Curvy Girls Can’t Date Best Friends by Kelsie Stelting

Nineteen

Callie

Carson parked in front of the animal shelter for my first day of work. I usually volunteered here every other weekend, but I couldn’t wait to start my full-time summer internship to see what it was like to manage a shelter and be responsible for so many hurting animals.

Every animal in that place had been discarded somehow—neglected or abused, dropped off by a former owner, or in some of the saddest cases, left behind by an owner who had passed away. In some ways, I felt akin to the animals, wanted to pour all of my love into them.

Carson killed the engine and said, “Ready for your first official day?”

I nodded. “I’m excited. You really didn’t have to drive me, you know.”

“Well, you weren't ready to tell your parents or anyone yesterday. I figured today would be a good way to ease you into it.”

“True.” I had put off letting my family know, but Lorelei, the shelter owner, already knew Carson and loved him, so it should be simple to just walk in holding his hand. Right?

He opened his car door and said, “Let me come and open the door for you. I'll look like a jerk if I don't.”

“So chivalrous,” I teased.

With a chuckle, he pulled his keys and got out before walking around the front of the car to my side. He was wearing the board shorts we bought the other day and a white tank that had a plus sign with the word “GUARD” on it. He was already tan, but by the end of summer, his skin would be a deep hazelnut color. Then I realized I’d been staring at him for way too long.

He opened the door and smiled at me. “Hi, girlfriend. I definitely just saw you a minute ago, but I'm really happy to see you now.”

Laughing, I rolled my eyes. “So you're the doting kind of boyfriend? How did Sarah deal with you for so long?”

“She didn’t.” He took my hand to help me out. “She knew I was in love with you, remember?”

His words kicked the butterflies in my stomach into high gear. I tried to remind them this was all for show. As I got out of the car, I could already feel everyone's eyes on me from inside the broad windows of the animal shelter.

“Remember to breathe,” Carson said low.

I realized that I hadn't been and took a deep breath. Carson opened the door to the animal shelter, and I was immediately comforted by the familiar smell of animal dander and the soft song of quiet mews and dogs’ paws on the floor. I loved it here.

“So, I see you’re holding hands?” Lorelei asked from the front desk.

I grinned at my boss and the paisley bandana she had around her neck. “Grooming day?”

“Of course,” she said, “but don't dodge my question.”

I looked at Carson, who was smiling wide, playing the part perfectly. “We're together,” he said.

“Oh, I am so happy for you two!” she cried, coming to give us both a big hug. Her curly hair itched my cheek, but I didn't mind. I was glad she was happy for me. I didn't think I could handle lying and disappointment at the same time.

“Thank you,” I said.

She stepped back and looked Carson over. “I'm guessing you're not coming to volunteer today?”

“No, ma’am,” he said. “Just dropping off my girl.”

“Ew,” a voice said from behind us. “‘My girl’?”

My eyebrows raised because this was the one safe haven I thought I had away from that voice. Away from the person attached to it who ruined my life. But when I looked over my shoulder, there she was. Merritt Alexander.

Lorelei chuckled. “Still a little burned on love after what happened to your brother?”

Merritt shook her head and put a full-wattage grin on her face. “No, I'm just teasing my good friends.”

Lorelei clapped her hands together. “I was hoping you would know each other!”

“Of course,” Merritt said. “We went to school together.”

“That’s what I thought,” Lorelei said, folding her arms over her chest.

I still wasn't tracking. “Are you coming to look for a cat?” I asked. I didn't add that she had enough cattiness to go around. She didn't need any added to her house.

“No,” Merritt said, pushing up her designer flannel sleeves. “I’m here for my first day of my internship.”

“Internship?” I croaked.

“Yes,” Lorelei said. “My niece needed a summer job that would look great on her resume, and we definitely need the help. It’ll be great to take some of the pressure off you and the part-time volunteers.”

“Niece?” I asked, still stuck on that word. How did Lorelei and Merritt even live on the same planet, much less share the same blood?

“Yep. On her father's side. Aka my little bro.” Lorelei went and put her arm around Merritt’s shoulder.

Merritt laughed but gave a disgusted look when Lorelei wasn't looking. “So, Auntie, what's on the agenda today?”

Lorelei had a plotting grin. “A little team bonding the old-fashioned way. Nothing makes fast friends like holding down an eighty-pound dog for a shave.”

My eyes widened. “A full shave?” We never did that unless the fur was matted beyond repair, but the animals always hated it. Sometimes we even had to sedate them.

Lorelei nodded. “We got a dog in this weekend, and I've tried bathing him and even conditioner, but it's just not happening. We need to shave his coat.”

