Page 102 of A Pretty Fixation

Her brown eyes begin to water, and she presses herpalm at my chest. “Caleb...”

I turn back to Dove’s grave. “I think even if youwere alive, I would still meet you to say goodbye. I’m letting you go finally,and I’m moving on with my life.” I linger in the spot to release the energy,then turn to leave.

“I’m sorry for judging you,” Jordyn says to thestone. “I’m sorry for thinking you hadn’t suffered, and for the moments Iwished you weren’t around because of my jealousy. Also…I forgive you for takingTaffy. I understand why you did it.” She swallows deeply. “Goodbye, Dove. Hopeyou’re at peace.” She lightly touches the stone before holding my hand, and wewalk back to the car.

Getting in, I ask, “Is there something specialabout Taffy?”

Jordyn’s quiet for a beat, then she shifts in the seatto face me. “It was my momma’s. When she left, I held on to it as if it washer. It gave me some form of comfort through my grandma’s abuse.”

“You keep saying she left,” I point out.

She looks down.

I touch her face, making her lift her eyes to meagain.

“She died.” Her voice is low and unsteady. “Iremember the darkest secret in my heart now, Caleb. Grandma said my mommadrowned in the bathtub, but it was a lie.”

“Jordyn...” I hold her, listening as she keepstalking.

“I was six. I never told anyone.” She clings tome. “I remember that night so clearly now. I heard noises—sounds of struggling.I climbed out of bed, calling for Momma as I walked down the hallway.” Herbreath hitches. “I remember water splashing. Then everything stopped. Grandmacame out of the bathroom. Her clothes were wet. Her eyes went wide when she sawme. She dragged me back to bed and locked me in the room. I waited all nightfor Momma, but she never came. In the morning, Grandma told me she’d drowned.”

Painful whimpers seep from her as she cries. “Ohgod… She killed her… She killed Momma… Caleb…”

I hold her tighter, whispering over and over, “I’mhere, baby. I’ll always be here.”

“Maybe Momma’s spirit finally got her back,” sherasps on my shoulder. “The day the police took me away, Grandma was about tobeat me with a fireplace poker when she had a heart attack and died. Sheprobably would have killed me.” She cries even more.

My tears fall while listening to Jordyn. Her painis bleeding out of her body. It doesn’t matter if her fingers are digging intomy back. She needs my comfort, and I’ll spend every second of my life giving itto her.

We start back to Hartford once Jordyn calms down.

Shefalls asleep and wakes up by the time we reach campus. I keep my arm around heruntil we get to my room, and we undress before climbing into bed, facing eachother.

“Today was heavy.” I trail my thumb along herjawline. “Are you all right?”

“Mmhm. You?”

“Yeah.”

She releases a long exhale. “I was thinking aboutwhat I said about taking a break.”

My stomach clenches at the thought. “Jordyn.”

“You’re right,” she calms me. “There’s nothingwrong with working on ourselves individually and still being in a relationship.I think it’ll make our bond stronger. That’s if you don’t mind all my messwhile I cope.”

“So long as you don’t mind mine as I do the same.I want to support you in any way that I can.”

“Me, too.” I discern her smile and her sparklingeyes in the shadows. “I love you, Caleb. With all my heart.”

“I love you, Jordyn. You’re mine, and I’m yours.No matter what you want, just say the word, baby, and I’ll deliver it withextra care.”

She chuckles softly, and the sweet sound soothesmy chest. “There is something you promised to do tonight after returning fromCoventry.”

“I figured all you need at the moment is for me tohold you.”

Jordyn hovers her lips near mine and whispers, “Ineed you to hold me and make love to me.”

“Well, as I’ve said, baby, whatever you want.”

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