Page 4 of Capturing Clint

“What ‘uh-oh’? Who is it?” Chrissy whispered.

Beth whispered in return. “You may want to go to the bathroom to finish cleaning up. Maybe even change your shirt.”

Chrissy unfolded herself from the couch and approached as she continued to wipeatthe sticky soda running down her neck. “Beth, who—” She stopped mid-stride when she heard the voice from the other side of the door.

“Beth, come on, open up. I know you’re in there.”

Clint!

“Oh, cheese and rice!” Chrissy shouted in a whisper as she put her glasses back on. “What’s he doing here?”

“I don’t know!” Her friend replied just as silently.

“Is everything okay?” Clint asked from the other side of the door.

“Just a minute!” Beth said as she faced away from the door. She whispered again to Chrissy to getinthe bathroom and clean up.

“I’m going to hide in there until he leaves,” she mumbled while she silently ran down the hall. Barely getting the door shut before Beth greeted Clint, she tried not to hyperventilate as she washed off Beth’s soda shower.

“Jeez-oh-peezo, of all the rotten timing,” Chrissy began. “I am not leaving this bathroom no matter what! All because I can’t even face Clint Jessup.”

She stopped her movements to look at herself in the mirror. Sticky brown hair framed her face. Large emerald eyes stared back through streaky glasses. Pink lips that were a little too plump—the only feature on her body that was—pouted back at her. Her purple Tinkerbell pajama top was now speckled with spots.

“Christine Harrison, you’re a coward. He’s just a person.”

After she washed her face and cleaned her glasses, Chrissy ran a brush through her matted hair. “Albeit an older gorgeous man who makes me lose all train of thought whenever he’s around. Causing me to act like the many other immature, infatuated groupies who flock to the Café whenever he’s there.” She set the brush on the counter to stare at herself again. “But how to show him that’s not me?”

Maybe she should listen to Beth and give it a shot. But, would she be setting herself up for heartache? What if his interest was short-lived, and after succumbing to his charms, they were ripped away?

But, what if it led to something wonderful? What if she took a chance and it really paid off?

“Gah! Just go out there.”

Determined not to hide, even though she was no more certain than she was before, she pulled open the door, intent on facing Cl—

“Oh!” She started as she ran into the man consuming her thoughts.

“Chrissy, sorry,” he said as he held her arms to steady her. “You okay? I didn’t expect you here.”

All Chrissy could do was stare into his hazel eyes. She felt the warmth of his touch through the long sleeves of her shirt. Her embarrassing, juvenile Tinkerbell shirt. Under which she had no bra. And her nipples chose that moment to perk up.

Chrissy’s insides turned to pudding while a rosy blush covered her face. She watched as Clint raked his gaze down her body and back up again, lingering for a fraction longer on her chest, then her lips. She watched his eyes reconnect with hers. Watched as they darkened.

She stood wide-eyed and motionless.

****

Clint continued to be mesmerized by Chrissy’s innocence. Something about her captured and held his attention for months. And recently, when she had refused his inept attempt at asking her out, he seemed more determined than ever to get to know her. Underneath that shy introvert, Clint saw glimpses of intelligence and humor, of beauty and compassion.

He even fumbled through a few more attempts at asking her out, only to have her avoid him afterward. Probably for the better, he thought. No sense in starting something just to have it end too quickly, because who knew where life would take him once he graduated.

But with his hands on her, he could feel her warmth through the thin fabric of her top. He could see her nipples strain against the material, almost begging for his attention. He couldn’t help but think about kissing those luscious lips that puckered so nicely. About the slide of his tongue into her sweet mouth. About discovering what other places on her body would be sweet.

Before his thoughts got out of control in an embarrassing fashion, he felt Beth’s hand on his shoulder. He quickly turned, dropping his hands away from Chrissy.

“So,” Beth began, “what are you doing here?”

“Nice greeting.”

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