Page 104 of Diem

“Fuck,” I groan, throwing the alcohol across the room. The bottle spins off the wall but doesn’t break to my frustration.

Sitting up on the side of the bed, I rub my head and sigh. Who’s going to check in on her and make sure she’s not doing something she can’t take back?

That little weasel Matt, who has a hard on for her, crosses my vision and I growl. That fucker thinks he can touch what’s mine? No fucking way.

Except, Maeve isn’t mine, I made sure of that. Fuck me.

“You okay, bro?” Landon says.

Eyeing him rudely, I mutter, “Fuck off.”

He raises his hands and backs away while I search out my next drink.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Maeve

Ollie greeted me coolly this morning before walking away. I watched him go with a frown. We have much to discuss including our dad’s whorish behavior, but he refuses to speak to me.

The news of Hailey’s pregnancy spreads around the school in no time. Her friends or former friends take great pleasure in harassing her for it.

I don’t enjoy it like I should because now she’s pathetic, just like me. The knowledge that she’s having Diem’s child sits on my chest like a hot brick and despite the rumors swirling that it isn’t his, she’s sticking to it.

Diem is absent the following few days. Thankfully.

On Friday, I tiptoe past my dad’s classroom only to stutter to a stop when I hear raised voices within. Stepping to the door, I press my back against the wall, while my brother says coldly, “I don’t give a fuck what you think.”

“Ollie,” Dad says with a sigh, and I cock my head.

“No, fuck you.”

“I will not tolerate that tone,” Dad says sternly.

Ollie laughs into the silence, and I shudder at the raw sound. “You don’t get to pretend to be my dad. We both know you’re far from an upstanding fucking citizen.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Ask all the girls you continue to fuck right under everyone’s noses,” he snarls.

I flinch and cover my mouth. There’s a pregnant pause before Dad rasps, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, you do. Back the fuck off or I’m going to expose your shit to every-fucking-body.”

I don’t have time to hide before Ollie sails through the door. He doesn’t spare me a glance and I scurry after him, ignoring my dad when he says, “Maeve!”

I can’t face my dad right now. I can’t face him ever.

After class, I duck into the bathroom and meet Hailey’s eyes in the mirror. It’s clear she’s been crying but I don’t have it in me to care and I slide into a stall before pressing my back against the cool metal.

It’s quiet for a moment before she says, “Do you know what it’s like to find out your dad is not your dad from the girl you hate more than anything?”

“Why?” I ask and she doesn’t need prompting to understand my question.

“You rolled in with your perfect dress and your perfect hair. You were like a little doll.”

“In what, like kindergarten?” I rasp. Is she for real?

“Here’s the thing, Maeve. My mom was passed out drunk on the couch. Your mom probably baked cookies and sent a note in your lunchbox. Your life is perfect…”

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