Curvy Girls Can't Date Bad Boys - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,30

make sure Merritt didn’t have ears on our conversation. When I spotted her in her usual seat across the cafeteria with all the football guys, I leaned in and told them all about the night I'd had with Ronan. I didn't tell them about the cigarette burns, because that felt private even to me, but I did tell them about the sunset and the way his kiss on my cheek lit my body on fire.

Ginger had her head rested on her folded hands. “You watched the sunset together? That is so romantic.”

“It was,” I said, unable to quall the giddy smile on my face. I never thought I'd be the kind of girl who would be watching the sunset at the beach or sitting on the back of a motorcycle, but I liked it.

Jordan frowned. “What are you going to do about your dad? Is he still stuck on Ryde?”

There went my smile. Just a mention of my “boyfriend” had my mood souring. No matter how much I liked Ronan or how much possibility I felt in his touch, when Dad said the word, I’d have to say goodbye.

Callie frowned. “Can you just talk to your dad?”

“I’ve tried,” I said. “I’ve yelled, cried, begged, pleaded—nothing. He's been planning this since I was a little girl, even telling me about princes and princesses who’ve had arranged marriages with people fit for them from other kingdoms. He’s never even stopped to consider what I want. That I might not want to continue the ‘tradition.’” The more I talked, the louder my voice got, and Callie raised her hands in defense.

“I'm sorry,” she said quietly. “I know this is hard for you.”

“It is,” I admitted, feeling heat behind my eyes. “But it's not your problem to solve. Not that there is any solution.”

Ronan wasn't what my father wanted for me, not even close, so why did I want him so much for myself?

Twenty

The next day, Ryde texted me around five and asked if I wanted to hang out.

I stared at the screen, wondering who had put him up to this. I mean, my father, obviously, but why? Why would Ryde text me of his own volition when he couldn’t get bonus points from my dad for trying to be around me?

Out of plain curiosity, I agreed that he could come to my house and hang out. At least that way I wouldn't have to get dressed up again or go out. I had plenty of homework to work on anyway. Maybe I could even catch up and get ahead for my date with Ronan the next day.

Ryde came over about an hour later, carrying two takeout bags. I groaned, already thinking he probably bought me a salad. Catching my expression, he said, “Wait, wait, wait.” He put the bags down on the kitchen island and opened a lid on the closest box, revealing an assortment of desserts. Was this his way of apologizing?

He looked down toward the floor and rubbed his arm. “I feel bad about what I said in the limo. You are absolutely right, and I had no business saying those things to you or acting like your body was anyone else's business.”

I stared at him, my eyebrows drawn together. “Why the change in heart?”

He shrugged. “I guess I want to make this work, and if I do, that means treating you the way you deserve to be treated.”

I raised my eyebrows, still not buying it.

Seeming a little frustrated, Ryde said, “Look, I'm trying. Can you at least do the same?”

With a tired sigh, I nodded and reached for a cannoli covered in mini chocolate chips. It looked delicious. “Where did you get these?”

“La Bella, by the mall.”

I nodded. They were one of the better Italian restaurants in the area.

“Maybe someday soon we can go together,” he suggested.

I finished the cannoli and wiped the crumbs off my hands. “Maybe after we survive this dinner with your family.”

“I think it will be okay,” he said, as if his family wouldn’t try ripping me to shreds, even with my father around.

Maybe it was because he was used to Merritt. Even though I wasn't afraid of her, I was tired of her. She was constantly trying to see how she could make life miserable for other people, and I hoped for her sake—and others around her—that she would grow out of it.

“What do you want to do?” he asked, leaning over the counter. I didn't miss that he hadn't partaken in any of the