Curvy Girls Can’t Date Best Friends by Kelsie Stelting

Eleven

Callie

I could hardly focus with Nick sitting just feet away from me. He’d gotten a new haircut, and I was trying to decide whether I liked his hair shaggy or close-cropped better. Either way, it was easy to see his angular cheekbones and the constantly sparking light in his eyes.

Without any dating experience to go off of, it felt like I was lost at sea. I hoped Carson would agree to help me. To be my anchor. The thought of going to college without ever taking my chance with Nick—without ever having a first kiss—was a dismal one at best.

The screen door slid open, and Carson sent me a halfhearted smile before coming to sit by me on the couch. I leaned my head on his shoulder. No matter what, I was lucky to have him as a friend.

When the end credits rolled on the movie, Joe and Nick went upstairs for more food, and Carson said, “I have to be up early for work tomorrow. I better get home.”

“You don’t want to stay over?” I asked. “We could stay up later and hang out that way.”

He shook his head and said quietly, “Dad’s started making comments.”

“What kind of comments?” My heart clenched. “Are you okay?”

Understanding the meaning behind my words, he gave half a nod. “I will be in August.”

“And until then?”

His shoulders lifted in a heavy shrug.

Feeling just as heavy, I said, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He shifted toward the door. “See you tomorrow?”

“See you,” I said, “and think about what I asked.”

“I won't,” he replied with half a smirk. He paused with his hand on the sliding door handle. “Want to go shopping with me for work stuff tomorrow afternoon?”

“Sure.” My internship at the animal shelter wouldn't start for another week, so I had to find something to fill my time until then.

With a friendly wave, Carson left. When he disappeared through the gate to our privacy fence, I turned back to the living room. Joe was already in front of the entertainment center, flipping through video games. He looked back at Nick. “Call of Duty?”

Nick shrugged, sitting up to put his phone in his pocket. “Works for me.”

Joe popped the disc into the gaming console and said, “I'm going to get my extra headset from my room.”

Nick nodded and sat back on the couch. I suddenly realized that it was just him and me, and even though I wanted desperately to say something, I couldn't think of anything worthwhile. Talking with Carson was so easy, but when it came to other guys, I just froze.

Somehow, “Hey, I think you're cute, and I want to go out with you even though my brother would hate it” didn't seem right. But I couldn't help but worry about who he had been texting. Was it another girl? Had I lost my chance? I could already feel the clock of summer ticking down, and I would soon be at Stanford with Carson, and Nick would still be here, with my brother.

I leaned back against the sliding door with a quiet sigh. I would be able to come back for weekends if I wanted to, but only after football season was over. The marching band was sure to take up most of my time.

“Are you going to play with us?” Nick asked, twisting on the couch to see me better.

I shook my head slowly. I had never played with them before, and being yet another girl who didn’t get video games probably wouldn’t work in my favor.

“Why not?” Nick asked.

Was that a hint of disappointment I heard? I hoped I wasn’t making it up in my mind because it sounded so real to me. My smile was already growing way bigger than it should have. Nick was asking me to hang out with him. And my brother. I needed to remember that part. “I'm not exactly a Call of Duty kind of girl,” I said at last.

His lips quirked. “And what kind of girl are you?”

I was definitely the kind of girl who could be into him. But I didn't know if he was the kind of guy who could be into a girl like me. I tried to breathe normal and shrugged. “I guess the kind that likes General Tso's chicken.”

He laughed. “I wish my real little sister was as funny as you are.”

Ouch. So he thought I was like a little sister. Worse, like his preferred little sister. Not a great start.

Joe came down the stairs, holding another headset, and said, “Callie, what are you still doing here?”

Franklin jerked upright out of his sleep, barking at him. I scooped him into my lap and smiled innocently at Joe. “What? You don't want your little sister to hang?”

“More like my little sister can't hang,” he said, going to the gaming console.

“Yeah,” I said, “pushing buttons on a console is really difficult.”

“Oooh,” Nick said, laughing. “Burn.”

Joe rolled his eyes. “Is that my little sister, Little Miss Perfect, being... rude?”

I shook my head and started up the stairs with Franklin in my arms. It was far past time for me to retreat into my room and forget the fact that Nick ever saw me in my shower cap.

“Buh-bye,” Joe said.

I rolled my eyes and held my hand up in a wave.

“See you,” Nick said, making my heart flutter.

I continued up the stairs, trying to keep my gaze forward. It was hard not to look back at where I knew Nick would be sitting, his strong arms taking ahold of the controller and his eyes focusing as he got into the game. But I needed to remember that college guys and curvy girls didn’t date—not without divine intervention. If Carson wasn’t going to help, I needed all the backup I could find.

In the upstairs living room, Mom and Dad were snuggled together, watching a baking show on TV. At the sound of my footsteps, Dad said, “Cal, can you close your window tonight? I’m going to run the AC.”

“Sure,” I said distractedly and continued to my room. When I got there, I looked at Carson’s room across the way but didn’t see him inside. He must have gotten caught up downstairs. I closed my window, drew my blinds, and went to my bed.

Feeling restless, I got out my phone and texted the girls.

Callie:  Anyone want to grab breakfast tomorrow at the bakery?  I need help making a game plan.

Immediately, my phone began chiming with new messages.

Zara: I’m down.

Jordan: Same. I need to leave at 10 though.

Ginger: I can stop by before I go to the boyfriend’s. :)

Rory: I’ll come! Are you bringing Carson?

Callie: No, just me.

Ginger: Girls only? :)

Callie: Exactly.

Zara: So… 9?

Callie: Perfect.

I turned my phone to play the sound of chirping crickets and fell asleep hoping my friends could help me have the summer—and summer love—of a lifetime.