Free Crush by Caitlin Daire

turned back to him and wiped my eyes. “What is it?”
    “There was another attack on an Overton student last night. They still don’t have any suspects. When you go back, I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself after dark. Even in the late afternoon…please make sure you’re always with someone.”
    “I will, Dad,” I replied. God, another sexual assault. When the hell were they going to catch this guy?
    “If they don’t catch him soon, I’d like to discuss other colleges with you at some point. Anyway, go wash your face. I’ll see you downstairs,” Dad said, squeezing my shoulder.
    I went into the bathroom and stood in there for what felt like an eternity, splashing my face with cold water and staring at myself in the mirror. I still couldn’t believe how badly I’d snapped downstairs. Mom and Dad had always raised me to be polite and kind, and guilt over how I’d treated Karen tore at my insides, eating them up like a gutful of sharks.
    Despite how awful I felt about what I’d done, I felt a little better about my Mom for some strange reason. Getting all my emotions out to Dad must have been helpful. Still, I could have gone about it in a much more mature way, and I knew I was going to regret what I’d said and done for a long time.
    I splashed my face one more time and then looked back up in the mirror, and I saw Brad passing the bathroom in the reflection. He stopped for a second as he saw me. It looked like he was about to say something, but instead he pressed his lips firmly shut and continued on down the hall.
    Pushing the thought of him aside, I headed downstairs and quietly padded into the kitchen, where I found Karen wiping down the counter.
    “Hey, Karen,” I said. “I’m really sorry about that outburst. I was way out of line. It won’t happen again, I swear.”
    She wiped her hands on a cloth and smiled hesitantly at me. “Oh, Mia, hon, it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up. I understand. Things are really hard when you lose a parent at an early age, even when it’s been years since it happened. I know that because I lost my Mom as well, when I was only eleven.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry.”
    She put a hand on my arm. “If you ever want to talk about anything, I’m here, okay? I’m not trying to be your new mother or anything like that, but I do understand some of the things you’ve gone through, so I’m here if you need me.”
    “Thanks, Karen,” I replied. I felt like I was about to well up with tears again. She was being far nicer than I deserved.
    “Oh, and for your birthday dinner…I know you and your Dad have always gone to Vee, because that’s where you went with your Mom when she was still here. I told your father we could still go, and that I could just take my own food, and I’m still happy to do that if it would make you feel a little better.”
    Wow, she was way too nice. I’d thrown a childish bitch tantrum at her not even fifteen minutes earlier, and she was being so kind and understanding. No wonder my Dad loved her so much. She was a beautiful person, inside and out. Unlike me. I was a total cow.
    I shook my head. “No, then you’d be feeling left out while we all eat big burgers right in front of you. It’s fine. Café Amuse is nice, and Dad and I can always go to Vee another night.”
    “Are you sure? I hate to ruin tradition.”
    “Yeah, I’m sure. We can always make new family traditions on top of the older ones, seeing as you’re family now.”
    Her smile grew warmer and wider. “Thanks for saying that. Your Dad was right about you. He said you’re very wise for your age.”
    I laughed softly. “I’m not wise all the time, believe me. I think I proved that a few minutes ago.”
    She didn’t know it, but I wasn’t only referring to the immature tantrum I’d just thrown. I was also referring to how stupid I felt about crushing on her son, and how dumb I still felt for almost hooking up with him the night before she married my Dad. God, how