"Hey, Kathy? Is everything all set for the sale?" I asked as I walked down the front stairs.
"Everything looks good. The house looks like it's in really good condition so it won't take long before someone snatches it off the market. Great neighborhood too so that'll help. Are you still sure you want to put it up?"
I sighed. How many times did she have to ask that question? Of course, I wanted it gone. I just needed her to sell it so I could put some distance between it and me. I had to get the hell out of this town before I lost my mind… or did something stupid like stayed for someone who obviously didn't want anything to do with me. I was sure he could do so much better anyway.
Stop it. It's time to go.
I sighed and realized how much I hated thinking about it. I needed to get the hell out of here. Now.
"Yeah, I'm sure," I said as I opened my car door. "Just get it sold as quickly as possible, okay? How long do you think that's going to take?"
"At least a few weeks? I can start showing it this weekend if you'd like."
"Do it. Please. If you need anything else call me. I'll be on the road for a while so if I don't respond then I'll be back to you as soon as possible."
"Alright. It was good to chat again, Joanne."
"You too."
I hung up and spared one last glance at the house. So many memories had happened behind those walls and I was never going to see it again. My heart sank a little, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Or at least I hoped it was. There wouldn't be any going back when it was done.
I slid into the car and closed the door behind me without looking back. Once I started driving my stomach twisted and it took everything in me to keep driving. My hands gripped the wheel so hard that my knuckles turned white.
Quickly, I stabbed the radio button. Once music came over the speakers I sang along and tried to make myself calm down.
I would be home soon enough and things would be back to normal. It was nice to mess around and play pretend for a while, but of course, reality came to smack me in the face. That's how it always happened.
I glanced up as I heard the sound of a siren blaring behind me. Lights, blue and red, flashed through my window and I frowned. A cop? I glanced at my speedometer but I wasn't even doing five over the limit. I groaned and pulled over anyway.
My purse was on the floor and I scooped it up into my lap. Once I had my license and registration in hand I rolled down the window and held them out of it. I couldn't believe I got pulled over.
"Is something wrong, officer?—Peter!"
Peter glanced into the car and smiled at me.
I blinked. I had to be out of it right? Was I still asleep somewhere and this was some weird parallel universe? I had no idea what the hell was going on.
"What are you doing?" I asked when I regained my composure.
"I needed to talk to you."
"You could have called me!"
"I tried that but you wouldn't pick up the phone."
Oh… I must have missed it. Still, did he have to pull me over to get his way? I climbed out of my car and he stepped back. He waved and I noticed the Sheriff wave back to him. I sheepishly waved a hand.
"You got the sheriff to pull me over just so we could talk?" I hissed. "What if something happened and he's wasting his time with this?"
"A—Nothing bad ever happens in this town. You're insane. B—A waste of time? No, this is far from a waste of time. It's what both of us needs and I wasn't about to let you get away without talking to me first."
I crossed my arms over my chest. "What do you want to talk about?"
"I want to talk about you. Us. Everything."
My stomach was filled with butterflies. I tried to keep my voice straight, but it was a struggle as I nodded slowly at his request. Peter reached out and grabbed my arms before he pulled me closer to him. My body lit up, flames and sparks that ignited me when all he did was touch me. I'd never had that with anyone else before.
"What about us?" I asked quietly. "I need to get on the road."