when I forgot to avoid thinking of Ginger leaving. “What did you want to talk about?”
“I guess I had a hard time in high school, and I know you’re doing better than me, but it wouldn’t be right to leave without passing on my...wisdom, right?”
I cringed. “This is going to make me cry, isn’t it?”
“Maybe.” She laughed, but her eyes were already shining. “Okay, I’ve narrowed it down to three things I think you need to know.”
“Three? I can handle that.” My eyes were starting to burn too.
“One, you need to hold on to your friends. They can seriously get you through anything.”
“Check.” My friends were everything to me, and they knew it. “Number two?”
“Pick the right guy. Don’t go dating some jerk like Dugan. He might be hot, but it’s totally not worth it.”
“Right,” I said, “like I’d date the guy who bullied you for the last three years.”
She lifted her hands. “Not him, just his type.”
“Sure. Easy,” I replied.
“And three.” She took a breath, blinking quickly. “If you ever need me, if you ever feel alone, if you ever feel like you’re not absolutely beautiful inside and out, call me.” Her voice cracked, even though she smiled. “I’ll always be here for you.”
My throat clogged with emotion, and instead of making a blubbering mess of myself by trying to talk and losing it, I closed the gap between us and held her tight.
“I love you,” I said. “And I promise, I’ll do my senior year right.”
Want to read about Carson’s PROPOSAL to Callie?! Grab your copy of Carson’s Proposal, completely free.
Keep reading Cori’s story in the Curvy Girl Club by grabbing Curvy Girls Can’t Date Bullies today!
Author’s Note
Friendship is one of the moist important gifts we can give or receive. My junior year of high school was a really dark time for me. I’d been hurt by a girl with no recourse, lost many of my friends because of that, and I spent night after night praying that God would send me a friend. A best friend I could share life with. Who would be there in the hard times and help me celebrate the good.
Soon after, I met a guy with a sunshine smile who became my best friend. And my husband.
Sometimes what we long for, though, isn’t always delivered in the way we expected. With my husband, I’ve had to practice the delicate art of forgiveness. Grow in self-respect. Lean into some stubbornness.
In this story, Callie is blesses multiple times over with all of the friendship in her life. Her parents are some of her best guides, showing her how to give friendship to others. Her brother is there for her and his roommate when they need it. The girls all lift each other up and demand they each have the self-respect they deserve. And then Carson shows Callie what it means to truly love.
When it comes down to it, isn’t that what friendship is? Love?
Beckett wasn’t wrong when he said that sometimes love tears us apart, but it can also hold us together. Sometimes it drives us to do incredible things driving across the country to keep someone safe from a perceived threat or reaching out to the mean girl no matter how many times you’ve been wronged.
Wherever you are today, I hope you’ll extend some of that love to those around you, and especially to yourself.
Acknowledgments
Writing the five books in this series has been an incredible adventure with so many people helping and contributing along the way. Of course, my husband gets first kudos because he has patiently heard me angst and fret and stew and think over these characters for more than a year. He urged me to push Carson in a direction I didn’t want him to go and made the story that much better for it. Don’t let his accounting career fool you—this guy is a romantic at heart.
My children have been so loving and supportive and have helped me lean into life more than they’ll ever know. I hope you’ll see some of the wonder and love they’ve taught me through these words. Special shout out to our oldest who repeatedly reminded me to have Carson and Callie get married. (Check out the bonus story for that!)
Siblings are the best friends that you don’t get to choose, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. They are my best supporters and firmest friends. I love them more than air.
Thank you to my mom who even read the ROUGH draft of this book and didn’t tell me it was awful.
Sally Henson is a jewel of a friend. Not only has she helped me with my writing, but she’s continually pointed me back to God. That is true friendship.
It might be a little unorthodox, but I feel like I need to thank Florida. Sally Henson, Yesenia Vargas, and I took a writing retreat there, and I can’t tell you how much clarity and hope the beach gave me. At a rough point in my life, the waters cleansed my soul and lifted my spirits. This story and its happy ending are undoubtedly better for that trip.
