"What kind of dog?"
"German Shepherd. She looked scary but she was a sweetheart."
"So this is your grandma's house?"
"It was. She died about ten years ago."
"And then your family moved in?"
"We lived here on and off when I was growing up. I didn't have the most reliable parents. Neither one of them could keep a job, and whenever they had money, they'd lose it in a casino or spend it on booze."
I'm surprised Dean's being so honest with me. Eve made all those comments about him being closed off and keeping his life a secret. But he let me in his house and is telling me stuff about his family.
This Dean isn't the guy I know from school. Compared to how he acts there, this Dean is like a different person. He's open and honest, responsible and caring. Watching him with Jake, it's clear how much he loves his little brother. He's basically a dad, at 18.
Tonight I'm seeing a whole other side of Dean. A side I didn't know existed.
Chapter Ten
Dean
What the hell am I doing? I never talk about my family, except with Danny, the only person I trust. So why am I telling Brook all this stuff? A girl I barely know?
I thought she'd race out of here when the tutoring was done, but she practically begged me to stay. Is she really that lonely? She'd have to be to want to stay here. I don't even want to be here and I live here.
She did a great job with Jake. When he came in the bedroom, he had a smile on his face. I haven't seen the kid smile in weeks. The last time he did was when I brought home burgers from his favorite restaurant. I'd worked twenty hours of overtime and decided to splurge on something for Jake.
It makes sense he'd smile for burgers, but smiling after spending an hour studying English? I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I thought the smile was because he just spent an hour with a beautiful girl. I thought maybe he had a crush on Brook, but that wasn't it at all. He was smiling because he understood what she was teaching him. The kid hates feeling stupid. It's never bothered me to feel that way but I've always been good at sports. I didn't care that I wasn't book smart. But Jake does. He says his grades don't matter but I know he's lying. He wants to do well in school. He wants to make me proud, and himself proud. He'd never admit that but I know it's true.
"Do you have stuff you need to do?" Brook asks, moving to the edge of the couch like she's about to get up. "Sorry, I didn't even think you might be busy tonight."
"I didn't have any plans, but if you want to head out..." I leave it at that, kind of hoping she doesn't leave. We've been talking for over an hour but it doesn't seem that long. She's easy to talk to. Maybe that's why I keep telling her stuff I shouldn't.
Her phone rings but she leaves it on the table.
"Go ahead," I tell her.
She picks up her phone. "It's Chad. I'll tell him I'll call him back." She gets up, answering the call as she walks to the kitchen. "Hey, Chad, I thought you weren't calling tonight."
I glance back at her and watch as her smile drops to a frown.
"Yeah, okay. I’ll think about it." She pauses. "Actually, no, I can't. I forgot my mom has to work so I can't get a ride. Just go with your friends."
She turns toward me and I look away.
"I'm at friend's house,” she says. “I’m heading home soon. I'll call you tomorrow, okay? Bye."
She walks back to the couch, a worried look on her face. "I should probably go."
"Is everything okay?"
She stares down at the floor, chewing on her lip. She picks up her backpack and I notice she’s shaking.
"Hey." I hold her arm. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she says, shaking her head and blinking back tears. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Hold on." I take the backpack from her and set it down. "Tell me what's going on."
