Page 65 of No Good Deed

“Sit down,” Sean says to me. “Have a beer.”

“I don’t feel like it today. I think I’m just tired. It’s been a long week.”

“Tara said the same thing,” Troy says. “Why’s everyone so fucking tired?” He takes a drink of his beer, then says to Sean, “The bitch wouldn’t even fuck me. Said she was tired and didn’t feel well. So then why the fuck did she come here? Did she think we were going to sit around and talk?”

I really want to hit him. It’d feel so damn good. Just one punch. Maybe two.

“You guys don’t talk?” Sean asks.

“No. What the hell would we talk about?”

“Why are you still dating her?” Sean asks, as if he could read my thoughts. That’s the question that’s been in my head for days, but I didn’t want to be the one to ask it. “You guys don’t talk. You don’t go out. I’m not even sure you like her.”

“If I didn’t like her, I wouldn’t be fucking her.” Troy looks at Sean. “Why the hell do you care about this? You want her for yourself?”

“No, I just don’t know why you’re keeping Tara around when all you guys do is fight.”

“Were we fighting today?” Troy directs the question to Leo, who doesn’t hear him because he’s too busy watching the game. “Hey!” He shoves Leo.

“What?” Leo glances at him, then back at the TV.

“Was I fighting with Tara today?”

“How the hell should I know?”

“You’re such an idiot.” Troy gulps down more of his beer.

“How’d she get the black eye?” I ask, staring down at Troy.

He turns and sees me behind the couch. “You’re still here? I thought you left.”

“Did she really fall?”

He smirks. “What are you trying to say, Sanders? That I pushed her?”

“Or punched her.” I’m heating up, a fire smoldering inside me, ready to burst into flames if he tells me he did it.

If I find out he hit her, I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back. I finally know what Dean felt like all those times he couldn’t control his anger. It’s like the rage has a mind of its own and you can’t stop it.

17

JAKE

“Jake, leave him alone,”Sean says. “She already told us it was an accident.”

“So did my mom.” I keep my eyes on Troy. “Every bruise. Every black eye. It was always an accident.”

“That’s what this is about?” Troy gets up and comes over to me. “I’m not your fucking dad. She fell. End of story.” He gets in my face. “Stay out of my business, Sanders. You shouldn’t even be here. Go back to your fancy little college and go find a sorority girl to fuck. Maybe it’ll help you relax.” He smirks at me, then saunters to the kitchen.

“I’m leaving,” I say to Sean, heading to the door.

“Jake, wait up.” He catches up to me as I go outside to my car. “Just ignore Troy. You know how he is. Always trying to start shit. You can’t let him get to you.”

I stop and turn to him. “Why do you still hang out with him? He’s so fucking annoying. I don’t know how you can stand being around him.”

“He’s one of us. Like family. You don’t turn your back on your own.”

“You’re not turning your back on him by telling him to hang out with someone else. He has other friends. He doesn’t need to be here.”

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