Page 74 of A Pretty Fixation

I pick up his birthday card and turn it over, readingthe message to myself.

Happy birthday to my best friend in the wholeworld. We’ll stay like this forever and ever.

My stomach twists into painful knots. I put thecard aside, push down the feeling, and flick through the drawings.

As I shift the final artwork out of the way,something familiar comes into view.

My breath hitches.

At the bottom of the box is the pale seashell withbrown and yellow splotches. This is the same shell from that day. Hestill has it.

I take it out and trace the texture with myfingers.

“You remember that?” Caleb asks in surprise.

I turn to him and nod. “Beach day.”

Laughter sputters out of him. “Yeah. We didn’t goback into the water because we got caught up looking for shells. This is thenicest one you found.”

He thinks this is Dove’s shell when it’s mine.

My eyes begin to water, and I press the tiny thingat my chest.

Caleb scowls. “Shit.” He wipes my cheek as a teardribbles down. “I’m sorry. This was a bad idea. I said we shouldn’t revisit thepast, and I showed you the box.” Maybe because in his heart, he truly wants meto remember. He wants Dove.

I sniffle and shake my head. “It’s okay. I’mokay.”

Composing myself, I place the shell back into thebox and close it.

Caleb straightens from beside me to set it intothe closet. When he steps out, I mosey over and lean into his body, wrapping myarms around him.

He embraces me in return. “You good?”

“Mmhm. I’m good with you.”

I want to stay in his arms forever. Just drown inhis intoxicating scent and the intensity of his existence.

Caleb doesn’t say anything else. He rests his chinon my shoulder and keeps holding me tightly.

Arriving back on campus, we stroll until reachingthe soccer field and sit in the stands.

“My next match is in New York,” he says. “So youwon’t be able to watch.”

“I’m sure you’ll do great. I expect anothervictory.”

He smirks. “Hope so.”

I notice he’s wringing his hands while staring atthe field. Something’s on his mind.

“Everything okay? You told me you don’t getnervous before games, so something else is bugging you. I can tell.”

He peers down for a beat before speaking. “Repsare checking out the matches. Rumor is they’re interested in me.”

“That’s major, Caleb.” I nudge his arm playfully.

“Yeah.” He straightens from the bench and combsboth hands over his head.

“What is it?”

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