Page 31 of Diem

What am I doing?

Chapter Seven

Maeve

On Monday, in History, I go straight to my seat and refuse to look up until the bell rings. It’s only at lunch that I’m forced from my fog, ignoring a text from Penny when Harriet plops down beside me.

Although I want Penny to find peace, searching out this Kenny dude is stupid. Hell, I was almost forced into prostitution and fucked Diem, neither of which produced the answers I seek.

Now I have to face Diem in the clear light of day and I’m not looking forward to seeing his triumph. Although I concede, having him completely ignore me would be painfully worse.

Across from us, Bone sets down his tray while she grumbles, “That dick. He gave me a bad grade again.”

“Who?” I ask with a sympathetic smile, ignoring Matt’s pout beside me.

Matt’s disapproval of just about everything I do is getting old. I’m sure he’s pissed because I didn’t return his texts yesterday but damn, he needs to lay off. I was nursing a hangover. Sue me.

“Mr. G,” she says and Matt sneers, “Kenny?”

The air sucks from my lungs and I slam my soda to the table. “Kenny who?”

Harriet’s brow furrows before she says, “You know, Maeve. Mr. G.”

“You call my dad, Kenny?” When she searches my gaze with a quizzical frown, I busy myself wiping up the soda I spilled with a napkin. All the while, I’m vibrating with the need to grab her shoulders and shake the information out of her.

Finally, she shrugs and Bone chimes in, “Yeah, most do. He always tells his students to call him by his first name.”

Kenny? He’s never gone by anything but Ken. Is it possible? No way. He’s my dad, not a killer.

Unless…Kenny was Dixie’s lover but not the one who killed her. Is this what my mom was speaking about? But with a student? Gross.

Would Dixie do that? Date my Dad? With a sigh, I tune them both out and glance around the cafeteria. Dad doesn’t usually eat in here but sometimes he grabs lunch before taking it back to his desk.

My gaze wanders over the sea of students until I stop on Diem. He’s smirking down at a pretty freshman while she stares at him like he’s a god.

Has Ollie ever mentioned Dad’s extracurricular activities with Diem? Or Mom’s for that matter?

Would Diem tell me if he had? Probably not.

As if sensing my stare, Diem’s head shoots up and he meets my gaze. His brows furrow but before he can grace me with a dirty smirk, I turn away.

Maybe I just need to go to the source? He’s my dad after all. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.

Resolved, I push back my chair, and grab my tray. Now is as good a time as any.

“You okay, Maeve?”

Pausing, I smile at Matt and say, “Yeah, I forgot about a pop quiz in Algebra.”

He nods as I walk away and I’m almost at the door when I remember to drop my tray at the garbage. Shaking my head, I wipe my sweaty palms down my jeans.

It’s nothing. Nothing. I’m gonna feel really stupid after all this too.

But it doesn’t stop me from rounding the corner before slowing as I approach my dad’s classroom. What am I going to say?

I have no idea but I’m here, so…

Peering inside the small window, I find him with a student and turn away but a niggling feeling in the back of my throat inspires me to press against the door.

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