Page 85 of No Good Deed

“No. How could he? He’s been out of town.”

“Does anyone else know?”

“Just Sean, but I didn’t tell him. He figured it out.”

“Then other people might too. You need to stay away from her until she ends it with Troy, especially now that he’s back. You said she’s telling him this week. If that’s true, then you won’t have to wait long. Just leave her alone until you know it’s over between them.”

“Yeah, okay,” I tell him, but I only say it so he’ll stop talking about it. “I’ll talk to you later. Tell Brook I said hi.”

“I will. Bye, Jake. Stay safe.”

He worries too much. Troy’s not going to do anything to me. He doesn’t even come to this part of town. Tara will break up with him in a day or two, we’ll lay low for a few weeks, and then tell people we’re a couple. By then, Troy won’t care that I’m with her. He’ll have moved on, probably with a new girlfriend, along with three or four girls on the side.

I just need to be patient. This will all work out. Tara loves me. She’s not going to do anything to hurt me.

22

DEAN

“What’s up with you today?”Danny asks, following me to my locker. “You have a fight with Brook?”

“No.” I open my locker. “Why do you think I’m fighting with Brook?”

“Because you were attacking everyone on the field.” He leans against the locker next to mine. “You know today was practice, right? If it were a game, I’d say go for it. Beat up our opponent, but it’s generally not a good idea to injure a guy on your own team.”

“I didn’t hurt him. I maybe bruised his shoulder, but who the fuck cares? That shit happens all the time.”

“You were acting like you did in high school,” Danny says, keeping his voice down. He knows I don’t want people here knowing how I used to be. I’m trying to put that version of myself behind me and be someone else now.

“Did I ask for your opinion on this?”

“I’m just saying, I haven’t seen you like this since before you met Brook.”

“Yeah, well, maybe I’m in a bad mood.” I slam my locker shut. “I’m going to the showers.”

I leave him there, and when I get back, he’s gone. I assume he went home, but then I see him as I’m leaving the athletic building.

“You again?” I say, only half kidding. I don’t want to talk to him today. I don’t want to talk to anyone, except maybe Brook, although I’m not sure I want to talk to her either. When I’m as angry as I am now, it’s best if everyone leaves me alone.

“Just give me a minute,” Danny says.

“One minute,” I say, continuing to my car. “Starting now.”

“Is this about Jake?”

“Maybe.”

“What’d he do?”

“He’s being stupid.”

“How? What happened?”

“A girl.”

“Makes sense.” Danny snorts out a laugh. “Isn’t it always a girl getting guys in trouble?”

“This isn’t funny.” I stop at my car and turn to Danny. “The girl Jake’s seeing is dating someone else. And guess who her boyfriend is?”

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