Page 2 of A Pretty Fixation

“My next class isn’t for another hour. I’m meetingmy best friend, Scarlett.”

“It must be a relief to go to college with yourfriend.”

I shrug. “We planned on Delham together. We’vebeen friends since high school.”

“That’s great.”

He slows at the stairs and motions to go up. “I’mthis way.”

“Oh hey, let’s exchange numbers. We’ll plan whento work on the assignment.”

“Sure.” He hands me his phone, and I call mine.

“Catch you later,” I tell him afterward.

“That collision wasn’t so bad, huh?” Aaron says asI’m about to leave. “Hope you don’t mind that I’m glad it happened. Thanks toyou, I’m not nervous anymore.”

I smile back at him. “Well, I suppose it was agood thing then.” I wave and continue to the exit.

Stepping into the warm early September day, I findScarlett waiting for me.

“Hey, JD.”

She’s cute in a flowy top, jeans, and wedgesandals. Dark hair in a neat ponytail.

“What are you doing over here?” I ask.

“Wanted to check out the college store. Come on.”

Hooking her arm around mine, we proceed along thefootpath, heading in the direction of the café.

“How was your first class? I’m still pinchingmyself that we’re already in our second year.”

I giggle. “Crazy, right? The class was fine. Met anice guy.”

Her green eyes glow with sheer curiosity. “A guy?”

“Don’t get any ideas. Emphasis on just met.”

She huffs. “Anyway, how about a party later?”

I pause outside the café and turn to her. “Scar, Ihave work. Besides, weren’t you out all night? You still weren’t back when Ileft earlier.”

“I wasn’t partying, JD,” she argues. “I was withLogan. We’re going after you leave work. Logan’s frat is having a party to kickoff the start of the semester. It’ll be fun.”

“I’ll see how I feel later.” I turn too fast andbump into a solid wall of some sort.

Why does this keep happening?

“Whoa.” The deep voice prompts a shudder alongwith his touch on my arm as he steadies me.

Wanting to apologize, I ease back from his chestand glance up at the towering figure. The words freeze on my tongue the momentI lock with his hypnotic gray eyes. There’s a strange immediate pull,familiarity, but I doubt we’ve met. I would remember this guy.

He’s so impeccably handsome. He could pass for theyounger brother of Chris Pine, with tousled sandy blonde hair and aclean-shaved face.

A scowl slowly forms as he searches my featuresintensely. “God…it’syou.”

My brows fly up.

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