Page 10 of A Pretty Fixation

A cute guy eyes me a few feet away. He doesn’twaste another second and walks over.

“How’s it going?” There’s a noticeable stench ofalcohol and weed on his breath, and his dark eyes appear hazy.

“Hey,” I say in a polite tone.

He wets his lips while carrying his gaze over me.“You’re hot.” He squints at my soda. “Want a real drink?”

“No thanks.”

He sniffs. “Come on, sexy. I even have somethingelse that’ll help you relax.” He slides a bag of weed and blue pills from hispocket.

“Look, I’m all set.” I twist to walk away, but hestretches his hand out to stop me.

“How about a dance then?”

“I’m not—” Someone zips over in a flash,preventing me from finishing the sentence.

A shudder rocks my body when I realize it’s Caleb.

“What’s your prob—” The guy clamps his mouth shutas Caleb steps into his face. The veins in his neck are bulging. He’s at leasttwo inches taller and more intimidating.

“Mine,” he growls, and that gives me naughtychills when I should probably run.

I don’t blame the guy when he starts to coweraway. “Yeah, sure. Sorry, man.” He moves back to his friend.

Caleb turns to me, looking like a predator fixedon its prey and biding its time before the attack. The hard-driving upbeat songadds to the intensity.

“Are you all right?” he checks, still breathingdeeply.

“I’m fine,” I grit. “Did you follow me here?”

He smirks. “I will from now on. I’ll follow you tothe end of the earth.”

“Ugh.” I attempt to get away from him.

Caleb grasps my hand.

“What the hell,” I grunt.

“JD?” Scarlett calls out to me, a scowl on herface.

Caleb slants and yells to her, “Privacy, please.”Then he starts pulling me away.

I glance at Scarlett. She gives me a shrug andreturns to dancing with Logan.

Oh geez, best friend.

But his touch… Why does it feel so good? Like anelectrical surge. Holy shit.

Caleb leaves my soda can on the kitchen counterbefore hauling me outside and across the yard, setting me down on the bench.

It’s a chill spot, with wire lights creating a dimambiance. No one’s crowding it.

I’m about to stand, but he sits beside me andholds my arm, keeping me in place. “I just want to talk.”

“You should have asked because I don’t want totalk to you.”

His gaze darkens. “You remember the name. Don’tyou, Dove?”

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