Page 9 of A Pretty Fixation

Leave it alone.

It doesn’t matter if we knew each other back then.Caleb has to remain in the sealed box. I won’t let him bring me back to theawful time and destroy the blocks I’ve successfully built over the years.

“He showed up at your work?” Scarlett remarksafter I finish detailing what had happened. “Damn.”

“Yeah, I don’t know how he found out. He must havefollowed me from school.” I sigh heavily. “It can’t be a coincidence.”

“JD, are you sure you don’t know the guy? ThisCaleb seems certain.” She nudges my arm. “You told me you forgot a lot ofthings in therapy.”

My hair dances on my shoulders with the sway of myhead. “I don’t want to stir the pot. It’s better not to remember anything.”

After a long sigh, she drapes her arm around me.“Okay. Try to have fun tonight.” She shakes me playfully. “Please.”

I manage to smile. “I’ll try.”

We turn down the entrance of the frat house,passing several people on the lawn.

Bodies line the passage and stairs, and it’spacked in the living area.

The uptempo alternative pop-rock song,Halfby PVRIS, is on blast, hitting me in my bones.

I oddly find myself searching for Caleb, thinkinghe turned up here like at the bistro.

“There’s Nichole,” Scarlett yells above the music,waving to her third-year friend. She’s as hot as ever, in a yellowoff-the-shoulder mini dress that hugs her curves and emphasizes her gorgeousbrown skin, bronze shimmer on her arms and legs.

“Hey, babes!” Nichole raises her red solo cup,dark curls bouncing as she swings her body to the music. The guy dancing withher draws back her focus to devour her mouth. She grips his neck, enjoying it.

I’d love for someone to kiss me like that.

Caleb…

What? Why the hell am I thinking about kissinghim?

Scarlett snaps me out of it when she takes my hand,leading me through the crowd towards the opened patio door.

“Scar!” Logan calls out to her from the yard.

We mosey over, and she greets him with a kiss.

When the makeout ends, he acknowledges me. “How’sit going, Jordyn?”

“Good.”

“You girls want anything to drink?” He motions tothe keg on the table nearby.

“Sure,” Scarlett answers right away. “Whateveryou’re drinking.”

I refute the alcohol. “I’ll have soda. Thanks.”

Logan reaches a can of coke to me then fills a cupfor Scarlett.

We fall into conversation with his friends, and Irelax and put Caleb and everything he said out of my mind.

Everyone disperses soon after, veering back intothe house.

Logan pulls Scarlett into the crowd, and theyproceed to dance close, grinding on each other.

I wouldn’t say I’m a wallflower, but I don’t mindchilling in a corner alone, bobbing my head to the music while finishing mysoda.

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