Curvy Girls Can't Date Quarterbacks - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,78
clenched. “Shut it, Merritt.”
Her blue eyes opened wide, and she batted them innocently. “I was just congratulating our winner.”
Zara shook her head and opened her mouth to speak. At the front of the room, Mom cleared her throat. “Class, gather your things. You will be going to study hall with Mrs. Garcia.”
With a disappointed look, Merritt picked up her books, along with everyone else. I loaded my backpack back up, slung it over my shoulder and began walking toward the door, keeping my eyes down.
Mom’s hand clenched my shoulder. “Wait.”
I didn’t meet her eyes until all the students had left. Then I looked at her and said, “What?” My voice came out in a huff, rougher than I’d meant it to, but I didn’t retract my tone or try it again. I’d had a heck of a day, and it wasn’t even lunchtime.
Her expression softened, and she said, “I made a doctor’s appointment for us. I thought we could go together. Give you a little break?”
I closed my eyes for a second and then started walking toward the parking lot, not bothering to see if she was behind me. Of course my mom’s idea of a break was a double doctor’s appointment. Maybe this was her olive branch, meant to extend whatever peace could possibly exist between the two of us, but I was too hurt. Part of me wondered if I’d ever be able to forgive her for everything she’d done the last few months.
I waited by the car, and she came out about a minute after and got in. Her back was stiff as she drove us to RWE Medical, and I did nothing to break the silence. I went and sat in the leather seats while she checked us in and chatted with Betty between walk-ins.
How had it only been two months since I’d sat in this chair and had my first real conversation with Beckett? Such a short time had elapsed between him being a crush and being so much more. The numb feeling left and was replaced by excruciating loss.
Even though I was hurt by what Beckett said, I missed him more. Not because of what his interest in me said about curvy girls, but because of how he made me feel. I could just be me around him, without the pretenses, without worrying about sucking it in or covering it up. He was the kindest person I knew, the gentlest. I wanted to be like him. To be with him.
The door to the offices opened, and Chloe grinned at my mom and me. “Welcome back, girls. We have rooms ready for you.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Mom said. “We can go in the same one—less for you to sanitize.”
Chloe grinned. “You’re such a lifesaver, Mrs. H.”
Mom waved goodbye to Betty and then immediately began chatting Chloe’s ear off. It was like Mom felt more comfortable in a doctor’s office than she did anywhere else.
Chloe weighed my mom first, and then Mom stepped off the scale, waiting for me.
Having my weight shown in front of my mom only tipped the scales my day from bad to worse. Literally. Except when Chloe read it off (at my mom’s request), I was seven pounds down from my last appointment.
“Good job,” Mom said, the pride obvious in her voice. It shredded the very last thread in my chest.
She was finally proud of me now that I was more miserable than I’d ever been. Was this what it took? Pure misery for my mom to love me? and tears fell from my eyes. I wiped at them, wanting to be anywhere else.
Chloe looked between the two of us uncomfortably. “Let me get you two in a room so you can have some privacy.”
I followed behind her, my head hanging down as I tried to stop crying. Deciding it was no use, I excused myself to the bathroom.
I didn’t need to go, but I took my time splashing water over my splotchy face. The cool liquid soothed my eyes but did little to balm my soul. God, I’d made a mess of things, and I had nothing to show for it except a negative pregnancy test and still no period. Beckett was right to get as far away from me as he could.
I couldn’t stand the thought of staring at myself in the mirror anymore, so I walked back to room five where Chloe had left my mom. Through the door, I heard her and Dr. Edmonson talking. As I pushed