Page 14 of A Pretty Fixation

“Horror is my favorite too,” he continues. “Asidefrom soccer, I like hanging out with friends.” He steps forward a bit. “I wantto talk like this every day. I want to know everything, Jordyn. I want to knowwho you are now, and I want you to remember me.”

Caleb lifts his hand to reach for my hair.

I stagger back. “Why won’t you get it? I’m nother.”

“You said you don’t remember,” he points out. “Tryto revisit that time. You’ll find me there.”

“Fuck no.” I splay my hands. “I blocked everythingin therapy, and I don’t want to go back.”

He huffs. “But you could block the rest and leavethe parts with me. Can’t you?”

“It’s not as easy as you think,” I snap. “I triedtoday and ended up pushing myself out before I scraped the surface.” I wobblemy head, stating firmly, “It’s not worth it to disrupt the peace.”

“Not worth it?” Caleb grinds through clenchedteeth and presses his hand at his chest. “I’m not worth it?” He edges closeragain. “It was me you clung to whenever you were hurting. For an entire month,you leaned onme. I gave you the last bit of light I had after my abuseand used it to comfort you.”

Well, damn. His connection to Dove is that deep?

My lips tremble. “I don’t….”

“Right.” He utters a sarcastic snort. “You don’tremember. Well, I want back what we hadandmore.” He trails his eyesover me. “Since we’re older, we can cling to each other in more pleasurableways.”

I move back from him. “So that’s it. You want tofulfill some sick pre-teen fantasy.”

A gasp rushes out when he closes the space andclutches my arms. “There’s nothing sick about it, Jordyn.”

I should break away and run, but some twistedforce holds me in place, stirring shivers as Caleb glides his right hand up myarm to my neck, brushing his thumb over my pulse point. “But you have been thestar of my fantasies. I want to share them with you.”

“Ugh!” I stumble back and hug myself, feelingexposed under his unsettling gaze. “Perv.”

His chest rumbles with a teasing chuckle. “Intime.” He glances over my shoulder. “Thanks for showing me your dorm.”

I spin to look at the building. “Shit.”

“See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Jordyn.” He walksaway, receding into the shadows.

Who is this guy, and how is he able to provokesuch intense emotions in me?

Vibrations drag me from the wildest sex dream.

I slide my phone from under the pillow, squintingat the text from Caleb.

Favoritehorror movie?

It’s as if he has supernatural powers and knowsI’m dreaming about him.

I don’t even have an explanation for not blockinghis number like I said I would.

Rolling over, I glance at Scarlett, fast asleepand snoring. I’m sure she needs a few more hours, considering she came backlate.

My phone vibrates again. This time it’s a messagefrom Aaron.

Couldwe start the econ assignment?

I frown at Caleb’s reply to him the night before.Aaron never asked if I was seeing anyone. But now he thinks I am.

Caleb’s intense gaze seeps into my head.

Dammit.

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