Page 13 of A Pretty Fixation

We’re quiet until he speaks. “You’re a sophomore,right?”

“Yes,” I grumble. “You?”

“Junior.” He shoves his hands into his pockets.

I watch him out the corner of my eye, unable tostop the urge to talk to him. “What’s your major?”

“Architecture,” he replies.

“Good for you.”

“Thanks,” he says softly. “What’s yours?”

“Marketing.”

He nods. “That’s good, too.”

I sniff. “Thanks.”

He utters a deep chuckle. It’s hard to ignore howsexy it sounds. “See? Talking to me isn’t so bad.”

I roll my eyes and hug myself in the cool nightair.

But he’s right. I want to continue talking.“Anyway. I heard my boss mention soccer. You’re on the team?”

“Yeah.” There’s evident pride in his voice.“Forward. Do you know much about soccer?”

“Only that you’re supposed to score goals.”

That makes him laugh, and the sounds set offtingles in my body.

Yikes.

“Well, my job is to score a lot of goals. Youshould check out the matches,” he suggests. “Next Saturday is our firstqualifier. It’d make me happy if you came.”

I scoff. “Making you happy isn’t on my list ofthings to do. I don’t even know you.”

“You will,” he declares. “Soon, we’ll be makingeach other happy in every way possible.”

I click my tongue. “That’ll never happen. You needto let it go, buddy.”

“I used to dream about finding you,” he says,ignoring my words. “I’d play the conversations in my head. You’d ask me howI’ve been, how my adopted parents treat me, if I’m happy, and what I’m into.”

I slow to a stop and look at him.

Caleb stops walking as well, staring at me.

Though I may not remember him, in my heart, I feelhe needs this, so I allow him as much.

Facing him fully, I begin, “Did you grow up in ahappy home? Do you have siblings? I don’t. My parents spoiled me. We’ve gone ontrips and done a lot as a family. I love romance novels and movies. Horror ismy favorite genre. How about you? What are you into now?” I take a breath.“There.”

His head goes up and down slowly. “An amazingcouple adopted me. I have a sixteen-year-old brother. He’s adopted, too. I’mglad you can watch whatever you want now. You told me your mother didn’t letyou watch TV.”

I cringe. “That’s not true. I lived withmy…grandmother.” My breath hitches. “More proof that we don’t know each other.”

“Or maybe I got it wrong,” he argues. “It’s beeneight years.”

Doubtful, I suck my teeth. “Sure.”

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