Page 11 of A Pretty Fixation

I cut my eyes to the grass. “No. I have no idea—”

“Stop pushing me away,” he clips, falling quietafterward. I know he’s staring at me because my body feels cornered in a sauna.How does he have such an impact on me when I don’t know him?

“Where did you go?” Caleb asks. “The people whoadopted you, are they kind?” He’s accurate about the adoption. Perhaps he’sright about us, too. “Tell me they are because if they hurt you, I’ll make themsuffer.”

I lift my head and meet his piercing eyes.

Something tells me he doesn’t bluff.

“My parents love me,” is all I say in a nearwhisper.

His shoulders relax, and he looks at the lights inthe shrubs. “Aren’t you going to ask about me? Or maybe I wasn’t as importantto you.” He looks at me again. “Is that why you forgot me?”

“I…” My lips quiver as I search for the words.Something is churning in my depths, a part that doesn’t want him in pain.

Head at an angle, Caleb studies me with a profoundfocus for a beat. “You really don’t… Fuck. You were eleven. How is it you don’tremember?”

“Therapy,” I deadpan. “Either way, I’m sure you’rewrong. That person you care about isn’t me.”

He stiffens his jaw. “I don’t believe that. I knowit’s you.”

Buzzing in my jeans pocket snaps me out of hisinvisible hold. I retrieve my phone and unlock the screen to read the text fromAaron.

Hey.

Areyou busy?

“Who’s that?” Caleb demands.

I cringe at his tone. “Excuse you? It’smyphone. It’s none of your business.”

“You are my business.”

My jaw drops when he grabs the phone and springsfrom the bench.

“What the hell!” I try to take it, but he holds itout of my reach while reading the text. “Give it back!”

“Who’s Aaron?” he asks with pure distaste. “Areyou seeing this guy?”

“Give me my damn phone!”

Caleb moves it before I grab it. “You’re not goingout with him or anyone else.” He types something, then presses more keys.

“What are you doing?”

I hear ringing in his pocket and realize that he’scalled his phone.

“Here you go,” he says, giving it back at last.

I snatch my phone from his hand and look at thetext he had the audacity to send to Aaron.

I’mseeing someone.

My head flies up. “What the fuck? You crossed aline. I’m blocking you.”

He sniffs. “It won’t matter because now that I’vefound you, I’m not leaving you alone, Dove.”

“Stop calling me that!” I snap from the burst ofunexpected hatred brought on by the name.

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