Merritt looked revolted, but I was honestly sad. That poor animal must have been really neglected and scared.

“Well,” Carson said, “it looks like you guys have plenty on your plate.” He bent and kissed me on the cheek, then whispered, “Call me when you're done.” His breath tickled the spot where his lips had been, and I felt a shiver go down my spine. Would I ever get used to Carson kissing me? Even on the cheek?

“I'll see you later,” I managed, and he gave a short wave before walking out the door. And then it was just Lorelei, Merritt, and me. I hadn't stood this close to Merritt in a long time. Not since junior high when she started calling me The Thing.

My scalp itched just thinking about it.

Lorelei grinned between us. “I am so excited to have you two working together. My dynamic duo. Merritt, if you don't already, you are going to absolutely love Callie. She is so good with the animals. Callie, I really think Merritt can help us get some of these animals into homes. What did you say, Mer? That you had like a thousand friends on Twitter?”

Merritt closed her eyes like what Lorelei had said had physically pained her. “I have a hundred and fifty thousand followers on Instagram.”

“Even better,” Lorelei said. “Cal, why don't you show her around the shelter while I finish getting the grooming room ready?”

“Merritt hasn't been here before?” I asked. I mean, I kind of knew the answer, since I'd been here a ton over the last couple years, but I had to know why she’d gone from having nothing to do with the shelter to working here full-time.

Merritt put on a disappointed face. “I've always been too busy with cheerleading to be able to volunteer, but now that I don't start cheer practice at college until July, I have some free time.” She didn't add that the last place she wanted to be was here. I might not have known her the best anymore, but I knew she hated places like this. Too many opportunities to break a nail and no one around to inflate her ego.

Lorelei give us a wave before walking away, and I started toward the kennels without another word. I couldn’t believe I was working with Merritt. The whole reason I loved this job was because I didn’t have to work with people like her. Or people at all, really. The animals couldn't talk back, couldn't say anything mean, and if they were acting badly, it was because they didn't know better.

Part of me wondered if I could find an internship somewhere else. I hated the thought of being around Merritt’s torment, especially since I knew Lorelei wouldn’t be able to supervise every moment.

I fought to keep my voice level as we reached the back of the shelter. “This is the storage room where we keep all of the food for the animals. Some of them have special diets where they can only eat soft food, and you'll find that in the fridge here.” I knocked on the old white refrigerator.

Merritt leaned against the door frame, observing her nails. “So, you and Carson? It's about time.”

Brushing past her, I said, “This way.” I walked toward the dog cages to introduce her to the animals. “Each dog has a kennel with a comfort item, food, and water. The big dogs have access to runs outside, and we walk the small dogs multiple times daily.” I glanced at the cage where I’d first seen Gertie, and my eyes watered. I was glad she’d found a home with a single older woman who doted on her like crazy, but I still missed her. Franklin would probably be gone soon, but I couldn’t think about that. Not without crying, and I wasn’t going to do that in front of Merritt.

I came to my favorite dog in the shelter, an old chihuahua with gray hair and a pink bow tied around her neck. “Hi, Barbie girl,” I said.  She came closer to the door and let me reach my fingers in and scratch her neck.

“Let me pet her.” Merritt pushed me out of the way and reached her fingers through the wires, making Barbie snap at her and bark like crazy.

I did my best not to laugh as Merritt jerked her hand away.

“Terrible animal,” Merritt said. “I don't know why my aunt loves these things so much.”

I opened the latch on the gate and reached back to retrieve Barbie from the corner she was hiding in. I held her to my chest and gently scratched her ears. “You just scared her,” I said, turning back to Merritt. “Here, let her smell your hand.”

“She's not going to snap it off?” Merritt asked. “I’m so not losing a finger over this.”

I did my best not to roll my eyes. “She's a chihuahua, not a pit bull.” I stepped closer, and Merritt extended her perfectly manicured fingers to Barbie, who sniffed them curiously. Apparently deciding Merritt was okay, Barbie licked her fingers.

Merritt yanked her hand away. “Dog slobber doesn't exactly go with this outfit.”

Shaking my head, I pushed forward with the tour. I held Barbie as I led Merritt through the rest of the shelter. There was the cat room, where close to fifteen cats had all the space to play and rest and scratch. They had a big window on the side of the building where people passing by could look in on them. Then there was the operating room, where Lorelei could provide healthcare to the animals. We even had a small room with couches and toys where families could spend time bonding with their potential new pet to make sure it was a good fit.

I seriously loved this place and the thoughtful way Lorelei had set it up to save animals and give them a chance at a family. The shelter hadn’t opened for the day yet, but soon we would have visitors coming through and looking at the animals. Helping them find their new homes. And even though I didn't like Merritt, I had to admit, I really hoped she could follow through on her promise and help these animals find the place where they belonged.

