Coming of Age
I Think You’re Sexy
CHELSY
“You show up uninvited, all dolled up like you’re something special.”– Avril Lavigne, “Complicated”
Night had fallen, and a few quiet hours had passed. Nathan had been surprisingly well-behaved.
I rubbed my neck, closed my textbook, and got up to leave my room.
Walking down the hallway, I peeked over the railing to see what was happening in the living room.
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the sight of Nathan making out with some girl on my mom’s couch.
The audacity! (I’m not jealous.)
Three girls in one day? Who does that?
Nathan does.
I turned away, deciding to mind my own business. But then it hit me. That was my mom’s couch, and I couldn’t let it be defiled by their saliva and semen.
With that thought as my excuse, I headed downstairs. They were still kissing, oblivious to my presence.
I tapped Nathan’s shoulder lightly, but he didn’t notice. I cleared my throat loudly. “Ahem.”
They broke their kiss and looked at me.
“Oh, Princess, you okay?” Nathan asked, his cheeks smeared with lipstick.
The girl looked annoyed. I recognized her from a few blocks away, but we’d never spoken.
I snapped, “Yeah, but that’s my mom’s couch. Take your make-out session somewhere else.”
The girl looked me up and down, clearly upset that I’d interrupted her. “Who’s this?”
I answered before Nathan could. “Oh, you don’t need to know.” He closed his mouth and scratched his forehead casually.
“Trust me. He’s a player. Go home before he breaks your heart,” I added, noticing Nathan’s lips curl into a smile, as if I’d complimented him.
The girl looked from me to Nathan, who didn’t even try to defend himself. She got up, left without another word, and slammed the door behind her.
Nathan looked amused as he gazed up at me, his arms draped casually over the back of the couch.
I frowned. “Don’t your lips hurt? I mean, three girls in one day?”
He cocked his head to the side, a cocky grin on his face. “Jealous?”
I made a face. “What?”
I’d heard him, but I pretended I hadn’t.
Ignoring my question, he stood up and stretched, his muscles cracking. “Anyway, thanks for that. She was getting boring, and I didn’t know how to get rid of her.”
“You jerk.”
I shook my head, amazed at how heartlessly he treated girls. He was the kind of guy my mom warned me about, and I intended to steer clear.
Ever since I turned fifteen, I’d stopped hanging out with Nathan as much as I did with Max. Nathan had become an arrogant, hormone-driven jerk who teased me constantly.
I sighed. “Whatever. Good night, I’m going to bed.”
“This early?” he asked, glancing at the clock. Disappointment replaced his smile. “Seven thirty?”
I nodded. “Mm-hmm. I usually wake up at midnight to study.”
“Ooh, I see.”
“Yeah, so turn off the TV when you’re done.” I turned away and headed upstairs.
I flopped onto my bed and let out a tired sigh. I couldn’t wait to see Brad tomorrow. The thought excited me.
Suddenly, my door swung open and Nathan strolled in as if he owned the place.
I sat up, surprised. “You seriously need to stop barging into my room.”
“Barging?” He chuckled. “We’re practically family, Princess.”
I got off my bed and walked over to him. I was getting tired of his “Princess” nickname. It reminded me that Brad had almost gotten the wrong idea earlier.
Nathan needed to stop calling me that.
“Princess. Princess? I’m not seven anymore. You can drop the nickname. People might think we’re dating,” I said, standing in front of him with my arms crossed and my head held high, trying to match his height.
I failed miserably.
Nathan was about six feet tall, and I was only five-foot-four. It was like David and Goliath. He towered over me effortlessly, making me feel tiny.
Nathan laughed lightly, looking amazed as he crossed his muscular arms over his firm chest.
“Wow. You really have grown up, haven’t you, Chels? Ten years ago, you used to cry if I didn’t call you by your nickname. Now you’re begging me not to.”
“Yes. Stop!”
He bent down to my level, bringing his face close to mine. It was embarrassing how far he had to bend just to reach my height.
God. I need boobs and height for Christmas.
