Page 19 of Burn With Me

Ten minutes later, I realize I don’t remember turning my car off or hanging up with Pam. I let Penny out to go potty and walk back out to the Jeep, and it is, in fact, still on with the door open, and Pam is still connected, even though she isn’t talking.

Gathering everything in the car, I say, “I’m alive and well, but I barely made it.”

She’s laughing so hard that she can barely say between breaths, “I can’t believe you forgot about me and the car. I can still hear the car running.”

“It was an emergency!” I yell into the phone. “I’m hanging up now. I’ll call you tomorrow. Just so you know, I hate you.”

“Byeeeee, love you,” she says, and I disconnect as I turn off the Jeep.

Penny walks up to me as I finish grabbing my stuff, and we walk back to the house.

Before I go in after Penny, I freeze with my hand on the door handle and have the strangest urge to look over my shoulder, which is weird because, of course, there’s nothing there. I walk into the house and shake my head as I remember to text Luke because if I don’t do it now, I’ll forget.

Me: I’m home safe and sound.

Thanks again for a great night.

Luke: I was getting worried. I’m glad you’re home safe.

It was my pleasure. Sleep well, Amelia, and I’ll see you soon. :)

I smirk at my phone as I plug it in, and then I undress. Penny jumps into bed, and once I lie down with the biggest smile on my face, ready to face the rest of the week, regardless of how busy it is, I think I just might be ready to maybe try this dating thing again.

Seven

The Stalker

Iwalk into my rental house and slam the door. My anger rolls off me as I pace.

Who does she think she is going out with another man?

She is mine. MINE.

There’s no way she saw me when she looked around her street. I’m too good at what I do. I’ve been watching her for months without her knowing.

For her to think she can live a happy life without me shows how fucking stupid she is. I was lucky that I was able to put the tracking device on her car before she came back out. She made it so easy too, just left the car running with everything in it.

Making my way to the kitchen, I realize I need to move my plan faster than originally planned.

Yeah, that’s what I need to do.

I’ll make sure she knows who she belongs to, and it isn’t that little fuck she went out with tonight or anyone else in this stupid fucking town.

I look through the cabinets for another bottle of whiskey because if I’m going to adjust my plans, I’ll need my good friend Johnny Walker to help me. I need to reach out to the guy I met at a bar outside of town who’ll be my in to do what I need to do.

I open the drawer next to the sink and pull out one of my extra burner phones to shoot off a text.

Me: You told me she was single. She was out tonight with another man.

We need to move the plan up.

Unknown: She hasn’t dated anyone in five years since she’s been here.

Who was she out with?

Deal is still the same even if it’s sooner?

Me: Yes.

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