Curvy Girls Can’t Date Best Friends by Kelsie Stelting
Twenty-Eight
CARSON
As I pulled into the pool parking lot for my shift, I couldn’t help but look around for my father. The sound of his wheels screeching on the pavement in front of our house and my heart pounding as Joe yelled at me to drive away was still fresh in my mind. My muscles were ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
What would I do if he confronted me in person? His car was still there and the “for sale” sign was still up, according to Callie, which meant he had to still be in town. It bothered me in a visceral way that I didn’t know where my own father was living, that I didn’t know if I was safe, or if he was safe from me.
Shutting down that line of thinking, I turned off my car and shoved my keys into the red fanny pack I wore for work. Callie always made fun of me for it, but that thing came in way too handy to ditch it.
As I walked toward the pool building, I saw a mom with three kids trying to get all their floats and toys out of the car while keeping her toddlers reined in.
“Let me help,” I said, reaching for one of the larger toys.
“Thank you.” She sent me a grateful smile and passed me a couple more life jackets while she held one kid on her hip, grabbed another’s hand, and had the third carry their pool bag.
“Mom,” the oldest one said, “can we get some ice cream?”
“Ice cream! Ice cream!” the toddler yelled.
“Da da, da da,” the baby copied them both.
We traipsed inside the building, a smile on my lips. Hearing the kids interact with each other and their mom made me miss my sisters. Maybe I could talk Grandma and Gramps into a drive to see Clary’s family. If not, I’d talk to Mom about getting a plane ticket to visit since I knew none of them were coming back here.
We got through the doors, and Mrs. Mayes signed the family in. I helped set their stuff at a table and went back to clock in and grab my guard float.
“How’s it going?” Mrs. Mayes asked.
I shrugged, adjusting the straps over my shoulder.
“Saw you and Callie made it official. Where’s your smile?”
Instead of smiling, my cheeks got hot. She was probably one of the million people who could see how much I loved Callie, and now she was one of the million who would get to watch my heart get split in two.
Mrs. Mayes grinned wide. “Always thought you two would get together. Didn’t realize it would take you this long to make a move, though.”
“You and me both,” I muttered.
The other guard on duty called a safety break, giving me the perfect excuse to get in the pool and swim a few laps. While everyone got out of the pool, I set my float by the chair and peeled off my tank. The same college girls who showed up every shift I worked giggled loudly, but I ignored them as I slipped into the cool water.
I ripped back and forth down the lap lane, working as hard as I could so when my time was almost up my chest was heaving with the force of my breaths. With a couple minutes to spare, I pulled myself onto the side and went and sat in the chair. Several kids lined up along the water’s edge, their eyes flitting between the clock and me.
With a chuckle, I made a show out of putting the float strap over my shoulders, clicking on my fanny pack, and dropping the whistle around my neck.
They jumped up and down, antsy to get back in the water. With a grin, I held the whistle between my teeth and blew. They crashed into the pool with cheers and shouts, and I paced the side, making sure everyone stayed safe.
The time passed slowly, but eventually the sky darkened, and it was time to close. Mrs. Mayes and I did all the regular things—checking the filters, putting away toys, locking up the cabana—and then it was time to go.
Was it sad that I felt safer having her walk alongside me to my car? My dad wouldn’t make a scene in front of her. No, he’d rather protect his reputation than his children.
But when we reached the parking lot, I stopped, standing stock-still. Someone was leaning up against my car.
