Page 105 of No Good Deed

“Yeah, I know he’s not my dad. What’s your point?”

“I don’t want you doing something stupid to Troy to make up for not being able to do something to your dad. It’s not going to fix anything or make you feel better. You’ll just be destroying your life and everything you’ve worked for.”

“That’s not what I’m doing. I’m not using Troy to get back at my dad.”

“You sure about that? Just think about it. Think before you do anything.”

“I don’t have time to talk about this,” I say as I call Brook. “I need to get to Jake.”

“Hey,” Brook answers in a cheerful tone. “Another win! I’ve got—”

“Jake’s hurt,” I say. “I need to get to him. Can you get me a flight? I’m too fucked up right now to think. I need your help.”

“What do you mean Jake’s hurt?”

I quickly recap the story.

“I’m checking flights right now,” Brook says. “There’s one leaving tonight, but it’s two thousand dollars.”

“I don’t care. I have to get there.”

So much for my savings. The cost of two tickets is going to wipe out a lot of the money I was saving for the house I want to get after Brook and I are married.

“I’m coming with,” she says. “I’ll pay for mine.”

“Brook, you don’t—”

“He’s my brother too. Or he will be soon.” I hear her typing. “Okay, I’ve got them in the cart. I just need to check out.”

“I’m on my way home. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” I end the call and get in the car.

“What about your interview?” Danny says.

I sigh. “Shit, I forgot about that.”

Monday morning, I have a job interview for an assistant coaching job at a college in Florida. The guy interviewing me is in town for something else and asked if he could talk to me about the position. One of the football coaches at my college knows the guy and gave him my name. I was really excited about the interview, but I can’t do it. I won’t be back by Monday.

“I’m sure he’d let you do it later,” Danny says.

“He’s only in town this week. And he’s interviewing other people for the job.”

“Maybe he’d do a phone interview.”

“I’m not going to worry about it. Jake’s more important than some job. I’ve got all next semester to look for another one.” I get in my car. “I need to get home.”

“I’ll meet you there,” Danny says, heading to his truck.

A few hours later,Brook and I are on our way to Chicago. The flight’s only two and a half hours, but it feels like we’re never getting off this plane. Why does time seem to go so much slower when you really need to be somewhere?

“It won’t be much longer,” Brook says, like she knew what I was thinking. She rubs my arm. “How are you doing?”

“I just want to get there,” I say, my foot nervously tapping the floor. “I need to see him. I need to be there when he wakes up.”

“You will be. We’re almost there. It’s less than a half hour now.” She slides her hand in mine and rests her head on my shoulder. I kiss her forehead, so damn grateful to have her. She’s the only reason I’m not losing it right now. I love her so much. If it were up to me, we’d already be married by now but she wanted to wait until after we graduate, when Jake’s home for the summer. Brook loves Jake as much as I do. She keeps telling me he’ll be fine, but I can tell she’s just as scared as I am that he won’t be okay.

When we finally land in Chicago, it’s after ten. I grab our carry-on bags and Brook and I go through the terminal to the outside.

“Dean! Over here!” a woman yells. I know that voice. I grew up hearing it.

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