Page 122 of How To Not Need You

He squeezes me tighter than normal. “Love you.”

“Love you too.” I pull away before he thinks this means I’m not mad anymore. It doesn’t.

Dad stands and puts his hands in his pockets. “See you this afternoon.”

“Okay.”

He starts walking away. I watch him for a second. He looks sad. Not crying sad. Dad doesn’t really cry. Just sad. I don’t like it. I don’t like Liv being gone. I don’t like Dad checking his phone all the time. I don’t like the house being different. And I really don’t like that nobody is fixing it. Grown-ups are supposed to fix things. That’s basically their whole job. Dad fixes broken taps and wobbly chairs and the stupid verandah step he keeps saying he’s going to fix but never does.

Mum fixes buttons when they fall off. Liv fixed my unicorn when its leg came off. But nobody is fixing this.

I turn and stomp into my classroom.

Fine.

I’m still mad.

I’m sitting on the swings by myself.

I’ve been by myself for most of lunch because I’m still in a bad mood and everybody is annoying today.

Even Ava.

She asked if I wanted to play families and I said no because I don’t want to play families when mine is being stupid.

I drag my shoes through the wood chips. Forward. Back. Forward. Back. The swing squeaks every time. I kick harder. Squeak.

Someone drops onto the swing beside me.

“Hi.”

I look over. It’s Leo. “I’m not talking to you.”

His forehead wrinkles. “Why?”

“Because.”

“Because why?”

“Because Liv and Dad are fighting.”

Leo stares at me. “What’s that got to do with me?”

I think about it. “Liv is friends with your mum.”

“So?”

“So you’re involved.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works.”

“It is.”

“Okay.” He starts swinging.

I keep swinging too. For a while neither of us says anything.

Then Leo says, “Adults are stupid.”