“Callie! Merritt!” Lorelei called. “We're ready for you.”

By “we,” I hoped she meant her and the dog, not her and another Voldemort-esque co-worker to torture me with. But knowing Merritt, her best friends/evil sidekicks, Tinsley and Poppy, would be coming by any moment.

I gently put Barbie back in the cage and promised her I’d be back soon, then led Merritt over to the grooming room.

What looked like a goldendoodle that had never been groomed in its life sat atop one of the tables, clipped to the stand. His hair was so dirty and matted it hung in dark gray tangles. Despite looking worse for the wear, he gently swung his big head toward Merritt and me, then sniffed the clippers Lorelei held.

Since Lorelei was a veterinarian, she was also really skilled at grooming and animal behavior. What I loved about her the most, though, was that she would just jump in and get the work done, no matter how “beneath her” some people might have thought it.

“Look at that sweet boy,” I said softly, going up to Lorelei and the dog. “Have you named him yet?”

Lorelei grinned at me. “Roomba. Because I was having a snack earlier, and he sucked all the crumbs off the floor before I even had a chance to move them away.”

I giggled. “It sounds like a good name.”

Merritt stayed quiet, standing a few feet behind me.

“I'll go and get the cleanup gear,” I offered and went back to the closet in the corner of the room that held the broom, dustpan, and a hand-held vacuum cleaner. As I went, Lorelei flipped the buzzers on and got to work trimming back Roomba’s coat.

He became a little nervous when she got near his feet, so I went by his head to practice the hold Lorelei had taught me. But he was so big that I needed a little bit of help.

“Merritt, come over here,” Lorelei said.

Her eyes were wide. “I thought I was just watching today.”

“No better way to learn than to dive on in,” Lorelei said. “Come on.”

Merritt cautiously stepped closer, tiptoeing over the dirty hair on the floor, and begrudgingly followed Lorelei’s directions. Once we both had our arms wrapped around the dog, Lorelei resumed trimming. In no time at all, it looked like an entire goldendoodle had shed on the floor, and there was a thin animal standing in front of us with close-cropped, curly hair.

“He's beautiful,” I said, taking him in.

“And smelly,” Merritt grumbled.

“He'll make a fine dog,” Lorelei added. “Why don't you two go ahead and give him another bath, and then bring him out to a run so he can get some exercise.”

I nodded and helped Roomba down from the grooming table. Taking ahold of his collar, I walked him to the shower stalls in the corner of the room.

The door shut as Lorelei left, and from a few feet behind me, Merritt said, “Are you really doing this willingly?”

Just the sound of her voice was making my psoriasis itch. I gave her a sideways glance over my shoulder. “Yes, I wanted to be here.” Until I found out you were coming, I didn't add. “I like helping animals.”

She shook her head like I was a lost cause.

As I led Roomba into the bathing stall, I couldn't help but ask, “Why are you really here? Surely there were a bunch of other internships your dad could have gotten you.”

Merritt rolled her eyes. “He said I need to be getting some good PR for our family. Especially right now.”

Of course her being here was a chess move in a perverse game of power and control. The shelter wasn’t a game though. There were living beings here looking for families, recovering from hurts. The last thing they needed was another person who didn’t care walking through their lives.

I couldn’t hide the disgusted look on my face, so I turned back to Roomba and showed him the showerhead, just as Lorelei had with the clippers. Then I turned on the water to warm and got to work scrubbing him. He was still so dirty that the water ran brown on the floor. This would take a long time without help, scrubbing his thick coat. “Jump in any time, Merritt.”

She looked at me over her cell phone. “I’m not getting wet.”

I rolled my eyes. “It's just your hands that are going to get wet.”

“No way. You might be used to hanging around shaggy dogs like Carson, but I am not.”

Anger welled within me, a practically foreign feeling.  I'd been embarrassed before, disappointed, sad, dejected, hurt, but never angry like I was at Merritt for insulting Carson. Without thinking, I turned the spray of water at her and completely drenched her, phone and all.

She looked just as shocked as I felt, her hair limp and her mouth hanging comically open as she stared back at me. “What did you do, fish skin?” she wailed.

What had I done? My mind was short-circuiting at my actions. I’d never treated anyone like that. Guilt drenched me just as the water had done Merritt. I attempted to sputter out an apology that was basically just the word sorry a bunch of times.

Her eyes narrowed at me, her black mascara streaking down her face. “You are so going to pay for this.”

As she stormed away, I looked down at Roomba. He had his big dark eyes turned on me, but I could have sworn he was smiling.