Curvy Girls Can’t Date Best Friends by Kelsie Stelting

Fifty-One

Callie

When Merritt picked up, she said, “Did I forget to close a gate again? I swear—”

“No, that’s not it!” I said with a giggle. That had been a challenge getting all the cats back into their room. “I actually had a question for you...”

“What is it?” she asked suspiciously. “I need to get back to getting ready.”

“Actually, it’s about that,” I said. “Some of my friends and I are getting ready for your brother’s premiere together, and we thought you might like to come.”

The line was silent for a moment as she took in the question. If she was anything like me, she was still reeling.

“With Rory?” she asked finally.

“And Zara, Ginger, and Jordan,” I answered.

“Do they know I’m coming?”

“They’re excited,” I lied.

“Liar,” Carson hissed.

I hit his shoulder, still waiting on Merritt’s reply. After a moment of silence, I said, “Come on, Merritt, just say yes. I know you need friends, and we’re ready to move on if you are.”

She let out a long breath. “I’ll come.”

Before she had a chance to back out, I told her we’d be by to get her in half an hour, although I half expected her to back out. But when we pulled down the winding driveway in front of her house, she was outside with a big duffel bag and a garment bag surely carrying a designer gown.

Carson reached behind him and popped open the back door for her, and she got in, a distrusting look in her eyes.

“If this is a setup, you’re going to pay,” she said.

I rolled my eyes. “That’s so high school.”

Shaking her head, she said to Carson, “Let’s get this over with.”

“That’s the spirit,” he said.

I noticed the smile she tried to hide. We drove in mostly silence to Zara’s townhouse. Merritt stared at the building. “We’re going to have to move at the end of the month.”

My heart ached for her. “What about your dad?”

“Jail,” she said. “For three years.”

I turned in the seat and put my hand on hers. “We’re here for you, remember?”

With a sad smile, she wiped at her eyes and nodded.

“Let me go make sure everyone’s ready,” I said and got out of the car, my guilty conscious weighing on me.

When I walked inside, the guys were sitting in front of the TV with Zara’s dad, watching baseball. How they always found a sport to watch, I had no idea. They were practically oblivious to me as I walked up the stairs to Zara’s room.

The girls were sprawled around the space, talking, and when they saw me, they greeted me warmly. But there was no time for greetings.

“Guys, I have a surprise,” I said.

“You’re engaged?” Ginger blurted.

“No!” I cried. “Way too soon for that. But um...” I shifted on my feet. What had I been thinking? Merritt didn’t need to come. She could have gotten ready just fine at her house.

The door opened behind me, and Merritt walked in, her chin held high. So much for waiting.

“Merritt’s going to get ready with us,” I said. “She’s ready to move past high school, if we are.” I gave each of them a look, begging them to be kind. The other girls looked to Rory, knowing she’d been the most hurt by the girl standing beside me.

Rory stood up and extended her hand. “I’ll move past it.” She smirked. “But maybe we should hide the cupcakes?”

Merritt’s cheeks heated, but her lips formed a bashful grin as she gave Rory a hug. “I’m sorry.”

The other girls and I watched in awe as Merritt stood back and said, “I shouldn’t have done what I did, but Callie’s shown me what it means to be a true friend.” She reached out and took my hand. “I’d like to be one too.”

I squeezed her hand back and smiled at her encouragingly.

“In that case,” Zara said with a grin, “welcome to the Curvy Girl Club.”