"That's great," he says, but he doesn't sound excited.
"Dean, what's wrong?"
"I got some news."
"What news?"
"My dad didn't get parole but he got something else."
"What?"
"Work release."
"You mean a job at the prison?" I ask, knowing that's not work release but hoping Dean just used the wrong term.
"No. A job where he used to work. Before he went to prison he worked the line at a bottling plant. Since he's only a few years away from his release, he got them to agree to hire him back a few days a week. He starts tomorrow."
“How’d you find this out?”
“I called the prison to make sure my dad wouldn't be up for parole again. They said he won’t be, but then the guy told me about the work release.”
"Dean, I'm sorry."
"I don't know what to do. What if he shows up at the house?"
"He won't. They watch those guys to make sure they don't leave. He'll go straight to work and back to prison."
"That may be the rules but my dad doesn't do rules. Brook, I'm really scared. I don't know what to do."
"Do you want me to come over?"
"No. Study for your test. I'm going to watch a movie with Jake so he doesn't suspect anything's going on. I'm trying to act normal around him but I'm not doing a good job."
"Just do your best. I'm sure you're doing better than you give yourself credit for. I'm so amazed by you, Dean, and everything you do. You're raising your brother. Going to school. Playing football. You have scouts showing up to your games just to see you play. And you're a good person. A good man. I wish you knew how amazing you are."
"Dammit, Brook, I'm tearing up. Stop saying that shit."
"You need to hear it."
"There's something you need to hear too. I'm just too fucking scared to say it."
"Then maybe you should wait."
"I can't. I need to say it. I want to."
He's being so serious. Maybe he's going to say he wants me to be his girlfriend. That's something he'd definitely be scared to say.
"I love you, Brook."
Okay, I was not expecting that. I go to my bed to sit down because I'm too shocked to remain standing.
"What did you say?" I ask, sounding breathless because my heart's going so fast.
"I love you," he says, quieter this time.
He loves me?I'm speechless, my mind trying to comprehend this.
Dean just said he loves me. I didn't think I'd ever hear him say those words, or even admit to himself that he felt that way about me.
