Curvy Girls Can't Date Cowboys - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,41
area were looking for options like what we have in our store, and they just didn't exist before.”
“So you don't think that regular food is bad?” I asked. How much I cared about his answer surprised me.
“Your mother’s the expert. All’s I know is that people want this, and I don't feel bad about giving them that option. Especially when you were so sick and the only thing we could control was your environment. We gave that to ourselves and everyone else with Ripe.”
I looked down at my lap again, processing.
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” I answered. I looked up and smiled. “So, do you think Knox is going to work out here?”
He grinned. “Between you and me, I think it'll be fine as long as we keep him away from Cori.”
Twenty-Six
When I arrived at home, the entire house smelled like Christmas dinner. No one sat in the living room, so I followed my nose—and watering mouth—to the kitchen.
“What are you cooking?” I asked Mom.
She turned away from what looked like a pan of gravy. “Ginger!”
“Ginger’s home!” The twins yelled in unison. They ran into the kitchen to greet me before Mom had even answered my question.
“Hi, girls!” I said, bending to hug them both. “I’m so proud of you!”
Tarra stepped back. “We haven’t gotten the callback yet.”
“So?” I said. “You two went all the way to LA and showed your skills in front of everyone. That took a ton of guts.”
Their eyes lit, and Mom nodded proudly. “She’s right.”
Cara hugged me again. “We missed you though. What did you and Cori do all weekend? Eat junk food?”
Mom watched with way too interested of an expression. “Nothing much,” I said. Homework, hung out with the girls.”
“What happened to your sweater?” Mom asked. “I was doing laundry and saw a big gash in the hood.”
My heart froze, right along with my voice.
“Did you get caught in that tree out front? I keep telling your father it needs trimmed.”
Relief washed over me. “I’m not as coordinated as Cori.”
Cori came into the kitchen then, saying, “And don’t you forget it.”
I rolled my eyes. “How could I?”
“Okay,” Mom said. “Go wash up. Dinner’s almost ready.”
The twins left to their bathroom, and Cori and I went to ours. Once we were safely inside, I shut the door behind us, and she gave me a suspicious look.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“You have to see the new stocker at the store. He is flaming hot.” I fanned myself.
“Hotter than Ray?”
My eyebrows came together. “What does Ray have to do with it?”
“Oh...” She turned and began washing her hands. “A little someone saw you two sneak into the janitor’s closet.”
My mouth dropped open. “Who was it?”
“One of my friends. But don’t worry, I swore her to secrecy.”
“Uh huh. And how many people did she tell before you?”
She paused. Then, “Don’t deflect! You have to tell me what you did. Did you kiss?” Forgetting her hands and the water pouring over them, she eyed me closely.
“Of course not!” But why did my cheeks feel warm? “Nothing’s going on between me and Ray,” I reminded her. And myself.
“Sure.”
“Really,” I said. I didn’t know why it mattered so much that Cori believed me, but it did.
She didn’t seem to quite agree, but then her eyes brightened. “Does that mean the new stocker is yours?”
Taking my turn at the sink, I said, “You’ve got dibs. Trust me, you’re going to want them.”
She already had her phone out, ready to do some “stocking” of her own. “What’s his last name?”
“I have no idea, but his name is Knox, and there can’t be too many of them that go to Brentwood U.”
Her fingers flew over her phone, and within seconds, she was showing a profile picture of a Knox Torres. His grin popped out from the screen.
“That’s the one,” I said.
“Holy heart eyes.”
I nodded. “Exactly. You should see him stock those cans.” I waggled my eyebrows.
She waggled hers back. “He can handle my cans any day.”
“Cori!” I cried, halfway between a blush and laughter.
“Girls!” Mom yelled from the kitchen. “Dinner’s ready!”
That night, as Cori and I lay in our beds, she said, “Ginger?”
“Yeah?” I yawned.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Didn’t you already?”
I could feel her glaring at me in the darkness. “Go ahead,” I said.
“Why were you so willing to let me call dibs on Knox? I mean, you’re closer to his age, and he’s cute.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know why. He was cute, but I hardly knew the guy. Maybe he was too parent approved?