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“You mean Mick? That guy who was always getting arrested? I don’t want Jake around him. Or any of those people. They’re not good for him.”
“Not everyone there is bad. My family still lives there.”
“Yeah, but Jake’s not hanging out with them. He’s spending time with guys that are gonna get him in trouble.”
“You don’t know that. Maybe it’s good he’s with his old friends. When you’re going through a breakup, it helps to have someone to talk to, and Jake doesn’t have any friends at school.”
“He’s not going to make any if he’s hanging out with Troy and Sean. This is why I didn’t want him going back to Chicago, but I felt better knowing his college wasn’t anywhere near where we used to live. I thought that would keep him away from there, but now he’s back in the old neighborhood, hanging out with those losers.”
“Now they’re losers? Just because they live in a shitty part of town?” Danny huffs. “Since when did you get so judgmental?You sound like Brook’s dad, telling her to stay away from you just because you were poor.”
I pause to think about that. “You’re right. I shouldn’t call them that, but I know Troy isn’t good for Jake. That guy is trouble.”
“How do you know? I mean, I know he used to be, but do you know if he’s still that way?”
“He’s probably worse. Think how I’d be now if I hadn’t gotten help. I used to be just like Troy. I didn’t complain all the time, like Troy does, but I had serious anger issues.”
“That’s for sure,” Danny mutters.
“Troy’s the same way. You get him riled up, he can’t control it. Remember when he beat up Sean for asking out that girl?”
“The one Troy wanted to take to the middle school dance? Yeah, I remember.”
“That’s the kind of anger I’m talking about. Troy wasn’t even dating that girl, but he claimed her as his own and then beat up Sean for asking her out. I don’t want Jake around a guy like that.”
“Jake’s going to do what he wants, and with you living here and him in Chicago, there’s really nothing you can do about it.” Danny looks away, then back at me. “You don’t think Jake would go see your dad, do you?”
“He better not. I told him never to speak to that bastard again.”
“Yeah, but you told him that before—”
“And look what happened. I could’ve died. Jake’s not going to forgive him after that. He’s not going to go see him.”
“What about your mom? You think she’ll try to see Jake now that he’s not living with you?”
“No. She doesn’t know where he’s going to college. And he has nothing to give her. He doesn’t have any money.”
Coach comes out the door. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you two. I need you to get in here.”
We go back inside, but my mind’s still on Jake. I worked so damn hard to get Jake out of that neighborhood and give him a different life. And now he’s back there and I’m terrified he’s going to ruin all the progress he’s made.
8
JAKE
“I’m done,”I say, pushing the whiskey bottle away as Sean holds it in front of me. “I’m wasted. I can’t do any more.”
“Come on, Sanders,” Troy says. “One more shot. You’re finally starting to be fun.”
“Like you know what fun is,” I mutter.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Troy says, slurring his words. He drank so much I can’t believe he hasn’t passed out.
“It means you’re always in a bad mood,” I say, my opinions flowing easily now that I’m drunk.
“That’s bullshit. I’m in a good mood right now.”
“No, you’re not,” Leo says. “You just threw a beer bottle across the room.”
