Page 98 of A Pretty Fixation

“Jordyn—”

“It’s okay. I understand.” I release his hand. “Imay need some time, too. To deal with everything.”

His gray eyes wilt. “Are you saying you want abreak from our relationship?”

“I think it’s best right now. We both have a lot goingon. Maybe for the rest of the semester, we should—”

“No,” he stops me, expression stern.

My brows fly up. “No?”

“You heard me. We’re not taking a damn break. I’mdriving to Coventry on Wednesday. When I get back, I’m taking you to my bed,and I’m going to spend all night making love to you and showing you how much Iwant you.”

I gulp. “Caleb…”

“Shh.” He cloaks me in his arms again. “How areyou? I’m sorry you had that terrible moment and that you went through it alone.I’m sorry I wasn’t there the last few days to hold your hand and support you.”

“Um…” I don’t know what to say. I’m in awe of him.So I do the next best thing. I cradle his face and kiss him passionately.

“JD?” Scarlett calls as she descends the stairsinto the basement, where I’m rifling through a corner, looking for my luggagefrom the foster home.

“Over here.”

She walks up to my side. “You’re not ready to headback to school?”

“In a bit.”

“What are you looking for?”

I pause right after her question, glimpsing theworn brown luggage.

“My stuff from back then,” I say in a nearwhisper.

Reaching over, I pull it from beside a stack ofboxes and bring it to the old couch.

Scarlett sits beside me after I set the luggage onthe rug, quiet as I open it with bated breath.

Memories flood my head the second I see myclothes. I remember folding them neatly on the eve of leaving the foster home,as a mixture of joy and nervousness engulfed me.

My hands tremble while going through every item.It’s not much since Grandma never spent money on me, and I’d refused to acceptanything from Mrs. Anders. These belonged to my mother, and remembering thatmakes my eyes water.

“Okay?” Scarlett checks, touching my arm.

“Mmhm.” I blink back the tears and resume looking.My stomach plunges at the realization that something’s missing. “No…”

“What is it?” Scarlett asks.

“Taffy isn’t here.” I make a mess of the clothes,checking the luggage thoroughly.

“Taffy?” she repeats.

“My teddy bear. It’s small. I remember stuffing itinside before leaving my grandma’s house. It should be here. I’m sure I—” Mybody stiffens at the memory, and I tilt my head back and sigh heavily. I didn’tpack it because it went missing.

“What? Do you know where it is?”

“No. But I know who took it.” I retrieve my phonefrom my pocket. “I’m going to Coventry with Caleb.”

She crumples her features. “Why? What’s inCoventry?”

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