He smiled, looking into my eyes. “And why should I?”
I swallowed.
He raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.
I sighed and looked away from his deep blue eyes. “Because I don’t want Brad to get the wrong idea. He might think something’s going on between us.”
He didn’t say anything, which made me look back at him. He was staring at me thoughtfully. Then he stood up straight and put his hands in his pockets. “Okay,” he said with a small shrug.
Did he just say “Okay”? Just like that? Wow, that was easier than I thought. Nathan is usually more stubborn.
I smiled, relieved that he was finally cooperating for once.
“Fine. But please, don’t just barge into a girl’s room. Respect my privacy, okay?”
“Sure thing, I’ll knock next time, Princess.”
And there it was. Princess. He’d used that nickname again. I knew it was too good to be true.
I rolled my eyes at his inability to follow my simple request as he sauntered past me, heading straight for the window with a look of fascination.
“Wow. So this is where all the spying happens?” he asked, pulling open the blinds and peering across at his own room.
I watched him take in the proximity of our rooms. They hadn’t always been this close. This room used to be a storage space until my mom expanded the house and I claimed it as my own.
Since then, Nathan hadn’t set foot in my room. We’d grown up and things weren’t as easy as they were when we were kids. Growing up had a way of making everything feel strange.
He let out a low whistle. “Damn, Princess, you can see everything from here. So you’ve been watching me change every day, huh?”
My cheeks flamed at his question, and I walked over to him, gripping his shoulders and pushing him aside.
“Alright, time to go. Downstairs, now.”
I started to usher him toward my door, but he stopped just before we reached it, turning to face me.
I halted and looked up at him.
“Kicking me out is a bit harsh, don’t you think?”
“Invading my room is a bit rude, don’t you think?”
“Not really.”
“And why’s that?”
“It’s normal. Just pretend we’re still ten.”
I bit my lip, narrowing my eyes at him.
That was easier said than done. Nathan had grown up and changed so much. His boyish features had hardened into something undeniably attractive and—
I quickly pushed those thoughts away.
“So?” He tilted his head to the side. “Feel better?”
“No,” I retorted, “it doesn’t. Because you’re clearly not ten.”
A crooked smirk played on his lips, and a spark of amusement lit up his deep blue eyes. “You nervous, Princess?”
“What?”
“You tend to squeeze things when you’re nervous, and you’re gripping my arm so tight I think it might break.”
I jumped back in surprise, releasing him quickly.
Damn it, I am nervous. What’s wrong with me?
Ever since school this morning, I’d been feeling flustered and flushed around Nathan.
Was it my hormones acting up?
It had to be. My brain must have been malfunctioning.
He took a step closer and I took one back, looking up into his deep, mysterious eyes that were, I had to admit, incredibly sexy.
He parted his lips and whispered, “You know what, Princess?”
I blinked up at him.
“Do you know what I realized after walking in on you this morning?”
I shook my head, unsure of what to say.
He smirked and leaned in closer, his eyes locked with mine. “That you’re a really, really sexy woman.”
Wait, what? Did he just say what I think he said? I could feel my face burning.
I stood there, frozen, looking up at him, completely speechless.
He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets, a troubled look on his face. “It’s just too bad you’re my best friend’s little sister.”
I felt a pang of disappointment at his words, and before I could stop myself, I blurted out:
“And if I wasn’t?”
He looked at me, a serious expression on his face.
I waited for his response, but he just smiled and ruffled my hair. “That’s a conversation for another time. PG Nineteen.”
I frowned.
He chuckled. “I’ll be downstairs.”
He was about to leave when I blurted out, “I really want to know though…what you think of me.”
He turned to look at me, and his intense gaze made me feel a bit self-conscious.
That question sounded pretty strange, but I really wanted to know what a nineteen-year-old thought of me. Maybe then I could figure out if I had a chance with Brad.
Yeah, this was definitely about my insecurities regarding Pinsley and not because I was interested in Nathan’s opinion of me. Because that would be weird.
“You want the raw truth?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes.”
