I didn’t bother to say anything. There was no point when she was like this. I’d learned that the hard way far too many times. I’d get further by banging my head off a wall. Storming down the hall, I felt my coat flutter around me. The few people in the hallway gave me a wide birth, so I must have looked like I wanted to kill someone. My phone rang in my pocket, and I immediately groaned as I stared at Peter’s name.

Might as well get this done and over with, rip the bandage off in one go, so I hit the answer.

“Hi Peter,” I said after I pressed answer on the screen.

“Hi there, Babe,” he said, his voice cheerful, and I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it as if he’d just spoken another language. “You still there?”

I stopped just inside the doors and stared out at the dark sky. That was the thing I hated about winter. It wasn’t the cold, snow, or even the slush on the roads that made it a slow white-knuckle drive. No, it was how early it got dark.

“Yeah, I’m still here. I’m just trying to figure out why you’re suddenly in such a good mood. When I left your mother’s house yesterday, I didn’t think we’d ever speak again. I mean, I did tell you we were through, or did you not hear that part?”

“Things got out of hand, but I wanted to make it up to you. I know we haven’t been getting along much lately, but I miss how we used to be. Can I take you to dinner, and we can talk about us? I really don’t want yesterday to be the way we end things.”

Just end the torture. Just say, ‘nope, I’m sorry, but it’s not working for me. Don’t agree to dinner.’

“I guess I could do that. When did you want to meet?” Swallowing hard, I closed my eyes as I mentally punched myself in the face.

“I’m just around the corner. I was hoping you’d say yes. I’ll be there in five to pick you up,” he said. I looked down at the white blouse, navy pants, and plain pumps I was wearing.

“I’d need to get changed first….”

From the door I was standing next to, I could see his lights pull into the parking lot. “Don’t worry about it. We will go somewhere relaxed and casual. I’ll see you at the door. Talk in a minute, Babe.” The phone connection went dead, and every single one of my what-the-fuck synapses were firing on all cylinders.