Curvy Girls Can’t Date Best Friends by Kelsie Stelting

Thirty-Six

CARSON

Callie seemed to relax once I had ahold of her hand, and I held it the entire way to the beach. I’d always thought it was kind of lame when girls talked about hands fitting perfectly together, but Callie’s and mine did.

She had the softest skin, and her fingers slipped so easily around mine. I could fold my fingers back to cover her knuckles, almost reaching the brown birthmark on the back of her hand. I could hold her hand forever, just take it in, because when I held on to her, I felt like I was holding on to greatness.

Zara slowed the SUV and turned off the road. There wasn’t a parking spot or anything—we just had to grab the coolers from the trunk and then the surf and boogie boards strapped to the top of the car.

The girls started ahead of us, Franklin leading the way on his leash, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pleased with the view of Callie in her shorts. I’d worked so hard to suppress my attraction to her over the years, but now that I was going for it, I wasn’t holding back. Not anymore.

Once we hit the bottom of the path, it opened to a flat beach area with coarse sand and plenty of waves. Watching Callie take it in was even better than seeing it for myself.

“How did you find this?” Callie asked Zara, bending over to free Franklin of his leash.

Zara sent Ronan a flirtatious grin. “Oh, just a ride on a motorcycle up the coast.” He put his free arm around her waist and pulled her close to drop a kiss on her cheek. A pit of jealousy grew in my stomach at the easy way he could just touch the girl he loved—just be with her. I hoped I could have that with Callie, and soon.

Just ahead of me, Callie slipped off her sandals and held them between her fingers. As she leaned over, her hair swung to the side, revealing a patch of her psoriasis. It was better than it had been, but I hurt for her. She’d told me how uncomfortable it was, not to mention how many painful memories it brought up. Still, she stood up like she always had and kept going. Even if I wished she had continued with sports, she’d gone on her own path and made the most of a hard situation.

We reached the middle of the small beach, and Ginger spread a couple of sheets for all of us to sit on while Ray and Beckett set coolers and bags on the edges to hold it down. Jordan began passing out beach towels, and I just set down the surfboard and took it all in. With that crazy dog running around in the sand like he was a child on a playground and all my friends so happy... this would be one of the days I remembered for the rest of my life, the kind of day I told my future children about. And yeah, I might have been young, but I knew what I wanted. I wanted Callie, and I hoped she’d feel the same.

Kai picked up a board and said, “I’m heading in.” He had on a wetsuit, but the rest of us were just in shorts. These girls had brought such different guys together, but I didn’t mind. I’d never been the kind to turn away good people from my life. There were already enough bad ones.

Ray came next to Beckett and me and clapped our shoulders. “How about a surf lesson?”

“I’m down,” Beckett said, picking up another board and walking toward the water. Ray picked up the other one, and I followed them to the water. The girls were already spread out on the sheet, giggling about Franklin and applying sunscreen and laying out like their soul mission in life was to roast their skin another shade darker.

As I glanced back at Callie, her position brought a smile to my lips. Her knees were in the air, her hands rested on her middle, and her lips formed a soft smile. What would it feel like to kiss those lips? Would I find out soon?

My stomach disintegrated into a nervous puddle as I followed my friends deeper into the cool waves. We were about waist deep when Beckett flattened his board against the water and began explaining the mechanics of surfing—how to get on the board, when and how to stand up, and the best ways to catch a wave just right.

Back on the sand, I heard the girls giggle louder, and I glanced back. “What do you think they’re talking about?”

Ray shrugged. “What an idiot I look like trying to get on this dang thing.”

Beckett chuckled. “No way, they’re talking about how dreamy Carson’s eyes are.”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Not Ronan’s tattoos?” I glanced at the spot where he and Kai easily surfed farther out in the water.

“Oh lord.” Beckett groaned. “If I hear one more time from Rory how hot I’d look with a tattoo…”

“Same for Ginger,” Ray said with a grin. “But they’re definitely staring at my farmer’s tan. Chicks dig it.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Laughing, I swiveled my head around like I was searching for something. “Where’s my T-shirt? I need all the help I can get.”

Beckett shoved my shoulder. “Yeah right. Why would you need help, Callon?”

My nerves spoke for me. “Maybe because I’m telling Callie I love her for the first time today.”

Their eyes widened.

“That’s huge,” Ray said.

Beckett’s eyebrows drew together though. “You haven’t told her yet?”

Heat crept into the tips of my ears. “It took me eight years to ask her out—you don’t think saying I love you might take a while too?”

With a reassuring smile, Ray said, “It’ll go great. You just have to quit stalling and tell her already.”

“Yeah,” Beckett agreed. “I’ve been telling you to make a move for six years, man. Let’s get it over with!” He began pushing me toward the beach, and I dug my feet into the sand.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” I said. “I can’t just tell her.”

“And why the hell not?” Beckett asked, pausing his assault.

“Because... I’ve waited this long. What if I mess it up? It’s not just our relationship hanging in the balance—it’s eight years of friendship.”

Beckett put his hand on my shoulder. “Exactly. Don’t you think she deserves to hear the truth?”

I nodded. And this time, Beckett didn’t need to push me. I started out of the water. I started toward my fears. I started toward everything I wanted and hoped like hell for a miracle.