Crush

Free

Asher

Question after question.

Did I have anything to do with my dad's business?

Was I aware that my dad was taking bribes?

Was I aware that my dad was giving bribes?

How much about my dad's campaign did I know?

I knew nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Would I be happy to share my medical records with the police?

Would I be happy to go to court?

The questions didn't stop.

I sat on the sofa in the living room, my arm around my sister as the detective bade us farewell and walked out of the room towards the front door.

Aaliyah let out a sigh. "Why do they keep asking the same things?" She flopped back on the sofa.

I didn't think the severity of the situation had really hit her. She seemed ... okay about everything. Okay that Dad had been taken away. Okay that she wasn't going to school. Okay to be interviewed over and over again by the police.

Just ... okay.

"They have to be sure before they can take this to court." I looked down at my hands. Hands that couldn't stop shaking. Hands that had to still hold a pen to complete exam papers. Hands that had to suddenly take up the role as man of the house.

"Do we have to go to court?" Aaliyah sounded ... curious. Not worried at all.

I shook my head. "No. You don't. Your statement will be used as evidence. That's all."

"Do you have to go to court?"

I nodded. I did. Because I was eighteen, I was classed as an adult and was asked repeatedly if I would be okay to attend court. To face my attacker.

Because that was what my dad was.

My attacker.

"That sucks." Aaliyah switched on the TV.

Yeah, it sucked.

It sucked that dad was dishonest.

It sucked that he used other people's money to line his own pockets.

It sucked that he'd dragged us down with him.

It sucked that he was never a father to his kids in the first place.

I sighed and glanced at the door.

Because Dad was no longer in the house, I was free. To leave the house. To find my car keys. To drive.

To see Oliver.

But I was scared.

What if he didn't want to see me? It had been a couple of months since we'd last seen each other.

What if he'd moved on? He was a handsome guy.

He'd gotten pretty cosy with Nick the Prick before ... What was to say that they weren't dating right now?

"Hey, Aaliyah." I glanced at my sister. She raised her brows at me. "Can I borrow your phone?"

She frowned. "Where's your phone?"

"I don't have one."

"What?" She looked at me incredulously. "Yeah, you do."

I shook my head. "No I don't. Haven't had one for months. Dad took it off me."