I thought I found a way out

 "Don't use alcohol," Gabby said. She sprayed hair spray on Carrie's belly with the Sharpie tattoo and the ink started to run.

"Oh." Oliver nodded and said he should have known that.

"He was on the phone with Brick."

Carrie, like a little bird, knew all. Gabby only smirked as she got her cleaned up and promised her an animal cracker. It was dad approved. She'd gotten rid of all the Little Debbies, Oliver said they had too many calories and were bad for her teeth, as well.

"Why were you on the phone with Brick?" They went back to the hot tea which was barely warm now at her dining table.

"Oh, who knows," Oliver winced, but of course, he confessed how Brick was back with Lily. "And he's afraid she's lost her mind momentarily, or something."

Gabby watched Oliver talk with his hands. She found it kind of funny. She wondered why she hadn't noticed before. Maybe he was nervous around her.

"How's everything else going?"

"Oh, it's fine."

"Are you sure?" She wanted him to go on, but she rarely let him say much. She was like this when there was no one to talk to. She hugged herself.

"Well, I need new tires. But it'll be too much. And I can't afford that right now."

Oliver nursed his bottom lip as if he'd said too much.

"I could help," she told him she didn't have anything on her credit card except Netflix.

"Oh no," he cracked up. She knew that nervous laugh.

"Oh, Oliver," she smiled. "You were always so good to me. I didn't mean to take you for granted. You were nothing like the guy I was seeing back in high school. Granted, it was so unpredictable and probably more toxic than I want to admit, but.. but when you grow up that way.. well...."

Of course, the tears came uncontrollably. "If only, I'd know then what I know now." She did her best to breathe through the tears. He hugged her then and she managed to say. "Lets go to Wal-mart and look for tires."