Catt Chasing by Shana Burton Page B

lab.”
    â€œTori, are you still on that? How many times must I tell you that the mere thought of him touching me makes me want to get tested for rabies? And you know what? That son of a gun tried to kiss me! Can you believe that?” exclaimed Catt. “Just out of the blue, right there in the middle of the lab!”
    â€œWere you disappointed that it wasn’t successfully executed?”
    Catt gagged. “God, no! I have done nothing but try to stay as far away from him as I possibly can. And out of nowhere, he just ups and tries to kiss me, saying I looked like I needed to be kissed. If I do, I certainly don’t need to be kissed by him.”
    Toria laughed. “Did you slap him when he tried?”
    Catt hesitated in responding. “Well . . . no,” she finally admitted.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œWith someone like Jamal, a slap would have just turned him on even more.”
    Toria gathered Catt’s wet hair in a towel. “Did the almost-kiss turn you on?”
    â€œWhat kind of question is that, Tori? That man repulses me. Why would I want him to kiss me?”
    â€œThat’s not what I asked you.”
    There was no way that she could lie to the person who knew her best, but Catt wasn’t ready to reveal the truth to herself, much less to anyone else. “I am turned on by kisses from men I actually like,” she replied, dodging a direct response.
    Toria sat Catt down in an empty styling chair. “You just need to be honest with yourself, Catt. Every single thing he does causes some kind of reaction in you. What else could it mean?”
    â€œIt could mean any number of things, but what it doesn’t mean is that I am in any way attracted to him, especially given the way he runs through women and lives any ol’ kind of raggedy life.”
    Toria began combing out Catt’s hair. “You know what they say about that thin line—”
    â€œIt’s not a thin line. More like a large ream of yellow police tape with ‘ do not cross’ stamped all over it!”
    Toria laughed out loud. “Point taken! But he does seem to spark more of an interest for you than the minister.”
    â€œYou mean Eldon?” Catt smacked her teeth. “Girl, my dad already has us married with three or four buns in the oven, a cat, a white picket fence, and a dog!”
    â€œIs that your vision too?”
    â€œI don’t know. I mean, Eldon’s a good dude and all, but something’s missing. He doesn’t have that umph factor, you know what I’m saying?”
    â€œI know, but too much umph can get you into trouble. Need I mention Greg?” asked Toria in reference to Catt’s last boyfriend.
    â€œNo, you need not! But I will say that Greg could capture and keep my attention. I can’t say the same for the minister.”
    â€œCan you say the same for Jamal?”
    â€œJamal is not my type, and I’m almost positive I’m not his. He seems to go more for the beautiful airhead model chicks, and that’s not me.”
    Toria broached her with caution. “So we’re back to the weight issue?”
    â€œThe weight is not an issue for me. I’m comfortable in my own skin, but for guys like Jamal, it’s the issue. Do you know he had the nerve to tell me that I need to get a life outside of the kitchen?”
    Toria winced. “Ouch!”
    Catt shook her head. “I’d never waste my time on a man like that. Plus, our lifestyles are just too different. Can you imagine what it would be like if I brought him home to meet my father? Daddy would be casting out demons left and right!”
    â€œWhat are you going to do if he tries to kiss you again?”
    â€œHe won’t,” guaranteed Catt. “I made sure of that.”
    Toria stopped combing. “But what if he does?”
    Catt pursed her lips together, unable to answer.

Chapter 9
    Francine bumped into Catt inside the elevator the next