“Yes. On the other side of the world, a whole ocean away from your folks’ reach,” she added with a satisfied smile. She pushed the laptop in Kim’s direction and a flood of stunningly picturesque images filled her vision.

She knew Italy was beautiful. Her family had visited Venice once when she was six or seven and Kim had always wanted to go back. She remembered Gloria being annoyed with her because all she wanted to do was chase around after the pigeons in St. Mark’s Square.

She flicked through the on-screen images of picture-postcard scenery: blue skies, historical sights, twinkling water and impossibly pretty villages, each one more appealing than the last.

The idea of running away to such a place was unbelievably alluring. Not to mention romantic.

“Looks incredible...” she muttered, as she continued her search.

“Good place to hide away for a while and maybe get your bearings?”

“Yes, but there’s no way I can go.”

“Why not?” Natasha challenged. “No one has to know and I certainly won’t tell. What’s stopping you?”

“How am I going to pay for it? If I use the Amex, Mom and Dad will know and they’d be on the next flight to drag me back before I even arrive,” Kim pointed out.

Or more likely, have someone else do it. Her driver, probably.

“Not if you pay with mine.” Natasha grabbed her purse and pulled out the little magic black rectangle.

Kim took the credit card from her friend and turned it over in her hands. She bit her lip. Could this tiny piece of plastic be the key to her escape? She grinned.

“How much can I spend?”

“Whatever you need,” Natasha answered airily, as a satisfied grin spread across her face. “No one’s going to check. I can cover your flight, hotel—everything. You’ll need some cash for spending, though, or else your parents will be able to track you.”

Clearly Natasha had been watching too much true crime on TV again, but Kim was thankful. If she did go ahead with this then she couldn’t take the chance that her parents would find out.

“OK, but just coach flights, and nowhere expensive, OK? And I’ll pay you back.” She knew the money wouldn’t matter to her friend but it did to Kim.

If this was going to be about finding her own way, then she needed to get her priorities straight from the get-go.

“Great! So let’s find you someplace to stay,” Natasha practically sang as she pulled the laptop closer. “Italy’s a big country. Where would you like to go?”

“I don’t know. Does it matter? Isn’t the point of an escape to just go and see what happens?” Kim pointed out.

“Pin the tail on the donkey then,” Natasha laughed.

“What?”

“On the map. Just close your eyes and pick a spot,” she insisted.

Kim looked at her skeptically. “Seriously?”