

  “Not really about that,” Jack remembered his last girl talk with Greg as he smiled. “You know me and Greg, our conversations aren’t quite like your’s and Amanda’s”

  “I know, Jack, but did he say anything.”

  “Honey, he really didn’t say anything,” Jack tried to explain the dynamics of how men talked. “But, he implied that he will be back around once the prom is over. I just think he needs a little time.”

  “Did he say that,” Delaney still didn’t understand.

  “Not quite in those words,” Jack paused and wished for a second that he only had boys. “But, he did bring up a mulching project we had talked about and specifically set a date for next Sunday.”

  “You guys talked about mulch,” Delaney shook her head. “Unbelievable.”

  “Delaney,” he looked directly into her eyes as he tried again to explain. “What he was saying is that he will be back around once the prom is over. Don’t you understand.”

  “You guys are ridiculous,” she reminded him of both Amanda and her mother with one simple sentence. “Communicating through mulch. What are you going to think of next.”

  “I don’t know,” Jack replied as he knew she was feeling a little better. “But don’t worry. I know he is going to be back, okay. Just trust me on this one.”

  * * *

  “Mommy, I’m home,” Logan announced his arrival as he ran into the bedroom.

  “Hi, baby,” Amanda smiled as she gave him a kiss. “Did you have fun.”

  “I did, the movie was great.”

  “That’s good,” she tempered his enthusiasm just a bit. “And did you behave for Delaney.”

  “I was good,” Logan couldn’t look at her as he answered and she knew he was fibbing.

  “Logan,” she stretched out his name. “What happened.”

  “Well,” he looked down at his sneakers. “I didn’t listen one time and Delaney got me in trouble.”

  “You mean you got in trouble,” Amanda corrected him as she tried not to smile. “Are you sure it was only one time.”

  “I’m sure, Mom,” he looked straight at her and she knew he was telling the truth. “I promise.”

  “That’s okay then,” she forgave him. “Do you want to lay down and watch cartoons with me.”

  “Sure Mommy,” he climbed into bed and snuggled up next to her as she turned on the television.

  He reminds me so much of Jack, Amanda smiled as Logan’s attention turned to the tv. He has taken on so many of his mannerisms at four years old it is scary. He even gets his hair cut like Jack’s, and that raised eye brow he tries to imitate drives me crazy.

  Pretty soon he’ll be having logical discussions with me, Amanda wasn’t sure she was willing to negotiate with a four year old as she remembered her earlier conversation with Jack. I didn’t know he thought about having another baby that much, there is so much more to him than what is just on the surface. Are we ready to have another baby?

  I’m not sure I can go through it again, Amanda remembered the morning sickness, all of the mood swings, and feeling just fat. And, it would delay my career for another five years. Do I really want to do that?

  I love this boy so much, Amanda answered her question as she listened to Logan giggle and remembered all the wonderful things about being pregnant. And, I love that man in a way I can’t even describe, she reminisced about how he made her feel earlier that afternoon. Of course I want to have another baby with him.

  Why wouldn’t I?

  Chapter Eight

  I am not going to think about him tonight, Delaney decided as the limo pulled away from her house and she watched Jack, Amanda, and Logan wave good bye. That wouldn’t be fair to Mitch.

  It’s not his fault Greg didn’t ask me, she returned his smile as they pulled onto the main road. He has d
one nothing wrong, she thought about what a gentleman he was, arranging the limo, picking out a beautiful corsage, making the necessary small talk with Jack and Amanda. And he looks great, Delaney admired his black tuxedo and warm smile.

  “What are you thinking about,” Delaney let him interrupt her thoughts and put his hand on her leg.

  “Nothing really,” she smiled and tried to break the ice. “Just about what a great time we are going to have tonight.”

  “We are going to have a great time,” he reassured her as he went over their plans. “We’re going to pick up Jeff and Nancy and then head over to the club. And, we’re having a small party at my house afterward, my folks are out of town. What time did you say you had to be home.”

  “I can stay out until two tonight,” Delaney replied, pleased Jack and Amanda had extended her midnight curfew.

