Free Savage by Thomas E. Sniegoski

swing, coming in low in a tackle, sending them both to the wet ground in a heap of swinging fists.
    â€œYou ruined everything,” Sidney heard Cody say as he crawled atop Rich, directing punches at his face.
    She couldn’t stand it anymore, again going in to try and break it up. She also let Snowy go, and the dog darted in, snarling and snapping threateningly at the two.
    â€œGet off of him,” she commanded, wrapping her arm around Cody’s neck in a headlock and using all her strength to pull him off. Rich managed to get his leg under him and kicked out, hurling Cody away.
    She hadn’t seen Mr. Seaton come out of the office, and he was suddenly there, between them, cell phone in hand.
    â€œAm I going to need to call the police?” he asked, loud enough for them all to hear.
    â€œYou son of a bitch,” Cody spat, getting to his feet.
    â€œC’mon,” Rich urged angrily. “Let’s see how good you are when I’m ready.”
    â€œDid you two hear me?” Mr. Seaton asked. He got in front of his son, thumping him back with his chest. He then turned around to face Rich.
    â€œI’ll have you both thrown in jail for fighting on my property without thinking twice.”
    He glared at them, one and then the other.
    â€œGo ahead . . . try me.”
    No one moved, and Mr. Seaton abruptly turned and headed back to the office.
    â€œCody,” he called as he walked. “Where’s my lunch?”
    Cody managed to tear his gaze away from Rich, then walked to the rain-saturated white bag and picked it up carefully, bringing it to his father and leaving Sidney and Rich alone outside.
    â€œWhat the hell was that all about?” Rich asked, touching his lip and checking his fingers for blood.
    â€œWe broke up the other night,” Sidney said, watching the door to the office.
    â€œYou broke up?”
    â€œYeah, and he thinks it was because of you.”
    â€œBecause of me? Shit.”
    The door of the office opened, and Cody stepped out. Sidney had to grab Snowy’s collar to keep her from running to him.
    â€œNo more, Cody,” Sidney warned.
    â€œGo,” he said, waving them away with his hands. “My dad wants you both off the property immediately, and so do I.”
    Sidney couldn’t stand it anymore.
    â€œWhat is wrong with you?” she demanded, not bothering to hide her anger.
    â€œBack off, Sid,” he told her. “Take your new boyfriend and—”
    â€œCut the shit, Cody,” she screamed. “You know full well that Rich isn’t my boyfriend.”
    â€œIt’s true, Cody,” Rich said. “The only reason I’m here is that I asked Sidney to find out if you could give me a hand with my sailboat.”
    Cody looked at her hard, she could see that his eyes looked hot—moist. He was on the verge of tears.
    â€œYou can tell me. I’m a big boy.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to tell, Cody,” she said, bringing the volume down. She let Snowy go, and the dog went to him, hungry for his affection.
    â€œDude, if I’d known the two of you weren’t together I never woulda asked,” Rich said sympathetically.
    â€œSo why are you both here . . . together?” Cody asked.
    â€œBecause I came to ask you the favor alone so something like this wouldn’t happen, but you weren’t here. I had a lovely chat with your father, by the way,” she added sarcastically.
    â€œAnd I hadn’t heard from her, so I thought I would come down and ask myself. Then I saw that Sid was here and . . .”
    â€œShit,” Cody said, lowering his gaze and focusing his attentions on Snowy, which was fine by her.
    â€œYeah,” Sidney agreed.
    â€œI called you, and you didn’t get back to me,” Cody went on. “So my imagination was already running wild when I pulled into the parking lot and saw the two of