The sweet people in my reader’s club have made the group the best place on the internet. I always know I can go there for a pick-me-up, friendship, and amazing bookish conversation. Speaking of friendship, I’m thankful for theirs.
And you, sweet reader. Thank you for spending time with these friends. I hope each story felt like being welcomed back home. I can’t wait to see you again in the next story.
Glossary
Latin Phrases
Ad Meliora: School motto meaning “toward better things.”
Audentes fortuna iuvat: Motto of Dulce Periculum meaning “Fortune favors the bold.”
Dulce Periculum: means “danger is sweet” - local secret club that performs stunts
Multum in Parvo: means “much in little”
Locations
Town Name: Emerson
Location: Halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco
Surrounding towns: Brentwood, Seaton, Heywood
Emerson Academy: Private school Rory and Beckett attend
Brentwood Academy: Rival private school
Walden Island: Tourism island off the coast, only accessible by helicopter or ferry
Main Hangouts
Emerson Elementary Library: Where Rory tutors Anna, open to students K-7
Emerson Field: Massive park in the center of Emerson
Emerson Memorial: Local hospital
Emerson Shoppes: Shopping mall
Emerson Trails: Hiking trails in Emerson, near Emerson Field
Halfway Café: Expensive dining option in Emerson, frequented by celebrities
La La Pictures: Movie theater in Emerson
Ripe: Major health food store serving the tri-city area
Roasted: Popular coffee shop in Emerson
JJ Cleaning: Cleaning service owned by Jordan’s mom
Seaton Bakery: Delicious dining and drink option in Seaton where Beckett works
Seaton Beach: Beach near Seaton – rougher than the beach near Brentwood
Seaton Pier: Fishing pier near Seaton
Spike’s: Local 18-and-under club
Waldo’s Diner: local diner, especially popular after sporting events
Apps
Rush+: Game app designed by Kai Rush and his father
Sermo: chat app used by private school students
Important Entities
Bhatta Productions: Production company owned by Zara’s father
Brentwood Badgers: Professional football team
Heywood Market: Big ranch/distributor where everyone can purchase their meat locally
Invisible Mountains: Local major nonprofit - Callie’s dad is the CEO
Also by Kelsie Stelting
The Curvy Girl Club
Curvy Girls Can’t Date Quarterbacks
Curvy Girls Can’t Date Billionaires
Curvy Girls Can’t Date Cowboys
Curvy Girls Can’t Date Bad Boys
Curvy Girls Can’t Date Best Friends
Curvy Girls Can’t Date Bullies
The Texas High Series
Chasing Skye: Book One
Becoming Skye: Book Two
Loving Skye: Book Three
Anika Writes Her Soldier
Abi and the Boy Next Door: Book One
Abi and the Boy Who Lied: Book Two
Abi and the Boy She Loves: Book Three
Abi: The Complete Collection
The Warr Acres High Series
Sincerely Enemies
Sincerely Unrequited
Sincerely Cinderella
Sincerely Pen Pals: The Complete Warr Acres High Series Bundle
The Sweet Water High Series: A Multi-Author Collaboration
Road Trip with the Enemy: A Sweet Standalone Romance
YA Contemporary Romance Anthology
The Art of Taking Chances
Nonfiction
Raising the West
About the Author
Kelsie Stelting sealed her fate as a hopeless romantic when she met her husband as a broken, searching 17-year-old girl. A lot has changed since she fell for his sunshine smile, but her love for heartfelt, inspiring, and thought-provoking stories has remained constant. Her passion is writing stories with strong characters, deep feelings, and happy endings.
Kelsie currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three sweet boys. You can often find her writing, spending time with family, and soaking up too much sun wherever she can find it.
Visit www.kelsiestelting.com to get a free story and sign up for her readers' group!