Curvy Girls Can’t Date Soldiers by Kelsie Stelting

Epilogue

Faith

Greeting Nadiraat the airport after her trip to visit MIT was the most exciting thing I’d done all spring break.

Headmaster Bradford had asked my family to take in a foreign exchange student who was, as far as I could tell, a big deal. My parents had agreed to keep her information confidential, but why did it matter who they were anyway? Who cared if she was the heiress of a massive fortune or the princess of some unheard-of country? She would be in our home for nine weeks and then gone for the rest of my life.

Regardless, I’d have to greet her at the airport today like I was happy to have her here the last quarter of my senior year. I supposed I was used to being overshadowed by my four brothers. What was one more person thrown into the mix?

I walked past the empty luggage claims with Des, Cori, and Adriel, wondering when Nadira would get here to make our Curvy Girl Club complete.

I glanced around, wondering if I would see Nadira or Apollo first. He was coming to pick her up and take her on a welcome-home date.

The two of them were the cutest thing I’d ever seen, and that was saying something because all of my friends—except me, big surprise—were now in relationships. Even my friend Des, who was more committed to dating around more than any guy, had a man of the moment. It wouldn’t be long before she caught some rock star’s eye and lived happily ever after.

Me on the other hand? The odds of that were lower than the floor walked on.

Cori pointed up ahead where a group of people were congregating around a baggage claim. “That must be her flight.”

I searched for Nadira’s curly hair and quickly found it toward the back of the crowd.

Shamelessly, Des yelled, “Nadira!” at the top of her lungs.

I blushed as almost every head in the airport turned toward us, but it did the trick because Nadira saw us too. She lifted her arm in a big wave and came running toward us, wheeling a bag behind her.

“Hey!” she said, then wrapped us in a hug as wide as her arms would go. “I told Apollo to come in half an hour so we could have some girl time. I’m dying for a smoothie.”

“Yay!” I said. I definitely needed some time with my girls.

“I love that idea.” Des grinned. “My treat.”

Cori took Nadira’s bag, and I held her purse as we walked toward the smoothie stand on the opposite side of the terminal.

“How was MIT?” I asked. “As amazing as you remembered it?”

“Better.” She breathed a happy sigh. “I even got to meet some of my future professors and ask them questions about their research and how it’s being applied. I feel like I’m really going to be able to make a difference there.”

“Awesome!” Cori said. “And what about Regina? Was she okay?”

“Actually...” Nadira shrugged. “We had some time to talk, actually I think Mr. Aris sent us off together on purpose, and I think she doesn’t totally hate my guts anymore. I’m just sad we didn’t make amends earlier. Would have made Mathletes a lot more comfortable this year for sure.”

I nodded, but I didn’t really know how that felt. I didn’t have any enemies, and before the Curvy Girl Club 2.0, I didn’t really have any friends either. Unless you counted my grandma. She was the best, but she couldn’t exactly put on a uniform and come to school with me either.

A few girls walked by us, rolling their suitcases behind them, talking about Boston, and I couldn’t help but be jealous. I’d lived in California my whole life and hardly traveled anywhere else. My dad said he didn’t see the point since we had mountains and beaches and desert within a day’s drive, but I longed to see the world. For now, I could settle on asking my friends what they’d seen.

“Tell me about the flight,” I said to Nadira. “How was it?”

“It was great,” Nadira said. “A little turbulence over the Rockies, but other than that, all good.”

“What does turbulence feel like?” I asked.

Nadira shuddered. “Like the plane is falling out of the sky.”

My stomach turned. “But it’s not, right?”

“Nope.” She tilted her head. “Tell me about your spring break. All of you. What did I miss?”

I nodded toward Des. “She’s dating a DJ who played at Spike this week.”

Des winked. “And he is just as hot as his tracks.”

Cori snorted. “The cruise with Ryker’s family was great. You know, aside from family dinners with his parents. I don’t think it could get any more awkward than it was.”

Nadira frowned. “Is his dad still mad at him for the football game?”

I cringed, remembering Ryker’s dad fighting to get into the announcer’s stand when Ryker took the mic at homecoming and apologized to Cori in front of the entire town.

“Oh yeah.” Cori shook her head. “He says that I make Ryker do things he wouldn’t normally do. Not to my face, of course.”

“Um...” Adriel said. “Ryker was a bully. That’s kind of a good thing that he’s behaving differently.”

I agreed, but Cori just shrugged.

Adriel said, “Cancun was great. Mom and Ted made plans to go back for their five-year anniversary and have a vow renewal. And Carter and his grandma loved it.”

I smiled at the thought of Carter’s grandma on the beach, wearing a fabulous red bathing suit and large sunglasses.

“And you?” Nadira asked.

I groaned. “Grandma and I finished a needlepoint, and the floors in my house are clean for the mystery guest.”

“Still no word?” Nadira asked.

“Nope.” I glanced at my watch. “I should know in about two hours.”

“Text us,” she said.

I promised I would.

We finally reached the smoothie stand and put in our orders. As we stood around one of the tall tables, taking sips and catching up, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of despair. We had nine weeks left of our senior year.

Nine weeks with my best friends.

Nine weeks before I joined the Peace Corps and went to a faraway destination.

Nine weeks before I graduated high school without ever having a boyfriend or any romantic interest to speak of.

Nadira looked at a spot over my shoulder and broke into one of the biggest smiles I’d ever seen her have. “Apollo!” she cried. She moved around Des and ran to him.

He jogged toward her and caught her, spinning her around in a hug and kissing her slowly.

The love between them was so real, so raw, I looked away.

Adriel let out a dreamy sigh. “They’re so adorable together.”

I agreed. “Beyond cute.”

Des gripped my hand, a plotting grin on her face and a dangerous spark in her eyes. “You’re next.”

* * *

Want to see the special gift Apollo gives Nadira before she leaves for MIT? Check out the bonus story today!

Read Faith’s story in Curvy Girls Can’t Date Princes! You’ll love sing Faith get her very own fairytale ending!