Page 168 of The Friend Scheme
“It’s really hard to say. I…”
“Come on, it’s me. You can tell me anything. You saw how well I dealt with you coming out, right?”
I stare forward, out at the ocean. To the side is the city.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
“Do what anymore?”
“This life. The family business. I hate it so much, you have no idea.”
He just nods.
“Say something,” I say.
“I mean, I get it. Well, I don’t exactly get it, but we’re different. This is the life for me; I’ve always known that.”
“I’ve always known it’s not,” I say. “I don’t want to live this way.”
“I get that.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, man. Sometimes things just don’t work. If you know it, you know it.”
“But I don’t want you to think that I don’t love you and Dad. That’s not what this is about at all. But what we do… I hate it.”
“Okay,” he says. “I didn’t know it was this bad.”
“It is. This whole time I’ve just wanted it to stop. And I think I’ve realized that it’s never going to.”
“But what about Dad’s plan?”
“What? Mass murder? You don’t think that’s going to have ramifications?”
“Yeah, but—”
“I need to get out. Then maybe apply to school in California. I should go as far away as I can.”
My brother’s eyes spark. “I think you should tell Dad that. If you do, I bet he’ll let you go. Like, right away, too.”
“Really? Why?”
“Just trust me.”
“You don’t think he’ll be mad?”
“Oh, he’ll be furious. But he’s different now, after the shooting. I don’t know—just be honest.”
“Okay, I will.”
Luke puts his burger aside and starts up the engine.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Driving you home so you can do this.”
“There’s no rush, man. I sort of feel like this is nice, hanging out with you. Plus, you know all my secrets now.”
