Naughty or Nice - Alexis Winter Page 0,9

out,” I joke.

He rolls his eyes he moves to sit at my desk while I sit on the bed. “Why is he there? Seems weird.”

I laugh. “Shut up. It’s just a poster. He’s there because I like to know he’s watching me,” I tease.

He makes a fake gagging sound. “Seriously, it’s creepy. I think you should take it down.”

I roll my eyes. “Seriously with the jealousy? We all know you don’t want a real guy around me, so you’re just going to have to settle with a poster.”

This time he rolls his eyes. “No, seriously. I feel like he’s watching me. It’s like the Mona Lisa. No matter where I go, his eyes are following me.”

I smile. “I know. I kind of like it.”

He shakes his head. “You really are a freak, aren’t you?”

“You can’t be the only guy in my fantasies, Carson.”

He laughs but he thinks I’m joking. Really, Mario Lopez doesn’t stand a chance against Carson. I’d rather have him any day of the week. “Anyway, what have you been up to lately?”

I lie back on the bed and notice the way his eyes watch me. This is way better than the poster. “Nothing much. Greg and I have been—” I start, but he cuts me off.

“Greg? Greg Warren?” he questions.

I nod. “That’s the one. Why?”

“You’re dating Greg? My friend Greg?”

I nod. “Yeah, I mean, I wouldn’t call it dating as much as hanging out and stuff, but—”

He goes flying out of his seat and starts pacing. “You’re sleeping with Greg?”

“What? No, we’re not sleeping together. At least, not yet. We’re just…you know, going out, making out, exploring our options and each other’s bodies. With our hands!” I emphasize, highly exaggerating what it is I’ve actually done with Greg. In reality, I’ve never done much of anything besides hold hands and a kiss here and there. “Nothing else. No sex. Why is this bothering you? Seriously, you still act like I’m a little girl sometimes, Carson. I’m almost eighteen.”

He shakes his head. “I know how old you are; I just don’t think you should be screwing around with Greg or doing anything with him for that matter. What’s he even doing here? Didn’t he go off to college?”

I shake my head. “He didn’t get in anywhere. He’s going to the community college.”

He snorts. “Oh, well, that’s great. Way to go, Felicity. Set your sights real high there, didn’t you?”

“Hey, what’s your problem, Carson?”

I shake the thoughts from my head. That was the last day that the two of us talked about my dating life or “sex” life at all. Every plan I have at making him see me as a woman and not some little girl always backfires. I was just thinking that maybe if he knew that I had some experience under my belt, he’d be more inclined to see me as the woman I am, or in that case, was. But my plans never work on him. I guess in his eyes, I’m forever stuck as still being little Felicity from next door. They always talk about that fantasy of the girl next door but what they don’t tell you is, that’s the friend zone and the only thing harder than getting out of the friend zone is getting out of paying taxes. That really dampers my mood and excitement I had for tonight.

I change out of my sweats and hoodie and pull on a pair of ripped up skinny jeans, not practical in an Illinois winter but hey, they make my ass look like a damn peach. I slide my feet back into my white Converse and grab a gray off-the-shoulder sweater from my bag. I pull my hair out of its bun and it falls around me in soft dark curls. I grab my dry shampoo and spray the hell out of it, giving it that sexy, I don’t care look. I examine my face in the mirror. My makeup is still done from graduation today, so I just touch up my under-eye area and add some fresh mascara and lip gloss. I grab my favorite perfume and dab it on a few pressure points: my neck, wrists, and down between my cleavage. Then I turn around to gather up my phone and purse.

A knock comes at the door and I spin around, expecting to see my mom, but it’s Carson walking through my door. I look him up and down quickly and my mouth instantly waters. He’s still just as tall as I