“And I left my phone and keys with him?”
“I said don’t worry.”
“Alright,” she said. She looked out the window at the fields going by. They turned to sprawling, edge of town businesses like home improvement warehouses, giant gas stations, an outlet mall.
“I mean it. Don’t worry about your stuff,” Charlie said again.
“I am worried. I think we should go back.”
“No,” Charlie said. “We’re almost to my place. Let’s spend a little time together. Don’t you miss me?”
“Yeah, I do. But what if Randall or Krissa calls me?”
“He’ll call me right away. If your phone rings, he’ll call.”
“He’ll call you from his own phone?”
“Yeah.”
“He won’t answer mine, right?”
“No, Abby. He’s not that stupid.”
“He won’t try to find my vehicle, right? He has my keys.”
“No. No way. He has his parts stand to run. He can’t walk away from it.”
“So what does he think is going on with us? This feels like a total mess.”
“He thinks you’re my girlfriend and you didn’t want to lose your stuff.”
“I feel really messed up right now. Leaving that stuff with him was a mistake. I don’t like this feeling at all.”
“Relax.”
“I can’t. And he’s so gross. I can’t believe you’re related to him.” She shuddered a little.
“You don’t have to be such a bitch about it. I can’t help who I’m related to. What is this? Guilt by association?”
“You shouldn’t call me a bitch.” She waited for him to say he was sorry but he didn’t. “Now I feel really bad,” she added.
Charlie turned down his street and put his hand on her thigh. She looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
“You don’t really care how I feel,” she said “You just want me to be fun. I should get over myself and be fun. I can tell that’s what you’re thinking. Admit it.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking,” he said.
“Tell me then. What are you thinking?”
“We could kill him.”
“Your cousin?”
“No! Your husband.”
“No. No way. I’m not a murderer.”
“I’m kidding. Cheer up.” He squeezed her thigh.