Curvy Girls Can't Date Bad Boys - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,80
a cup of creamy chai tea. I knew she would need it to go with the spice. Plus, I wanted to feel like my mom was here, and she never would have let a guest sit down without a cup of tea.
When I reached the table, Nattie was sitting down in the empty seat between my father and me, her purse hanging over the back of her chair.
Her eyes lit up even brighter when she saw the bowl. “I love Indian food.”
“Well,” I said, “you're in the right place.”
With a smile, she took a bite, and while she chewed, I gave Dad a look. What was a #1 New York Times bestselling author doing here? In our house?
She caught sight of us and the silent conversation we were having and wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. “Oh, I'm sorry. I'm being so rude.” She looked at Dad. “Have you told her yet?”
He shook his head. “I thought I would let you do the honor.”
She smiled at him, and then turned her full-wattage grin on me. “Zara, your father and I have been talking about the adaptation of my novel, and he told me about his teen lessons with you. And how much he had learned after they stopped. He might have told me a little bit about your arranged marriage—and how it fell through—as well.”
My cheeks pinked as I imagined what she must have made of it all. But her smile only seemed to grow. My agent and I have decided that Bhatta Productions can produce the movie, but only with you as the executive producer.”
My jaw dropped open, and I was sure she could see bits of chewed up food inside, but I was too shocked to worry about it. “Executive producer?” I asked.
She nodded. “I saw what you did on the news, standing up to the owner of the Brentwood Badgers. That was huge. And not only that, but you told that boy's story beautifully, with all your heart. I trust you to keep the film true to the heart of the story. Are you up for the task?”
Eagerly, I nodded. Just like Ronan, I was so ready to make my own mark in the industry and to help tell people's stories, as truly as I possibly could.
“Great,” she said and added, “I'll see you in the studio the week after graduation.”
Forty-Nine
After we ate the rest of lunch together, I brought Dad and Nattie to Seaton Bakery. Gayle welcomed us with open arms, and within minutes, she and Nattie were deep in conversation. It felt like showing Dad and Nattie a piece of my heart, and I loved how they embraced it.
While we ate through the array of cupcakes Gayle set out for my birthday spread, I got a text.
Jordan: Meet us at the Emerson north trailhead at 8.
Seeing the address, my heart clenched. They probably didn't realize that that was where Ronan and I had shared so much of our time together. But I was curious too. Why weren’t we going to Spikes for a night at the club or someone's house to celebrate? Even going to the movies could have been fun. Why a deserted trail?
I tucked my phone back into my purse and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with Dad and Nattie. She was easy to get along with, and I was really looking forward to working with her. I needed to start reading her book now so I could become more familiar with it. Now that I had my freedom, it wouldn't be so painful to read about characters having their own.
After we got home, I excused myself to get ready for the party with my friends. I wasn't sure what to wear, so I just put on a pair of distressed jeans, a black T-shirt, and sandals that were comfortable enough to walk in. My friends weren’t exactly the athletic type like Ronan.
After touching up my makeup, I went downstairs to find Dad at the table, a book open in front of him. He had his notepad out and scribbled on the yellow paper.
“What are you reading?” I asked a little apprehensively.
Abashedly, he held up the book The Connected Parent by Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls. I couldn't help but smile and melt a little at the same time. Dad was trying, and that meant the world to me.
“Happy reading,” I said and walked out of the house.
It struck me that Jordan and I should have carpooled.