Curvy Girls Can’t Date Best Friends by Kelsie Stelting

Sixteen

CARSON

Shopping with Callie had made me feel like my regular self. Until those two jerks decided to pick on her. And for what reason? She weighed more than their blow-up dolls at home? The same kind of rage I’d felt with my dad had started welling inside of me, but I willed it down. I could control it around Callie—I had to.

I took her to Waldo’s Diner to have her favorite—fries and a strawberry milkshake—but I could tell she was still down. But maybe that had to do with my news as well. We were only a few days into our last summer before college, and it was off to a dismal start.

“Can you quit looking at me like I’m a sad puppy?” she asked.

I set down my hamburger. “Can you stop looking like one?”

She managed half a smile before it faltered, and she shoved her milkshake away. “It’s been four years since I got psoriasis, and I swear every time someone picks on me, I feel like I’m fourteen years old again.”

My mind flashed back to seeing her on the court, the anger that had rushed through me when everyone chanted at her, calling her The Thing. Maybe the Cook Family Curse had always made me an angry person, and I just couldn’t see it. But then again, the anger toward the people who hurt Callie seemed to be justified. She was the nicest person ever, and for people to humiliate her like that because of a skin condition she had no control over or because of her weight? It was despicable.

Callie had changed that day at the game. She’d gone from the competitive, vivacious person I knew to someone who was afraid to put herself out there in any capacity. Even in band she wore a uniform that covered everything, and she never took a solo if she could help it. Becoming friends with the other curvaceous girls in our class had been a godsend for her.

Now that she had a good set of girlfriends, I had to find a way to push her toward a better guy as well. Someone who wouldn’t feel such a massive, uncontrollable surge of anger at a moment’s notice. Someone whose hands weren’t capable of doing what I’d contemplated the night before.

Someone like Nick.

She shook her head. “I can’t believe I didn't say anything to those guys. I should have stood up for myself.”

“Why are you mad at yourself?” I asked, bringing myself back to our conversation. “Those guys were being jerks.”

“I’m not fourteen anymore. I’m about to go to college. I should be able to stand up for myself. You’re not always going to be around to save me.”

The ache in my chest grew bigger. For her and for me. Because her words were completely true. “Those guys should have known better.”

“But they didn't,” she argued, pushing her fries away too. “And why would they? No one wants to date me. It's not like I have guys lining up.”

I hated it when she talked like this. No matter how much her friends adored her, no matter how stunning she was with her blonde hair and Barbie-doll eyes, she couldn’t see herself as she was. “Callie, you’re beautiful.”

She raised her eyebrows at me and muttered, “You have to say that. You’re basically my brother.”

An exasperated sigh escaped my lips. “I’d say it no matter what. Besides, it’s not up to you to make other people see your worth.”

She swirled her straw in her melting milkshake. “Yeah, but no one does.”

I reached across the table and stilled her hand. “I do.”

“I do too,” rattled an older voice from behind me.

Chester was sitting in his usual booth, and his hearing aids must have been working because he’d overheard our conversation. I said over my shoulder, “Thanks for the backup, Chester.”

With a smile in his voice, he said, “If I was sixty years younger, I’d be first in line.”

“I’d be first to say yes.” Callie laughed, and the tinkling sound made my chest feel lighter.

But why was I suddenly jealous of an old man? Under my breath, I muttered, “Should I give you two some privacy?”

Callie reached across the table and hit my arm.

“Ouch.” I pretended to be wounded, rubbing my shoulder. But then something clicked. When I had pretended to be Callie’s boyfriend earlier, those guys had completely changed their tune. I could practically pinpoint the moment their eyes saw Callie in a new light.

Callie rubbed a napkin over her lips. “Do I have something on my face?”

I must have been staring as I considered my idea...but it could work. The problem was it might just destroy me in the process. But Callie was worth it. She was always worth it. “Go out with me,” I said.

“What?” Her eyebrows flew up her forehead.

I’ll be honest, that didn’t do great things for my pride. Still, I repeated my wish. “Go out with me.”

Her mouth opened and shut in the most adorable way. Well, it would have been adorable if I couldn’t see the clear war of emotions crossing her face. Just another nail in the coffin of my heart. But that was good for me to see. Maybe if I could watch how little she wanted to be with me, it would make it easier to do what I had to.

“Carson,” she finally breathed.

I shook my head quickly, not wanting to hear what came next. “Hear me out. Did you see what those guys did when I pretended to be your boyfriend?”

Slowly, she nodded. “They went away.”

“They reacted differently.”

“And?” She seemed confused. I had to get this through to her. Help her understand so it seemed like her idea.

“What motivates men?” I asked.

She shrugged and gestured at my half-eaten burger. “Food?”

A short laugh peppered out my lips. “That’s a close second, but no. Competition.”

“But what does that have to do with me dating you?” Her eyebrows were drawn together.

“Fake dating,” I clarified, as much for me as for her. “If Nick thinks I’m dating you, he’ll be jealous. And you know what jealousy does?”

“Turns you green?” she teased, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

“It makes you move,” I said, waiting for the idea to find purchase.

“So you think if I fake date you, Nick will suddenly be interested?”

I nodded, my stomach churning no matter how much of a good idea this was for both of us. “Nick will see what he’s missing out on, and he’ll have to make a move.”

“He’ll know we’re just friends, though,” she argued, clearly not sold on the idea.

“Friends become more all the time.” I shrugged. I’d been hoping for just as much myself. “I don’t see why it would be impossible for us to do the same.”

“I don’t know. It just...doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

I leaned forward, catching her blue eyes in mine. It made my heart stutter, stumble, but I pressed forward. “You wanted me to help. Now you have to decide. Do you want it?”

She chewed on her bottom lip. “You really think it will work?”

“I know it will.” Because I had to make it work. There had to be a way for me to excuse myself from Callie’s life before we became just another couple ruined at the hands of the Cook Family Curse.

She reached across the table and extended her hand. “Deal.”

Ignoring her hand, I stood and slid into the booth next to her. If this was going to happen, I would make the most of it. I would dream while I could before my heart had to face the consequences. “Rule number one, boyfriends don’t shake hands.” I slid my fingers through hers. “We hold them.”

Chester chuckled. “About time you made a move.”