Page 11 of Diem

“Maeve?”

“Hm,” I say, glancing up at my Mom’s shrill tone.

“I spoke to your tutor. You haven’t been to see her,” she says and to hide my irritation, I wipe my frown away with my napkin.

Staying calm in the face of having listened to my mother have another marathon of sex that I can’t erase from my brain—ever, isn’t easy, but I do my best as I say, “We’ve already been over the coursework for the semester.”

She leans back and throws her napkin on the table. “We’re not paying her to do nothing. Besides, you know what happens when you get behind.”

“I’m not behind,” I whisper, dropping my gaze.

“Hm,” she says, turning to Dad. “I spoke to Ollie. He’s doing well of course. Sometimes I think he’s too smart for his own good.”

Dad chuckles, patting my hand and I slide a miserable smile his way, acknowledging his attempt to comfort me. I’m no Ollie as she’s fond of pointing out. Bitch.

“Good,” Dad says, and Mom hums her agreement.

“He’s set to come home in a few weeks,” she says.

“Oh? Maybe he should see about extending his stay? I’m sure he’s barely scratched the surface of his curiosity,” Dad says with a chuckle.

“I tried, but you know Ollie, once he has his mind set on something…”

Although I’m relieved by the reprieve, I grit my teeth because whenever the topic of my perfect twin brother comes up, I’m forced to accept the bullshit shoved down my throat. He may be a genius but there’s something dead inside his chest and it’s not the heart we mere mortals have.

After dinner, I escape to my room. Since I know Mom will be on me again if I don’t, I’m sorting my clothes to put away when Dad appears on the threshold, asking, “How’s my best girl?”

He’s my champion when Mom’s acting bitchy. Anymore he’s the only person in my family who I still have a connection with.

“I’m okay,” I murmur, picking up a pair of panties and tossing them across the bed. They aren’t mine. I don’t wear hipsters and eww, does Mom parade around with the word ‘hottie’ emblazoned on her ass?

Dad cocks his head and says, “It’s okay to not be okay, kiddo. You lost a friend.”

Bowing my head, I shrug my shoulders and he sits down on the bed beside me. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, Dad. I just miss her, you know?”

He wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I lean into his chest, warmth stuffing my heart.

When I was younger, he used to carry me around on his shoulders and I long for the days when life was that simple. Now it’s like the world around me is constantly imploding or maybe it’s just me.

“Death is never easy, darlin’, but with time, you’ll learn how to live with the loss.”

Dad’s an orphan. His parents died in a car accident when he was thirteen. If anyone knows how grief works, it’s him.

Nodding, I say quietly, “Thanks Dad.”

“Anytime kiddo.” He ruffles my hair and I roll my eyes, watching with a smile as he pulls my door closed.

“Don’t stay up too late.”

“I won't. Dad?”

“Yeah?” His green eyes glitter when he turns back.

“That was, um, a good speech about Dixie…”

Running his finger along the grain of my door, he says softly, “It was the least I could do. When I think about it being you…”

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