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“I know, I’m just so worried.”
    “I know, Gina, but she’s strong. Like you.” I could hear him smiling and I could imagine her smiling back. A second later I heard him humming and the shuffling of feet as they danced in the kitchen and mom laughed softly.
     
    ***
     
    By Sunday night I was so ready to get back to school I almost stole my mother’s car to drive back myself. She worked the night shift managing the bakery at a grocery store, so Dad drove me back early Monday morning before he had to work.
    “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
    “Yeah, Dad. I’ll be fine.” I barely put any effort into saying it.
    “You know you can talk to me about anything, right Katiebug?” I cringed at the nickname.
    “Yeah, Dad. I know.” Been there, said that. All he and Mom had done was talk at me. Not to me. They’d lectured me, even though they said they weren’t going to do that. They were parents and they had to do their thing. The problem was that everything they said I’d said to myself at least a hundred times. They also got me appointments with a therapist back at school and there was no way I was getting out of that because they were going to call and check after every session.
    Mom also couldn’t hide that she was devastated about Zack. He’d charmed her, and that was going to be a hard habit to break. She wouldn’t shut up about how every time he brought me flowers before a date, or chocolates, he’d bring her a little something. She thought it was sweet. I saw it for what it was. Buttering her up so she wouldn’t mind when he brought me home late, or decided to spend the night. At the time I hadn’t cared.
    Dad gave me a huge hug when he dropped me off, being careful not to hold me too tight. He had to bend down pretty far.
    “Call me tonight, Katiebug. I love you.”
    “Love you too, Dad.”
    I glanced up at the dorm and realized I didn’t want to go in. Just moments ago, I’d been so eager to get back, but now that I was here, I wanted to be anywhere else.
    A few people walked by me on their way to and from breakfast or class. Some of them were laughing, and all of them looked so free. Careless and young.
    I felt old and bitter. God, what had happened to me? Just a few months ago, all I’d been thinking about was how great college would be, how much fun I’d have and how many parties I’d go to. Now it all seemed…pointless. A few of them glanced at my face, which was still splotched with bruises that I hadn’t bothered to use makeup on.
    Turning from the building, I got my keys out of my purse and headed for my car. I was still stiff and my face was anything but pretty, but he wouldn’t care. I needed to see him.
    I didn’t even know if he would be home, but his current car project was parked in the driveway. I walked up the porch and banged on the downstairs door. He shared the entrance with the tenant on the first floor, but I’d never seen or heard anyone coming or going.
    It took two tries before the door opened.
    “You’re back.” He was just pulling a shirt over his head, so I must have woken him up. His hair was all over the place and it made me think about sex.
    “I didn’t mean to wake you up. I just wanted to see you.”
    “Come in.” He waved me in and we walked up the stairs as he wiped his eyes and yawned.
    “Late night?”
    He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Something like that.” The way he said it made me uneasy, and I didn’t know why.
    “How are you feeling?” he said as he opened his front door. I shrugged as an answer.
    “My parents are making me see a therapist,” I said.
    “I figured,” he said as he shut the door behind me. I’d been here before, but I hadn’t really been paying attention to the room at the time.
    The space was wide and open, almost like a loft. Only furniture separated the living room from the kitchen and dining area. Two doors at the other end of the room were his bedroom and bathroom. Stryker had a sparse style