Scarred for Love

Chapter 8

Morning came quickly, it was raining. Seeing as it was a lab day, Addison decided she'd skip school that day and just stay home and relax. The cable guy was popping by later that morning so she'd be able to watch some of the shows she's been neglecting lately. She didn't quite feel ready to see Nathan after last night. Not that she didn't enjoy it but she definitely didn't plan on letting things get that hot and steamy again. Sure she could of used her own car but she wanted a lazy day. A day to reflect over things; to figure out where her head was at. She got up and got ready for the day and decided to wear something comfortable. She put on her white jogging shorts and a loose emerald green tank top. She headed downstairs for breakfast and came face to face with yesterday morning's pots and pans. Why did you set yourself up for this? Why would you allow this? She asked herself regarding the past few days and actions that came to be between her and Nathan. The doorbell snapped her out of her inquisitive daze. It must be the cable guy. She thought.

Nathan was standing on Addison's porch waiting for her to open the front door. He looked over to the street. He heard the door open and turned around to see Addison with a confused look on her face. She hid half behind the door, away from the cool morning air. He couldn't help but smile at her. She was sporting those short shorts again and he loved the look of her tanned legs in those. Something had to be said of that tank top which made her eyes stand out. Stay on track you idiot. He told himself.

“What are you doing here?” She asked him. That stung a little.

“Are you not heading over to the campus this morning?” He asked her. She shook her head and tried to avoid eye contact.

“I'm taking the day off. I have some stuff I need to work on.” She sheepishly told him. He doubted that considering this was only Day 2 of her school year it seemed more like she was trying to avoid him.

“Work? I doubt that.” He said as he pushed past her and entered the house.

“What...” She started with a frustrated air and shut the door behind him. “do you think you're doing?”

“Do you seriously think that you'll be able to dance around what happened last night?” He asked her flustered. “Every time we get together and something happens, it’s like someone flicks a switch and you end up pulling away from me. Is there something I need to know? Do you have a boyfriend back home or something?”

“Or something.” She mumbled to herself. Nathan looked at her in confusion.

“What?”

“Can you just forget it?” She suggested. “Can we just pretend it never happened?”

“But it did happen. Addie, I like you. Based on last night, I'm pretty sure you feel the same way about me. If you've got a boyfriend, I'll leave you be. Just say the word.” He began and started to walk out.

“Nate, there's no boyfriend. There hasn't been for a while now.” She confessed. “I like you a lot but I just can't.”

“I know… It's complicated.” He mimicked her with finger quotations on the word complicated. “Complicated Addie? What's that mean?” There was a knock on the door.

“Can we finish this later?” She asked him.

“Fine. Whatever, you want.” He looked down and shuffled his feet as he ran his fingers through his hair. “You know where to find me.” And he walks out of the house, leaving her following him and the door open to the cable guy that pretty much had to jump out of his way. He honestly thought that he'd get somewhere with figuring out this girl but it didn't look like now was going to be the time.

Addison couldn't believe that Nathan just walked out. She knew why he was so frustrated with her but she didn't understand why she was like Katy Perry's song Hot & Cold. One minute she behaved more like the girl next door and the next, she was daydreaming or acting out some seriously sexy scene with him. She really did like him and she was attracted to him; there was no denying that. She liked him too much at this point and it felt like it was too soon for her. She needed to slow things down between Nathan and herself.

The cable guy came and went. Addison did a bit of reading by the fire on the couch with the TV muted but she couldn't keep her mind off of Nathan. She felt awful for not explaining why she was constantly pulling away or being hesitant. She decided on keeping her hands busy so she headed into the kitchen to finally tidy up Nathan’s mess from the previous morning. Sure, clean up the mess that Nathan made. That's a great way to keep your mind off of him and his sexy self. Argh! She was about to finish with the kitchen when all she had left was the garbage. She grabbed the bag and headed to the back door. Seeing as that door was temperamental, she tried to never let it shut the entire way unless she was inside the house. It had a tendency of locking itself if it shut too abruptly. As she hopped over the threshold, her garbage bag hit the side of the door and swung it the wrong way and SLAM! The door shuts behind her and she finds herself locked out of her house, in the pouring rain.

“Wonderful!” She yells up at the sky, dropping the garbage bag at her feet and holding her hands out wondering why God chose to punish her so. Now what? She asked herself.

Nathan wished he didn’t have to give a lecture that morning when he left Addison's house. He jumped into the car and headed to Stanford. He came back a couple of hours later to find Addison waiting for him on the front step of his porch drenched from head to toe. What the hell? He got out of the car.

“Addie?” He asked loud enough so she could hear him over the rain as he shut his car door and ran up to the porch. “What's the matter?” Addison stood up and gave him a hopeless and slightly embarrassed look.

“I locked myself out.” She started. “Any chance I can use your phone?” She asked. He looked at her from head to toe. She looked pretty sexy all soaked and her white shorts were clinging to all the right spots and slightly see-through. He licked his lips and smirked.

“Fine.” He said with a serious tone. He walked past her, unlocked the door and let her in the house with him.

“Are you okay with me staying here for about an hour?” She asked him after she had hung up with the locksmith. “I can wait outside if you have somewhere to be.” She looked like she was shivering.

“You’re not waiting outside alone. I'll get you something you can change into while you wait.” He told her softly and touched her arm. She gave him an appreciative smile. He felt his heart flutter.

“Thanks.” She whispered. He turned around and headed upstairs to his room to find something she could possibly change into.

A few minutes later, Nathan came back with a t-shirt and a pair of boxers. He looked embarrassed when he handed the underwear to her and she thought it was cute. She giggled.

“It's the only thing I have that might fit you. I'll throw your clothes in the dryer if you'd like.” He said. Addison nodded and let him know that she'd be right back. She headed for the washroom to change. She couldn't help but imagine what Nathan looked like in these underwear. Throw a swimsuit on this guy and he looked like a God, underwear must be better and she didn't want to get started on the possibility of seeing him naked because those thoughts weren't aloud. There was simply just too much garbage to sift through before or if anything were to happen between the two of them. Her past had to come out and be explained before they could even contemplate getting serious. It played a huge part in the person that she was; almost to a detriment. Nathan's t-shirt was more like a dress on her. She practically didn't even need his boxer briefs. She looked at herself in the mirror and let her hair down so it could dry and walked out of the washroom.

Nathan waited seated on the couch for Addison to return. She came back with his shirt and underwear on. His jaw dropped. She was the sexiest thing he’d seen.

“Don't stare!” She blushed. Nathan was temporarily at a loss for words.

“It's just that I haven't seen a woman in my, uh... clothes before.” He stammered. She came and sat down beside him on the couch with her knee touching his and turned her body towards him.

“Listen.” She began. “About earlier. There is something I need to tell you.” Nathan finally thought that perhaps he'd break the surface of who Addison was. So he did the best thing he could do and listened as she spoke softly.