Run Away Baby

“Maybe some of my survival skills that I taught you really will come in handy, in case you’re on the run for a little while.”

Abby nodded. “Maybe,” she said. Did he think she was going to live in the woods, eating beans over a campfire like a hobo?

“All you need to work on doing is finding a way to get money without him noticing. You’re not going to be able to start over without money.”

“That’s true,” she said.

“A girl like you, with rich connections, it shouldn’t really be that hard, right? To come up with a lot of money?”

“Harder than you’d think.”

“Do you have stuff you can return to stores for cash?”

“Maybe.”

“Can you get some of your tuition money back?”

“I don’t know. That class is my alibi.”

“True. Forget that. Do you have jewelry you can sell? I’ll bet you have plenty of nice jewelry, right?”

“Probably. Good idea. I never thought of that. Then again, Randall might notice.”

“Can you ask for cash back when you buy stuff, and then pocket it?”

“A little, but he usually likes to look at all my receipts.”

“Okay. Well, keep thinking about this. We’re going to make this happen. Me and you.” Charlie got up from the couch, went into the kitchen, and gave Abby a kiss. But he wasn’t interested in having sex. Not even when Abby pointed out that it would be anniversary sex. He was too distracted by the plans in his head.

Chapter 24

All the sex Abby and Randall were having was taking a toll on her relationship with Charlie. They were coming up on their two month anniversary, and they’d suddenly hit a dry spell of no sex and little communication for ten days. She only had so much to give, especially since sex with Randall required props and backstories and costumes.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been more connected lately,” she told Charlie when he picked her up after class one day. “Let’s get back on track.” As soon as they had pulled away and were on their way to Charlie’s apartment, she pulled her skirt up, revealing one of her pairs of crotchless panties.

“Those are sexy. Listen: I figured out how you’re going to do it,” he said.

“Do what?”

“Get away from your husband.”

“That would be really great,” she said, smoothing her skirt back down.

“Do you like antiques?”

“Are you being sarcastic?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Oh. I thought you were talking about Randall. No. I don’t have any interest in Randall or other antiques. Why?”

“You need to get interested. As soon as possible.”

“Okay. Why’s that?”

“Because they sell plenty of antiques at that flea market on the highway, many of them are expensive, and they only take cash.”

“Interesting,” she said.