  “Okay, we’ll try to get you home on time. We have the limo all night.”

  “Sounds good, Mitch,” she tried to be accommodating. “I don’t think it’s a big deal if I’m a few minutes late.”

  This will be fun, Delaney tried to convince herself as they pulled into Jeff’s development and she had second thoughts. Jeff is such a jerk, she remembered his crude comments at school and wondered why he and Mitch were friends. It’s probably just because they play football together, she gave Mitch a break and prepared to be polite.

  “What’s up dude,” Jeff bumped fists with Mitch as he rudely climbed into the limo before Nancy and took up most of the space. “Hey Delaney, what’s up.”

  “Hi, Jeff, how are you,” Delaney tried to be nice as she took in Jeff’s wrinkled tuxedo accessorized with a bolo tie and cowboy boots. “Hey Nancy.”

  “Hey girl, are you finally ready to party,” Jeff’s equally classless girlfriend seemed to have already started as she nearly fell out of her dress. “We’re going to have fun with you tonight.”

  “Yes we are,” Delaney replied awkwardly, not sure how to answer.

  Delaney’s mind drifted back to her thoughts as they made their way to the club and she broke her earlier vow not to think about Greg. I wonder what he is doing right now, she imagined being with him as she traded the limo for his rusty truck and finally felt comfortable. I made a bad decision, Delaney realized as she thought of kissing Greg softly and felt herself getting emotional.

  Stop it, Delaney, she commanded herself and came to her senses. It’s going to be be fine, she forced herself to rejoin the conversation. It’s just for a few hours, Delaney rationalized as she plastered on a fake smile and prepared herself for torture.

  * * *

  “Snap out if it, Greg,” Sheila snapped her fingers and tried to get his attention.

  “I’m sorry, Sheila,” Greg returned to the moment and tried to do his job. “Do you need anything.”

  “I just need you to stop kicking yourself. There is nothing you can do, honey. Just start to make things right tomorrow, okay.”

  “What if she likes him,” Greg finally spoke of the inevitable, for once showing weakness. “What am I going to do then.”

  “Greg, cut it out, you are worrying me,” Sheila gave him good advice. “Just tell her how you feel, trust me, she won’t be able to resist. I see how she looks at you.”

  “You think so,” Greg was still unsure of himself. “She has never said anything.”

  “Of course she hasn’t. She has been waiting for you to say something all along.”

  “I hope so,” Greg replied as he watched Jack arrive through the doors on the other side of the room to inspect the event. “What time do you think the party will get done tonight.”

  “Probably around midnight, are you planning a late night rendezvous,” Sheila went back to teasing him.

  “No,” he didn’t have any idea of what he was planning as his mind again drifted. “Just curious.”

  Greg thoughts turned to Jack and Amanda back at the house getting Delaney ready for the prom as he watched Jack shake hands with the event host. How beautiful she must look in her dress, how happy she must be. I should have been there, it was painful to think of Mitch coming by to pick her up instead of him.

  Mitch Caldwell. Every time that name ran through his head, Greg could feel himself getting angry. He had better be a gentleman, Greg felt nothing but jealousy as he pictured him with her. I hope they have a lousy time, he decided as he thought about what was best for him.

  No, I hope she has a good time, Greg finally gave up and thought about what was best for her.

  * * *

  Is it over yet, Delaney thought to herself as she took a sip of wine and stood in the corner of Mitch’s expansive living room.

  At least the night started out okay, she remembered dinner at the club. Yes, that was nice. Delaney didn’t eat much, worried about messing up her lipstick and how her figure looked in a strapless gown, but it was fun talking to some of her teachers and dancing with her friends. Why couldn’t they have just stayed there all night.

  Instead, they had left at eleven to go to Mitch’s house for what was supposed to be a small party. I guess you could call it small if you considered all the seniors on the football team and their dates an intimate gathering. Would it be impolite to leave at midnight, Delaney looked at her watch and decided it was time to go.

  I better find Mitch first, she didn’t know where her date had gotten to as she scanned the room and tried to look past the gathering of football players shotgunning beers and doing shots. This is just not my thing, Delaney decided as she began the search for a bathroom, moving upstairs rather than fighting the line that had formed at the downstairs bathroom.

