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I didn’t take it.

But Mum didn’t deny it.

I got up and gently put my plate on the kitchen counter by the sink, willing my hand not to shake as I did.

Usually, I would clear all the plates and do the washing up for Valerie to ease her load. But I couldn’t. I needed to leave.

I kissed each of the twins on the head, doing my best to offer each of them a smile before I gathered my things.

I’d always known she thought that way, but she’d never spoken her opinion so blatantly.

“Jesus, Vera.” Rome hissed as she stood, her chair sliding back with a groan as she stood to follow me outside.

“What?” Mum groaned again.

“Mum, what the hell?” I heard Sammy’s voice last as I shut the door on my way out.

I could feel Rome beside me. I could tell she was watching me with concern. But I busied myself in my handbag, rifling through it and looking for something to occupy my hands. I found my compact mirror first and I opened it, bringing it to my face and cleaning up the invisible line of long-gone lipstick and then smoothing down my hair.

“Zar, you know none of that is true. Right?” Rome said gently.

I ignored her question, pulling out a lip gloss and painting my lower lip with it, ignoring the way my hand shook.

“You’re smarter than people give you credit for. Vera just doesn’t see it.”

“I know that, Rome. I’ve known that since I was a child. It’s fine.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

I slapped the compact mirror shut and shoved it back in my bag.

“Well, I am,” I forced a smile. “Thank you for standing up for me, though. You really have no idea how much it means to me.”

“Of course,” she shrugged, shaking her head. “I’m always looking for an excuse to argue with Vera.”

I chuckled at that.

“Really, though. I’m fine. I just need to get away from her right now.”

Rome nodded, gesturing towards my car.

I waved a quick goodbye, but she stayed by the front door, still watching me. If anyone had any idea about what was going on in my head, it was her. Maybe she understood, to some extent, as she had ended upmarriedto her enemy.

Or maybe, Rome trusted me to make my own decisions. She would be the first.

* * *

I ended up on the highway. My body had gone on autopilot and I’d been driving around East Melbourne for nearly an hour.

When I eventually calmed enough to loosen my vice-grip on the steering wheel, I slumped back into the seat and turned the music up to drown out any thoughts that might come up.

I didn’t want to think anymore.

The clubs weren’t open yet. I didn’t feel like going to a pub. I didn’t particularly feel like hanging out with Larissa long enough to invite her.

Maybe she’d been right, though. Maybe I did need a hobby. Because all I could think about was either going out to party or going to the shop to find something to organise or clean.

“Hey Siri,” I said out loud instead. “Give me directions to Graze Ink.”