Page 66 of No Good Deed

“What’s your problem? Why are you messing with Troy? You know it’s not going to change anything.”

“I think he did it. I think he gave Tara the black eye.”

“He didn’t. She told you herself that she fell.”

“You don’t get a black eye from falling. You get it from someone punching you in the face.”

“He didn’t punch her,” Sean says. “She wouldn’t stay with him if he did.”

“She would if she was afraid to leave him. My mom wouldn’t leave my dad, no matter how many times he hit her.”

“Hey, I’m sorry about that, but you can’t go accusing people of shit just because of what you saw growing up. Troy didn’t punch her.”

“Do you know if he’s ever gotten rough with her?”

“I’ve seen him grab her, but he didn’t do it to hurt her. He was just trying to get her attention.” Sean lowers his voice. “Is there something going on with you and her?”

“No. Why would you ask me that?”

“You’re getting really worked up for some girl you haven’t seen since we were kids. And I noticed the way she looked at you. Like you two have some kind of secret.”

“There’s no secret,” I say like he’s crazy. “She barely looked at me, and she wasn’t looking at me any differently than she looked at you.”

He shrugs. “I’m just telling you what I saw. And ifInoticed, there’s a chance Troy did too.”

“For the last time, there’s nothing going on.”

“Would you tell me if there was?”

I pause before answering.

“Fuck,” Sean mutters. “I knew it.”

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to.” He shoves my shoulder. “Are you really that stupid? You’re in college. You’re supposed to be smart.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Nothing’s going on.”

“Yeah, right. That’s why you accused Troy of punching his girlfriend.”

“Just because I’m trying to protect her doesn’t mean I’m sleeping with her. You know what happened to my mom. I grew up watching that shit and couldn’t do anything about it. Now I can, so if I think some girl’s getting beat up like my mom was, you really think I’m not going to say anything?”

“Yeah, I get it, but Troy didn’t hit her. So let it go. Don’t bring it up again.”

“I’m getting out of here,” I say, opening the car door.

“Hey. No hard feelings, right?”

“Yeah, whatever,” I mutter.

“Jake, I’m just trying to keep everyone happy here. I wanted today to be like old times. Just us guys hanging out, watching football. It wasn’t supposed to turn into a fight.”

“Then you should’ve told Troy to stay home.” I get into my car and drive off.

Sean’s a good guy. He just wants us all to get along. He’s always been that way. The peacemaker in our group. But there can’t be peace when Troy’s around. The asshole lives to create trouble.

On my way back to campus, I find myself driving to Tara’s apartment. I need to check on her. I have to know she’s okay.

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