Page 31 of No Good Deed

“I’m not going to do that. I don’t want to talk about this. I’m hanging up.”

“Jake, wait.” He pauses. “I’m sorry, okay? I just worry about you.”

“Yeah, well, you need to stop. You need to let me grow up.”

“I’m trying, but give me some time. It’s a big adjustment not having you here.”

“Maybe you and Brook should have some kids. Then you could worry about them and not me.”

“Don’t even joke about that. After last week...never mind. I shouldn’t talk about it.”

“Why? What happened?”

He sighs. “Don’t tell her I told you this. She doesn’t want people knowing.”

“Knowing what?”

“Brook thought she was pregnant. She missed her period. She was freaking out. We both were. I mean, we want kids, but not right now.”

“But she’s not pregnant?”

“No. I don’t want to get into the whole story, but the point is, this isn’t the time to be joking about kids. A week ago, we really thought we were going to be parents.”

“I don’t know what the big deal is. The kid wouldn’t even be born until next summer. You’d both be done with school.”

“Yeah, we talked about that. It’s just we want to be more settled before we have kids. At least one of us needs to have a job, and I’d like us to have a house.”

“How are you going to get money for a house?”

“I’ve been saving. You don’t know this, but I’ve been putting money away for your college. I wasn’t sure if you’d get a scholarship, but then you did and I decided to put the money toward a house for Brook and me—and you, when you’re home from college.”

“Does Brook know?”

“Not yet. I wanted to save up more money before I told her. Anyway, tell me more about yesterday. What’d you guys do?”

“Just got pizza and watched football.”

“How long were you there?”

“Just for the afternoon,” I lie. “Oh, and Tara was there. Remember her? She went to grade school with me.”

“I don’t think I know her.”

“Yeah, you do. She’s that girl who always wore overalls.”

“Yeah, now I remember. Didn’t her mom take off and leave her with her aunt?”

“Yeah, she still lives with her, but her aunt’s in Florida right now for her job.”

“So why was Tara hanging out with you guys?”

“She’s dating Troy. I don’t know why. Tara could do a lot better. I’m actually going to see her today. Troy’s working and Tara has the day off.”

“You’re going to see her? Alone?”

“Yeah. We’re going to talk. Catch up. She doesn’t live that far from campus. It’s only like fifteen minutes from here. I drove her home yesterday so she wouldn’t have to take the bus.”

“Troy didn’t care that you gave his girlfriend a ride?”

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