Curvy Girls Can’t Date Best Friends by Kelsie Stelting

Twenty-Five

Callie

This had already been the best date of my life, and it wasn’t even really a date. Even though I knew it was all just for show, I couldn’t help but feel sad that this relationship and the way Carson was treating me wasn’t real. Would Nick ever be so thoughtful? Ever know me as well as Carson did?

But then again, wasn’t that the best part of a relationship? Getting to discover someone and know and love them for who they were? I shoved those thoughts to the back of my mind. Spending time with Carson didn’t used to be so complicated.

I glanced over at him. He had one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the center console. His shaggy, sandy-blond hair swept over his forehead, and the evening light hit his green eyes, making them look pale.

Again, I felt a pang of guilt. He could have been dating anyone this last summer before college, having a fun fling or finding true love, and here he was with me.

My heart warmed, making my lips smile. I reached across the console and took his hand. “Thank you. You’re an amazing friend.”

Gripping my hand back, he winked and said, “Make that boyfriend.” Still smiling, he parked in the crowded lot in front of Waldo’s Diner and turned off the car. “There’s going to be more people in here. Are you ready?”

Nerves sparked in my stomach, but I nodded anyway.

“Let me get your door,” Carson said. “People might be watching from inside.”

As he walked around to my side, I steeled myself for the eyes that were sure to be on us. Waldo’s was always packed with people our age on a Friday night. Even if Nick and Joe weren’t here, being seen together in public as a couple would go a long way toward making our relationship look real.

Carson opened my door, and when I got out, he slipped his arm easily around my waist like we’d been doing this for years. “Now,” he said, “smile like you’re about to get a strawberry milkshake. Because you are.”

I giggled and shook my head. “Thank goodness for milkshakes.”

He opened the door for me, moving his hand from my waist to tangle his fingers with mine. We walked into the restaurant together, and just like I’d expected, chattering filled the air, and there was hardly an open booth. We waited for one to have the dishes cleared off, and then I slid into the seat. Carson sat right beside me, his muscled leg pressing against my own.

“The same side?” I asked. “Isn’t that a little corny?”

Putting his elbow on the table, he turned and locked eyes with me like we were the only two people there. “Is it a crime to want to sit close to my girlfriend?”

The serious way he said it and the way his eyes trailed to my lips made my heart beat faster. “You’re really good at this.”

A waitress named Betty approached, and Carson ordered for both of us like the guys do in romantic black and white movies. Once she walked away with our order, a high-pitched voice I wanted to forget said, “Beauty and the Beast are together?”

I closed my eyes, knowing wherever Poppy was, Merritt and Tinsley were sure to follow.

Carson gripped my hand under the table and said, “I know I lucked out with this one.” He nuzzled his nose against mine, and little butterflies erupted in my stomach.

Merritt came to stand beside our table, along with Tinsley and Poppy, and said, “You know we were calling you the beauty, Carson. How did she finally convince you to date her? Is she paying you?” She leaned forward and whispered. “Holding you hostage? Should we find you a hotline to call?”

Carson rolled his eyes. “Sounding a little jealous, Merr.”

She let out a short burst of laughter that was too loud. “So she’s drugged you, for sure.”

Tinsley and Poppy cackled along with her.

Chester walked up to our table. “Lovely couple. You know when my Karen and I were dating, they put actual drugs in the soda?”

Merritt groaned. “And dinosaurs walked the earth?”

Poppy giggled. “Too bad they missed the asteroid.”

They had crossed a line, and I was going from embarrassed to downright furious. I opened my mouth to put them in their place, but Carson said in a deadly voice, “You better watch who you insult.”

“Oh yeah?” Merritt folded her arms over her ample chest. “And why is that?”

Betty stepped around the counter with our drinks and stood behind Merritt, saying, “Because we choose who we serve around here.”

Merritt’s eyes narrowed to slits as she said, “Come on, girls. Just wait until Daddy hears about this. He’ll have this place closed down in two seconds flat.”

The door clanged shut behind them, and Betty stepped forward with our drinks. “Good riddance. You okay, Ches?”

The old man nodded. “I’m more worried about these two.” He nodded toward Carson and me. “You shouldn’t have to listen to that.”

Betty set our cups down, mine an overflowing strawberry milkshake and Carson’s a sweating sweet tea. “Kids can be so cruel.”

“So can adults,” Chester said. “But I better get home for the day. Karen’s done with her volunteer shift, and we have a kitty to spend time with.”

My eyes lit up. “You got a kitten?”

“We did.” He let out an exasperated sigh, but there was still a smile in his eyes. “It’s the love of my wife’s life.”

The waitress chuckled. “Sure it is. Now get home to your girl, kitten.”

As Chester and Betty walked away, Carson grinned at me and said, “Looks like we’ve got some allies for Team Callon.”

With a smile, I shook my head and sipped at the strawberry shake. This was just round two with Merritt. Betty brought our food, and as we ate, I told him about round one, spraying her at the shelter.

He laughed so hard tears dripped from the corners of his eyes. “Aw, Callie, you didn’t need to defend my honor.”

My cheeks heated, and I said, “Hey, it was mine too. I don’t want people thinking I’d date a shaggy dog.”

He barked at me and pretended to sniff at my shoulder.

Laughing harder, I shoved him away. “You’re crazy.”

He waggled his eyebrows. “Crazy about you.”

From beside our table, Ginger’s younger sister, Cori, stood with some of her friends holding to-go cups and said, “Could you two be any cuter? Ugh.”

Her friends echoed her, and I grinned back at them. “Hey, Cori, how’s your summer going?”

“Good,” she answered with a grin. “Living the life. Single life, unfortunately.”

Carson smiled at her. “You’ll find someone when the time’s right. Just like I found Callie.”

Her friends awed at him, and Cori covered her heart with her hands. “See? Adorable. I’m going to leave before I get a tooth ache.”

She and her friends left in a heap of sighs and giggles, and I gave Carson a look. “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?”

He lifted his chin toward a couple of guys our age sitting along the counter. “They keep looking back here. Checking you out. I think I’m laying it on just thick enough.”

I followed his eyes to the boys, and I almost couldn’t believe him. They were cute. “They were looking at me?” The one on the left had some serious back muscles showing through his shirt. I was pretty sure he was on the weightlifting team at Emerson.

“Of course they were,” he said. “You’re beautiful.”

My heart warmed at his words. “You might just be the best boyfriend I’ve ever had.”

“I’m the only boyfriend you’ve ever had.”

With a smile I shrugged and looked toward the ceiling. “Details, details.”

“Well, hold the praise until you see where we’re going next.”

I couldn’t wait.