Page 75 of A Pretty Fixation

“I don’t know. I guess I’m scared of taking theleap and having things blow up in my face.”

An idea comes to mind. I straighten, take my phonefrom my pocket, and press record. “Caleb Rosmond, why do you play soccer?”

He glances at me, and a grin emerges when herealizes I’m recording him.

“Uh…” He dips his head. When he looks up again,there’s so much joy in his gaze. “It’s freeing—one of the best feelings in theworld. Whenever I’m on the field, everything fades. All the hurt anddisappointments I experienced are gone, and I’m completely free. I have thishunger to go as far as it’ll take me.”

I end the recording there. My love for him hasgrown so much more in a matter of minutes. “Then what are you afraid of, huh?Don’t let anything stop you. Show everyone you deserve to be in a pro club.Blow their minds the way you continue to impress me.”

Caleb slowly turns his head from side to side,eyes glistening in the glow of the floodlights. “You’re a good cheerleader. Youknow that?”

I splay my hands. “Well, apparently, I’m yourgirlfriend. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”

He snorts and tugs me into his arms. “Spend thenight with me again.” He captures my mouth for an ardent kiss before I answer.Though, it doesn’t matter. I’ve plunged so far that it’s always going to beyes.

When the kiss ends, Caleb presses his foreheadagainst mine as he cradles my face with both hands.

“Tell me more,” I say in a near whisper. “Tell mesomething you haven’t shared with anyone.”

He eases away, holding my hand. “You want mysecrets, huh.”

“I just want to know every side of you.”

Leading me to the field, he pauses and turns toface me. “I only told you one thing back at the foster home. The rest are thedarkest parts of me.”

I drive my fingers through his silken hair andassure him, “I want those parts too.”

Hesitation flitters from his eyes. He draws a deepbreath and begins. “Remember I said my mom’s boyfriend was an abusive drunk?Well, one night, he’d passed out in our old armchair after beating me. Iremember this overwhelming feeling of rage while watching him.” He pauses amoment and swallows hard. “I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and stabbed himin his shoulder from behind.”

A gasp shoots past my lips.

“It wasn’t deep. My mom brought him to thehospital and lied that he’d fallen while cutting up something—I forgot what shesaid it was. Anyway, the wasted bastard couldn’t remember what had happened.But that didn’t stop him from accusing her, and he…beat her when we got back tothe trailer.”

He’s starting to tremble. I press my hand at hischest, feeling the quick thumping of his heart. “It wasn’t your fault. You werejust a kid in an awful situation.”

Caleb looks down at the grass. “There were so manytimes killing him had crossed my mind that I started to wonder if I was bad.”

“You’re nothing like that. I see you. You’re agood person.”

He lifts his head, a dark expression on his face.“You haven’t heard the rest.”

I gulp. “What else happened. You can tell me. Iwon’t judge.”

My heart skips a beat as he brushes aside my hairand caresses my cheek. “I don’t want to scare you from me, Jordyn.”

I shake my head. “You won’t. Tell me.”

Dropping his hand, he rakes his fingers throughhis hair and blows a sharp breath. “At fifteen, my girlfriend and I got into anargument. I...became angry over something she said and shoved her. It surprisedus both. As expected, she became afraid of me.” He looks away from my eyes asif ashamed. “I told my parents, and they got me into counseling. I still go. Ihaven’t had that feeling since then, though.” He meets my gaze again. “Doesthat frighten you?”

“No,” I say honestly. “You acknowledged the issueand got help. You’re not ignoring it.”

He reaches for my hand. “I promise I’ll never hurtyou. I swear it on my life. Do you believe me?”

“Yes.” I touch his face affectionately. “Thank youfor sharing those things with me. I know it was hard.”

He wraps his arms around me. “It wasn’t. You’reeasy to talk to, Jordyn.”

I peer up at him, wondering what he told Dove atthe foster home. “Um, what secret did you share back then?”

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