Curvy Girls Can't Date Bad Boys - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,25

seat for class.

Zara: He’s hot enough that I’m nervous... Video chat me after school to pick out an outfit?

Ginger: We’ve got you. <3

My first-hour class began, and I did my best to focus even though I was more excited about this than I had been about anything for a long, long time. Unfortunately, Academy academics waited for no one. With the end of the year looming closer and closer, our teachers were beginning to pack on all the assignments to make sure they covered everything they wanted to during the year.

I focused harder than I ever had before in each class so I could do as much homework during the day as possible. Then, I drove straight home and got to work on the rest of it. I wanted this night to be for Ronan and me, and I wouldn't have my studies distracting me from what could be my last adventure.

After changing out of my school uniform and into a robe, I refreshed my makeup, and then I called my friends. Each of their faces came up on the video screen, along with a couple of extras. Carson was in the screen with Callie, and Kai was sitting beside Jordan.

Callie nodded toward Carson. “Is it okay that we brought them?”

“Yeah,” I said, “a guy's perspective could be good.” My voice sounded breathy—foreign. When had it gone from strong to insecure? Because of a boy?

I could see Carson's cheeks getting red on the screen. “I'm not sure that I'm the greatest guy for the job.”

True, I thought. He was sitting right next to Callie and still hadn't made a move. “Kai, what about you?” I asked.

He grinned smoothly. “Always up for a challenge.”

Shaking my head, I went to my closet. I wasn't sure what the evening would entail, but I thought a ride on his motorcycle was pretty likely. That meant no short skirts and nothing that would be too tight to lift my leg up. That eliminated about a quarter of my wardrobe, so I moved to my dresser and pulled out a pair of leggings, then held out two shirts from my closet.

One was a brightly colored hoodie that was more laid-back, and another a flowy T-shirt in red.

“What do you think?” I asked the others, holding out the two options.

“Red, definitely,” Rory said.

Kai nodded.

“It will look so good on your skin,” Callie said.

“Agreed,” Jordan said.

With a frown, Ginger added, “You're so lucky you can wear red.”

I laughed. “Thanks, guys. I'll text you and let you know how it goes.”

“Can't wait,” Jordan said.

“Good luck,” Rory added.

I hung up the phone and took a deep breath. This was it.

Seventeen

I got into my car and started across town. By now, I knew the directions to the bakery without typing into my GPS. My friends and I all loved their sweets, and it had become somewhat of a tradition to treat the person you loved with a drink or dessert from Seaton’s.

Rory had fallen in love with Beckett in one of the booths, Jordan ate breakfast there nearly every day, and Ginger told me she’d gotten her boyfriend, Ray, his first soy latte there.

What firsts might happen for me at Seaton Bakery?

I didn't play music in my car, because I wanted to think. Like the last bite from a bowl of ice cream, I wanted to savor the flavors of this day and roll them over my tongue. I wanted to remember everything about this night, in case it was one I’d be thinking about after all of my hopes had come to an end.

I thought of Ronan and the jagged edges of his jawline, the hard lines of his shoulders and down to his muscled waist. My mind’s eye landed on his lips, perfectly curved and arched. Not too full, but not too narrow either. I wondered what they would feel like against mine, if I would ever get to feel them. Just the thought of kissing him sent a jolt through my system. Something about him was like electricity… charged, dangerous, and exciting. The fact that he wanted to see me again made me hope that he felt the same way about me.

I reached Seaton and caught sight of his motorcycle farther down the gravel parking lot, held up by its kickstand. It brought back so many memories, despite being just one night. How had it only been a few days ago that I'd done one of the craziest things ever and rode on a motorcycle with a complete