Page 106 of Fourth Point Of Contact

Patrick

Send reinforcements.That could be arranged. No, I was not the ideal candidate for his mother, but hell, I could play the part of his loving girlfriend and help get his mother off his back. And in the meantime, I could escape the city for some much-needed perspective.

I actually looked into applying for a permit yesterday to sell pretzels on the street. Desperation was not a good look on me. So, I pulled out my bag and packed for a week. I had no idea how long it would take to get his mother off his back, but I would give it my best effort. Maybe I’d even get to have some life-altering sex while I was there.

“Where are you going? Did you get an apartment?”

“Nope. I’m going to Kansas.”

She gasped behind me. “Surely, things aren’t that bad.”

I smirked at the horror in her voice. “Patrick’s mother is there and she’s threatening to set him up with women.”

“Why?”

“Something about a cow porn stash.”

It was so silent that I turned around to see her reaction. It was priceless. “And you’re going? Girl, you cannot hook up with a man who wants to fuck a cow!”

“Trust me, he doesn’t,” I laughed. “Besides, I’m only going so I can get away for a week. The city is starting to get to me. I need a new perspective.”

“And you think Kansas is the place to do that? Seriously, go to New Jersey or something.”

“No, this is the right thing to do,” I said with a nod. I was positive about it. “Besides, maybe I’ll get lucky and have another round of amazing sex.”

“If you say so. But girl, seriously, Kansas?”

“It’s a short trip. Besides, it’s not like I’m moving there.”

“Thank God because I am not driving out there to visit you in the land of corn.”

“I’m not sure it’s the land of corn.”

“It might as well be!”

I rolled my eyes at the absolute astonishment in her voice. If ever there was a woman who didn’t belong in the middle of nowhere, it was Jeanie. “I’m looking forward to this getaway. There’s nothing that puts your life in perspective like going somewhere boring.”

“You already did that, remember? Hello! You went missing for three days.”

“With the bear,” I added, even though she didn’t believe me.

“Piper, seriously, I’m begging you not to go.”

I zipped up my bag and turned to her, taking her hand in mine. “I swear to you, I will return in one week and still be the same woman. I will not let Kansas change me.”

Tears filled her eyes as she ducked her head. “I don’t think I could stand it if you moved to Kansas.”

“Neither could I, which is why I’m only packing one bag.” I picked it up and headed for the door, only realizing right then that I didn’t have a plane ticket or anything else that might actually get me to the airport. Oops. Guess I was a little too excited about the trip.

As I turned directions, Jeanie sighed in relief. “Oh, good. You’ve changed your mind.”

“Nope. Just thought it might be helpful if I had an actual plane ticket. Don’t want to end up in the woods again.”

She sighed and flopped down on the couch. “Seriously, when are you gonna let that go? You know, it’s not nice to lie to people.”

“When are you going to believe me? It’s not nice to accuse people of lying.”

She didn’t have a response for that, which I was perfectly fine with. I knew my adventure was less than believable, but I hated that she wouldn’t even consider that it really happened.

---