”“I suppose, then, I’m OK with your ‘Truth or Dare’ game, but I need to have final say over what is, and what isn’t, OK.”“Consent work... both ways!”“Yes it does! You’ve learned.”“It’s easy! It’s like a contract. It’s the love and friends and relationship stuff that I had no clue about.”“I’m glad you and your mom are developing a relationship. And I’m glad you’re going to Switzerland to spend a few weeks with her before you start college.”“How will this work once I move out?”“You’ll keep your. I wasn’t going to answer but then my mind started thinking that it might be important, or better yet it might be Anthony, the guy at the office I have been shamelessly flirting with for months. I reached for the jacket and pulled it off and fumbled around in the pockets trying to locate the phone, as I did I heard a metallic “Ting” as something hit the floor. I couldn’t see what it was and just then my fingers found the phone and I yanked it out. I looked at the screen, it was Julia. I flipped. .. at least for fifteen minutes, maybe even an hour. When we decided to go our own ways, I climbed into a taxi that had just appeared by the park. The driver was almost startled when I climbed in and spoke to him - in English.“The US embassy, please.”The poor guy just started driving, not really understanding that he had just blown his cover. Like that would matter any more?At the embassy it took almost half an hour of pleading and threats to get a secured line to States. I informed my ‘friend’. OOoThe move proved fortunate. A drinking fountain near an old campground provided much-needed water. There was also an unmanned lighthouse and outbuildings, but, otherwise, this tiny island appeared to be deserted. Sandi thought they were on Anacapa, the smallest of the Channel Islands.The sun was setting and the reflection on the water beckoned them to a large rock surrounded by tall grass, buckwheat, and yellow perennial flowers. The rock sat in the middle of what looked like a huge "U" shape.