He walked over to me, and I backed up until I hit the purple walls of my room. Why was he getting so close? Did he need to be this close to tell me?
He trapped me against the wall with his arms, and my heart pounded in my chest.
He leaned in, his lips brushing my ear, his words low and seductive:
“I would touch you the way your body is begging to be touched.”
I gasped as he pulled away, his gaze searching my face.
We held each other’s gaze until a voice in my head screamed.
Chelsy Holmes, have you lost your mind?! What are you doing flirting with Nathan Sharles?
I snapped out of my daze and ducked under his arm, putting some distance between us. “Uh…my body doesn’t need to be touched. I-I have that under control.”
He laughed as he turned to face me. “Really. How? By touching yourself?”
“Oh my God, Nate, no,” I said quickly, sitting on my bed, my face burning.
“Why the reaction? Most girls your age do that.” He sat next to me, smirking, his dimples making my heart flutter.
I pointed at myself, ignoring the knot in my stomach. “Well, this girl hasn’t.”
“If you say so.”
He bit his lower lip, and his smile threatened to pull me back into that trance, so I shook my head quickly to clear it.
“Anyway, you said I’m sexy, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I did say that.”
“So, do you think Brad would find me sexy?”
Nathan studied me for a moment.
I sat there, waiting for his verdict, a smile playing on my lips.
“Uh. I’m not sure if you’re his type of sexy.”
His words felt like a punch to the gut. “Wow, you really know how to build a girl up just to knock her down, don’t you?”
He grinned. “No. You’re sexy. To me. But Brad? I can’t say for sure. Everyone has their own taste.”
I shifted to face him, tucking my legs beneath me. “Okay. So what’s Brad’s taste?”
“Whoa. I’m not some Brad expert. Why would I know? I don’t spend my time studying the guy.”
I laughed. “Okay, I get it. But what kind of girls does he usually go for?”
Nathan sighed, clearly not thrilled about discussing Brad. “Okay, uh…”
He looked me over before scooting closer on the bed. He reached out, letting my hair down so it cascaded down my back. I caught a glimpse of a small smile on his lips.
“I don’t like my hair down.”
“Well, Brad might.”
I nodded.
He lifted my chin and I tensed.
His touch was doing that thing again!
It was sending shivers down my spine.
Focus on Brad, Chels. Brad.
“Hmm…” Nathan studied my face, pulling my shirt down a bit to reveal a hint of cleavage. It felt strange, not like me at all.
“Really, Nathan, I’m going to look like a hooker,” I protested.
“Nope, a little tease doesn’t make you a hooker.”
I gave him a skeptical look, not at all convinced that showing off my breasts wasn’t trashy.
He laughed. “Hey, you asked what Brad would like.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”
“Okay, check out my masterpiece!”
He grabbed a nearby mirror and held it up for me.
“Aren’t you giving yourself a bit too much credit?” I laughed, looking at my reflection. “You hardly did anything.”
Nathan draped his arm around my shoulder, leaning in to look at our reflections. “That’s what Brad likes, femininity and a hint of cleavage.”
He pulled back, looking at me. “But. You should always be yourself, you know that, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I know. But this is still me, just a sexier version.”
Nathan sighed, standing up, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. I was enjoying his company; I didn’t want him to leave so soon.
He ran a hand through his black hair, pushing it back from his eyes. “You’ve got a long way to go to be Brad’s type of sexy. For starters, stop wearing training bras.”
My eyes narrowed. “Okay, we are never going to talk about that again, got it?”
He laughed. “Can’t make any promises. Anyway, I’m beat. I’ll be downstairs crashing on your couch.”
I nodded. “Okay, and you do know that doesn’t mean inviting girls from the neighborhood over to hook up with, right?”
“Can’t promise that either. Good night.” He smiled, and I rolled my eyes as he left my room, closing the door behind him.
I looked at my reflection once more.
Would Brad find me sexy?
I wished he would call me sexy without me having to try so hard.
Just like Nathan did.
Continue to the next chapter of Coming of Age