Catt Chasing by Shana Burton Page B

Catt. What’s so terrible about embracing your sexuality and injecting a little fun into your life?”
    â€œI try to live holy, Jamal. Taking nasty pictures and sending them to my friends isn’t part of that process.” Her phone vibrated. She checked it and her eyes widened to the size of saucers. She abruptly ejected the phone from her hands. “ Eww! ”
    Jamal howled, laughing.
    Catt looked down at the image on the phone in horror and a little fascination. “Oh my God, is that you?”
    Jamal nodded. “Impressive, isn’t it?”
    Catt covered her hands with her face. “Oh my God, why did you send me that? Why didn’t you warn me?” She let down the window. “I think I’m going to be sick!”
    Jamal laughed again. “Lighten up, C.C. I’m just having a little fun with you, that’s all.”
    â€œWatching me suppress the urge to throw up through my eyeballs is your idea of fun? Why would you think my definition of fun would be getting flashed by pictures of your . . . package! Why do you even walk around with that in your phone?”
    â€œFor moments like this,” he retorted.
    â€œIs this what you show women when you meet them? Is giving a woman your business card considered passé now?”
    â€œIt’s my way of giving ’em something to look forward to.”
    Catt shook her head piteously. “You’re such a pervert!”
    Jamal took his eyes off the road for a moment to watch her. “Look at you all out of breath over there. Are you in shock or intrigued?”
    â€œAre you kidding me? That’s way more of you than I ever wanted to see.” She picked up the phone and promptly hit Delete. But not before taking one last glimpse. “Now, we can pretend that never happened, although I’m afraid that image may be permanently burned into my brain.”
    â€œCatt, every woman I know has taken at least one naughty picture of herself. You really need to try it. It’s liberating.”
    She narrowed her eyes at him. “And exactly who would I be taking it for?”
    â€œFor you! It’s an ego boost, like saying to the world, ‘Yeah, I’m sexy, and I know it!’”
    She shot her nose in the air. “I’m not that vain. Not to mention that I don’t like looking at myself naked.”
    Jamal seemed shocked. “Why not?”
    â€œJamal, come on.” She sighed. “You said yourself that I’m not what you’d consider modelesque.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter what I think. I’m just some dude you work with. What matters is what you think.”
    â€œI don’t think I’m ugly or anything like that. I just don’t feel all that sexy, not with this extra weight on me,” she confided to him.
    â€œYou can look good naked at any size. It’s all about attitude.” He thought for a moment. “I’ll tell you what. When we check into the hotel, I want you to go into the bathroom, take all your clothes off, and take some pictures. I guarantee it’ll give you a whole new lease on life.”
    Her mouth flew open. “Are you serious? ”
    â€œShoot, yeah! It’ll do you some good to tap into your inner Playboy bunny.”
    â€œI think I’ll pass on that one. Once we check in, I intend to take a long, hot shower, finish reading Proverbs, and go to bed.”
    â€œCatt, I admire your commitment to Christ and holy living, I really do, but you’ve got to live a little sometimes. I keep telling you, there’s a whole life outside the church and the office.”
    â€œI know that!” she snapped.
    â€œThen act like it! While you’re taking that shower, go on and take a picture.”
    â€œNo, thanks. I’m not in the habit of doing things that I know I’m going to regret later.”
    â€œDon’t say I never tried to help you bring sexy back,” said Jamal.
    Catt dozed off. When