Page 47 of Diem

She shrieks, I shrug and thankfully I’m able to leave unmolested.

At home, I sneak up the stairs before pausing at my parents’ room. It’s empty. They’re not home. Did they go somewhere together or are they out fucking separately?

Tired of my grim thoughts, I make my way down to the spare room and close the door behind me. It’s probably pathetic to admit but my room reminds me of my life, and I want no part of those memories invading my space.

Maybe I can convince Mom to let me move in here? I guess if nothing else, I can blackmail her. Ha.

∞∞∞

The next day, I’m at my wits end. My parents continue to fight over stupid shit, and despite Ollie’s cold behavior, it’s lonely without him home.

I’ve circled the drain of possibilities over my dad, and I keep coming back to the painful truth. I just don’t know what to do about it.

Although his affair with Dixie doesn’t make him a killer, there’s a boulder in my stomach telling me I can’t avoid the possibility.

But how do I prove it? Can I?

At school, all anyone can talk about is Hailey and Jaxon getting back together, which doesn’t bother me beyond that I’d rather not hear about either of them at all.

Matt finally thawed which I assume is in direct correlation to my breakup. He still doesn’t know the particulars which is why I feel bad when he’s extra solicitous as though my heart might be hurting.

The subterfuge is exhausting but I have a feeling he’d be even more angry if he knew I did it to get back at Diem. Yes, I told myself this was for Hailey but whatever.

I can’t hide from my own truth. Right?

Gah.

The week flies by and I end it with a bang. I failed another test. This time because I couldn’t fucking concentrate. I don’t suppose blaming my distraction on my dad and the specter of him being a creep could get me out of this one.

Yeah, not so much. It’s only a matter of time before my mom’s all over me again which is why I eagerly agree to a party when Harriet suggests it. She’s been a little cool since the fiasco at the beach house where Matt was all over me. Although I feel bad, I can’t control how Matt acts.

“So, where’s the party?” I ask as soon as I’m in the car.

“That beach house, remember?” she says, looking at me sideways.

“Oh yay,” I say with a weak smile, and she chuckles.

“Should be cool.”

Feeling marginally better at her smile, I hum under my breath. I’m determined to set aside the bullshit rolling around in my head if it kills me.

Except while Harriet checks her reflection in the mirror, a text comes through, and my stomach sinks to find a text from Penny.

I’m sending you the exchanges with Dr. Love

The greater part of me wants to refuse because I’m not sure I can take any more revelations, but I concede this could exonerate my dad from being a killer if nothing else.

K

After that, I set my phone aside. There will be plenty of time tomorrow to deal with Dr. Love…ugh.

The party is jamming when we arrive, and I follow Harriet up the path with a little surge of butterflies. Will Diem be here?

Last night, during a text exchange with Matt, he mentioned Diem again and I can’t help but consider his words from the party a while ago.

Why did my questions about Kenny inspire him to warn me away from Diem? What’s the connection?

I may never know because as soon as I started to ask him questions last night, he shut down, leading me to wonder why he mentioned him at all.

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