HIS CHUBBY STEPDAUGHTER

CH

see you in that light," Jemy

. I had heard it for the longest time, and s

y thighs. A couple of students whispered at a table nearby, but mostly it was qu

uld rather

aids swung like pendulums. "I don't get how you still run after

t my eyes. She knew exactly how much I hated when she talked about N

of my notebook, the pages crinkling under my f

pus! No doubt why he has a bit of a sexy attitude," I said, forcing the words out even though the

talking down on you sexy? You call him taunting you about your size at any slight chance he g

ved automatically to tug at the hem of my shirt, then stopped. The air conditionin

own boyfriend... or manfriend, whatever she call

and she loves it that way. I had seen the evidence with my own eyes. Sleek

Her phone buzzing with notifications that meant h

vening. He promised to make it up to me." I pushed my chair back and stood up fast, not wanting to give her

caught my wrist. Her fing

ody and how beautiful you are, Michela." Her voice dropped l

table this morning, shirtless, mumbling one of his favourite song

away quickly, my stomach doing a little flip. He was my s

han and he's not as bad as you're painting him... Well, if not for all thos

sed both hands in mock surrender. She looked back down at her open book, but I could tell

rm kiss on her cheek, smelling

rying to sound confident, then hurried out of

day package out of my backpack. Jemy would

size, imagining how the fabric would stretch across his shoulders. Tucked inside was a handwritten not

since Mom married Miles Stewart four yea

smiled at me like I mattered. Over the yea

y times, quick, breathless ones in his car or hi

ld pull back with that crooked smile and remind me I was "a lot to h

noon sun. The heat pressed against my skin. I looked

been keeping inside, how I thought about him constantly, how I

us. And in a few minutes, I stood outs

y they always did, but I had chosen them on purpose. They made my curves look good. I grabbed the hem of my

stray lock of hair away from my face, took one deep brea

o myself, closing my e

the door, the way he might pull me inside, maybe even kiss me

oser to his door, raise

open. And it wasn't who