Page 126 of Diem

“Why are you showing me this?” I ask when Hailey grabs her phone.

“I’m not pregnant. I never was. I’ll give you one guess who wanted me to put it out there.”

“Diem?” I whisper.

“Score one for Gush. I don’t know what his deal is, and I don’t care about you, but I do want something and I’m willing to trade for it.”

“What do you want?”

“I want your daddy’s DNA.”

“Huh?”

“I think this is another lie. Just like all the others and I'm going to prove it,” she hisses.

“And in return?”

“It was your brother who told me to attack Penny at Fight Club.”

With that, she sails from the bathroom, and I stare after her with my mouth at my knees.

Ollie?

∞∞∞

By lunchtime, I’m itching to leave but I have nowhere to go. Home means facing off with my mom and possibly her skeevy lover.

I haven’t spoken to Matt and his gross words on the video don’t inspire me to seek him out. I’m confused by Hailey’s assertions of Ollie and sad in the face of Diem’s actions.

Every time I turn around, there’s more evidence of his behavior and yet I still give in when he pushes me.

Instead, I hide in the library and stare at my phone, wishing I could go back to my junior year. I would change everything from the night I came downstairs and found Diem playing poker.

Unfortunately, I can’t go back. The only way is forward.

“Hiding?” Diem says and I look up.

Although he has a devilish smirk on his face, there are storm clouds brewing behind his eyes.

“Am I a game to you?” I ask and he cocks his head.

“Sweet, you’re my everything.”

Choking out a laugh, I bat at my tears and say, “Cut the bullshit, Diem. You don’t want me. But you need me to think you do. Why?”

Diem crosses his arms and I admire the glorious sight before looking away when he growls, “What’s going on here?”

“Going on?” I say, standing. “I’m tired of whatever you think is happening. Just tell me the fucking truth!”

“The truth?” he rasps, leaning into my face.

“Yes!”

“The truth, sweetheart is that I hate you.”

I stumble back at his words, and he smiles. “I hate your silky hair and thighs. I hate your big eyes. I hate the fact that I can’t fucking breathe without wondering if you’re breathing too.”

He takes a step closer and grabs my chin. “I hate most of all that I can’t have you because you’re too fucking good for this. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you go. You want me gone. Say it.”

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