Mistakes Were Made

by Meryl Wilsner

“Babe! Happy graduation!” Cassie didn’t even let herself enjoy the joy in Erin’s voice. “Erin, are you fucking serious? You bought me a bike?” The words came out with about five question marks after them. Cassie just couldn’t believe it. Obviously Erin was rich, but—this was a multi-thousand-dollar present. Erin was significantly quieter when she responded than when she’d picked up the phone. “Is that too much?” It was, but how the hell could Cassie say no? “Parker said it was a lot,” Erin kept talking, “but I told her graduating was a lot, and I bet she wouldn’t be so skeptical when she was the one getting the graduation gift. I just—I wanted to get you something you needed, and it was basically this or a couch for your new place, and it’s not a big deal to get a used couch but I didn’t want you on some old motorcycle that was gonna fall apart on you. You don’t have to—” “I fucking love it.”