Page 44 of A Pretty Fixation

Aaron lifts his gaze then. “I don’t consider itstuck, Jordyn. I didn’t mean for it to sound like that.”

“No, it’s okay. I deserve it for what happened onSaturday. I just lost all thought with...”

“I understand,” he mutters. “Caleb got to you.”

I stick a loose strand behind my ear and shift abit to him. “I’m sorry, Aaron. I thought hanging out with you would take mymind off him. But I couldn’t let it go. I feel…something with Caleb. It’s notfair to you.”

He runs his finger along the edge of his desk. “Aguy like that will hurt you, Jordyn. Don’t let him.”

I lean my head to one side. “What about a guy likeyou?”

“I would never hurt you,” he says with a seriousexpression. “I’d always make you smile. You didn’t give me a chance to show youthat.”

I look down.

“Let’s not be awkward,” he implores. “I still wantto be friends. How about you?”

That puts a smile on my face, and I lift my headand tell him, “Sure. I’d like that.”

He smirks.

Silence lingers between us while we wait for theclass to begin.

“Oh, I got a job,” he informs me.

“Great. Where?”

He hesitates a moment before answering. “Uh,assistant for the soccer team.”

I gulp. “Really? Aaron, you know….”

“I know,” he says and shrugs. “It’s all I can findat the moment. If something better comes up, I’ll move on.”

“Okay,” I murmur, worried about how Caleb willreact when he sees Aaron on the field.

“There’s a party tonight in the woods,” Scarlettsays as she lowers across from me. Nichole settles beside her.

I crease my forehead. “The woods? That soundssketchy.”

“Frats throw parties there all the time,” Nicholeexplains. “It’ll be fun.”

“Yeah, want to check it out, JD?” Scarlett asks,retrieving her sandwich from the paper bag.

“Um, sure.” I return to the book I’m reading onthe kindle.

Nichole gasps suddenly.

As I’m about to look back at what caught herattention, Caleb lowers at my side, the usual smirk on his face.

My damn heart increases tempo.

“Hey.” He flicks away to acknowledge my friends.“How’s it going, Scarlett? You’re…”

“Nichole,” she introduces herself, cinnamon-browneyes sparkling. “Nice to meet you.”

Refocusing on me, Caleb glances at the kindle andasks, “What are you reading?”

It takes a moment for me to escape his vampiricspell. “Romantic comedy. You wouldn’t like it.”

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