  Finally, relief, Delaney relaxed as she closed the door and found peace. His house is nice, she admired the granite and the quality of the fixtures as she checked her makeup and dress. Too bad I can’t say the same thing about him, Delaney thought to herself as she remembered the last hour.

  It was like he immediately changed once he left the club and arrived home. Gone were the manners and politeness on display in public, replaced by heavy drinking and crude displays of obnoxiousness with his buddies. He had barely even spoken to her since their arrival, trading her company for some beer and whiskey. Maybe I should just call Jack and Amanda to pick me up, Delaney considered her options. Or, maybe I should call Greg, she thought about him working just down the road.

  Delaney smiled as she thought of him. After tonight, she appreciated his simple kindness more than ever. No, she had nothing in common with most of these kids, but Greg, he truly understood her, he appreciated everything about her. Tomorrow, I’m going to tell him everything I feel, Delaney looked in the mirror and at last found comfort in her feelings for him.

  Time to go, Delaney was relieved as she unlocked the door to leave the bathroom. I don’t need to talk to Mitch, she decided as she turned the corner and opted instead to call Greg when she got outside.

  But, her plan was suddenly interrupted as she saw Mitch blocking the stairs. This isn’t good, Delaney didn’t like the look she saw in his eyes.

  “Where have you been,” he asked abruptly as Delaney could smell the liquor on his breath.

  “I was in the ladies room,” she answered quietly. “I think I am going to go home,” Delaney shared her plans as she tried to go around him.

  “You’re not going anywhere,” he interrupted her progress as he grabbed her arm and tried to kiss her.

  “Let go of me, Mitch,” she tried to get away but his grip was too strong.

  “Get over here,” he pulled her to the end of he hallway as she tried to scream but was drowned out by the music. “We’ve got until 2:00 and it’s prom night,” Mitch reminded her as he forced her into the bedroom.

  “Mitch, please stop,” Delaney cried as she tried to resist. “Please let me go.”

  “Quiet down,” he commanded her as his grip got tighter and he tried to shove his tongue down her throat.

  “No,” she cried as she resisted him to no avail and realized her prom night had turned into
a nightmare.

  And then it got worse. Mitch pinned her against the wall and his hands moved all over her body. This can’t be happening to me, Delaney couldn’t stop crying as she tried to fight him off and he pulled down the top of her dress. I need to stop him, Delaney realized as his mouth attacked her breast and his hand reached between her legs.

  Luckily, her knee found its target in his moment of distraction, and as he crumbled in pain, Delaney made her break for the door. Crying hysterically, Delaney didn’t care about the scene she made as she ran down the stairs holding her dress up as best she could. Flying through the front door, she couldn’t run fast enough as she kicked off her heels and ran down the road.

  What just happened to me, Delaney finally stopped to catch her breath and couldn’t stop crying. As she tried to fix her dress and find a place to hide, she was surprised that somehow she had managed to hold onto her purse. Delaney quickly found her phone, but could barely operate it as her hands continued to shake until finally she managed to punch in his number.

  Thank God it’s ringing, I need him now, Delaney realized as she heard him answer the phone.

  * * *

  “Delaney, are you okay,” Greg immediately answered his phone and heard her crying, unable to really respond.

  “Greg, I need you,” she barely managed to form words.

  He forgot about the work he was finishing up and ran to the door while trying to keep her calm. “I’ll be there in a second. Stay on the phone, Delaney, tell me where you are.”

  “I’m somewhere near Mitch’s house,” Delaney seemed to calm down a little.

  “I’m two minutes away,” he assured her as he jumped into his truck and was grateful she was close. Don’t you dare fail me now, he thought as his engine obeyed his command and he peeled out of the parking lot.

  “Turning Meadows, right,” Greg confirmed the location although he had been there many times.

  “Yes, I’m just down the road from his house,” she started to cry again. “Please hurry Greg.”

  “I’m almost there, don’t put down the phone,” he started to cry as he felt Delaney’s pain. “I love you Delaney. It’s going to be okay.”