Page 36 of Diem

“Hey,” I rasp before clearing my throat.

Diem whips around and his eyes narrow before he pulls up his bored expression reserved just for me and says, “Yeah?”

This suddenly feels like a very bad idea, and I swallow past the lump rebuilding in my throat before muttering, “Never mind.”

The reality of my father’s misdeeds presses at my chest, and I want someone who I can confide in but it’s clearly not Diem. Foolish to even think so.

Turning away, I make a beeline for the bathroom only to gasp when Diem grabs my arm and presses me into the wall.

His pretty dark eyes search mine before he says, “What’s up?”

My pulse jumps at the proximity of his warm skin, but I push it aside.Can I tell him?

Of anyone, the Sinners would be the most likely to understand. I’ve known Diem forever. Our fathers brought us together via their friendship.

His dad, Frank, has always been a bit sketch, though. He clearly didn’t give two shits about Diem who often showed up at our house in hand me down clothes that were too big for his scrawny frame and an empty belly.

Hard to believe now with Diem’s strength but maybe he was compensating for what he didn’t have as a child?

Whatever. I refuse to feel bad for the boy who’s turned into a rotten man. He’s doing just fine now. Fucker.

“It’s um, nothing,” I say lamely.

Diem’s brows rise and he eyes me before crowding me into the wall.

I suck back a breath and pretend his stare isn’t doing crazy things to my insides, but it all shrivels when he says, “Maybe you just want more, hm?”

Really? I’m standing on the precipice of disaster, and he still can’t resist his arrogant shit? I know I’m being nonsensical because he has no idea what’s going on but still, the jerk could lay off for a fucking day.

My chest burns at his perfidy, and I scoff, slamming my palm into his chest. Immediately, he grabs it up and holds it there. I can feel his heart thrum beneath my fingertips and, of course, it scrambles my insides.

Am I pining after the dream or the ugly ass reality standing before me?

Cocking my head, I twist my lips into a macabre smile and say, “Were you ever real?”

He drops my hand, as though burned and says, “I’ve always been the real deal, sweet. You just never knew me.”

I guess that’s true and although it stings, I nod before stepping around him. Clearly the time for lying to myself is over. There’s far too much happening around me.

“I guess not,” I whisper, pausing when he says, “Mae?”

“What?”

He searches my gaze but right now, I feel so numb, I can’t imagine there’s anything to find. This must be why he settles for a shrug and says, “Nothing.”

With that, I walk away and when I’m in the parking lot, I raise my eyes to the sky. Whatever happens, I have to remember…the truth is always better than a lie. Right?

∞∞∞

Diem

Maeve’s troubled gaze pulls at the last of the tiny heart strings in my chest. She’s worried about something. Is it Dixie? I know she’s grieving. Dixie was a big part of her world.

Unfortunately, thoughts of Dixie bring up Willow’s anonymous gifts in the form of rabbit’s feet and I break out into a sweat. There’s no reason to believe Maeve would be targeted though. Willow’s sister was a victim and it’s likely she attracted the freak because of that.

Still, Maeve was close to Dixie which is why I’m keeping an eagle eye out. If that fucker comes anywhere near Maeve, I’ll hunt him fucking down like I suspect my dad did with the innocent and make him regret he was ever born.

Ramsay’s looking into everything from home but so far, we have no proof that his piece of shit dad was involved in anything more than the shit my dad seemed to be into. I haven’t admitted it to my brothers although it's probably not a mystery…I do think Frank could have been involved.

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