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“Because…because she’s mean.”

“Has she been mean to you?”

“She does not even talk to me.”

“Exactly. So why do you think she’s mean?”

“Everyone at W&S thinks she is.”

“I am not going to dig into everyone’s reason for thinking that. I am asking about yours.”

“Well…Dad hates her.”

“You are not your dad, Genevieve.”

“Whoever Dad hates, I hate. It is that simple. We’re one like that.”

“Is that why you have not visited him in a week?”

She jolts at that, her lips clamping shut. So, I was right. She’s been avoiding him or her feelings about what happened to him.

Silence stretches between us for long moments and only the sound of the boiling water can be heard in the air.

She clinks her nails in that fast, manic way that betrays her inner turmoil.

“Answer me, Genevieve.”

“I…just got busy with the internship. I’ll do it later.”

“Later when? Tomorrow? Next week?”

“Just later.” She turns to leave, probably to go hide in the nearest closet.

“Stop.”

She flinches, her nails still clinking together,