Page 3 of Capturing Clint

“I don’t know why you never had the urge to jump his bones and get it over with?”

Chrissy laughed as Beth gawked at her question, which was more like a statement.

The two friends were taking advantage of the downtime over winter break, electing to stay in the area instead of seeking out a warmer climate like many were doing. Tonight was girls-night-in at Beth’s, which included PJs and junk food, and Clint was the topic of discussion for the umpteenth time this week.

Chrissy knew Beth and Clint were close, and nothing remotely romantic existed between the two of them, so she wasn’t sure why she said what she did. Because, really, Chrissy wanted to be the one jumping Clint Jessup’s bones. As improbable as it seemed.

The signals he’d been giving Chrissy were odd, and she didn’t know what to make of them. She wasn’t used to guys like him—the studious, hot Idaho ranch boy—showing interest in girls like her—the shy, geeky intellect. Still didn’t stop her from crushing on him.

“Me?” Beth started. “I’mnot the one he wants. Besides, I’d never want to ruin the one good relationship I have with a guy. He’s like my brother. Clint and I have been friends since our freshman year here. Hard to believe the college journey will end with one more term.” She finishedona sigh.

“Why so sad?”

“Well, nearly four years of college and I’m not sure I’ll do much more thanmanagethe Campus Café.”

Chrissy tsked. “It’s just a starting point. Think of all the possibilities out there!”

“Oh sure, little Miss Optimistic,” Beth teased. “I can only go up from here.”

“Beth, focus on what you want and go for it.”

“Right, like going for it with Clint, as you suggested.”

“Well, in your position, I can see why you wouldn’t,beinglike a brother and all. But mmm, mmm, he sure is yummy.Haven’t youbeen tempted? Even just a little?” Chrissy pinched her thumb and index finger together, barely a millimeter separating them.

“No, silly.” Beth chuckled. “Why haven’tyoutried togo for it?” She animated with air quotes. “The man practically asked you out and you denied him!”

The two snacked on popcorn and M&Ms while an episode of GRIMM streamed on Beth’s computer. The topic of Clint came about again because Chrissy mentioned how much he looked like the actor DavidGuintoliwho plays GRIMM’s Det. Nick Burkhardt.

“Right! Like Clint would ever look at someone like me and think, ‘I gotta have that!’ He was just being nice, I guess,” she mumbled. Because, really, she wasn’t a match for someone like him. Was she?

And it was self-deprecating thoughts like that that would get her nowhere.

Chrissy popped more candy in her mouth, which was hard-wired with braces, then adjusted her glasses that seemed to constantly slide down her petite nose. “I may fantasize about him, but I’m realistic enough to know that I am not the kind of girl someone like him would fantasize back, about. I mean, he wouldn’t return the fantasizing. Oh, you know what I mean.”

Chrissy wrinkled her nose, not liking the sympathetic look on Beth’s face. Beth had already told her that Clint was concentrating on his studies, as he was the first in his family to attend college, and he wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of his carefully mapped out plan.

But then there were times when Beth had hinted at taking a chance.

“He certainly would. Jeez, Chrissy, hedidask you out and you crushed him.”

“Pfft! Whatever. I’m sure he’s got plenty of women wanting a piece of that. Not someone like me—”

“He would! You’re cute, smart,funny—”

“Sure, you betcha. I’m a geek. I’m still in braces. I wear glasses that never seem to fit. I have no curves, unlike you.” Chrissy pushed the bowl of popcorn away. “You’re like… like a svelte ScarlettJohansson, compared to me, who’s like… Well, like… Oh, I don’t know.” She threw her hands up in frustration. “Someone who’snotbeautiful, blonde, and curvy.”

Chrissy barely got the words out of her mouth when she felt the spray of Beth’s spewed soda all over her face. Both sat frozen for all of three seconds before they howled with laughter.

“Oh, Chrissy, I am so sorry.” Beth quickly jumped up to grab a towel from the kitchen as she still giggled.

“I’m fine.” She removed her glasses, wiping her eyes with her hand.

“Here.” Beth handed her a damp towel. “Wipe it off before you get sticky.”

“Too late.” Chrissy took the towel anyway and wiped her face. She stopped when she heard a knock at the door and turned to Beth. She saw her friend’s puzzled look which surely mirrored her own.

“Who could that be? Hasn’t pretty much everyone left town already?” Having said that, Beth made her way to the door to look through the peephole. Her startled gaze quickly swung back to Chrissy. “Uh-oh,” she murmured.

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