Mistakes Were Made

by Meryl Wilsner

wasn’t typically a cougar hunter

Cassie felt—loved. Or something. It was gross.

“Good morning,” she said, offering the mug. “I poured it when I heard you coming downstairs.” It looked like it had exactly the right cream-to-coffee ratio. Cassie’s chest felt warm.

But some days—this day—everything was blue sky. Like there were wings on her shoulders instead of the weight of the world.

Cassie wasn’t pathetic enough to say her heart skipped a beat, but—well, it was something.

“You’re exceptionally uncool, you know that?” Acacia said. “I do, thank you.”

“Ever get sick of hanging out with a bunch of girls?” Cassie asked Caleb. “Not really, no,” he said. “And Madison’s genderqueer.” “Sorry, Madison,” Cassie said. “I literally couldn’t give a fuck,” Madison said.

Erin would never try to talk to her about Social goddamn Security before 10 A.M.

But Cassie was still looking at Erin like she put the stars in the sky.

“Sometimes we have to do things that make us uncomfortable for people we love.”

She talked over Fitz, who was saying something dumb on the computer.

“What’s up, doc?” Erin rolled her eyes. Hard. “Never say that again, Cassie.”