Page 34 of His Curvy Woman

“What I want to know is how he can afford all of this on a firefighter’s salary. Look at your mom and dad, could they have afforded something like this when they were first starting out? Ramsey is still living in an apartment for Christ’s sake.” Andi points out.

I look around the house and start mentally tallying up all of the money he spent this weekend when we went shopping. He didn’t even bat an eye when swiping his card. Was it too much? “He said he invested well.”

“He must have invested very well then. A dog like Arya runs at least ten grand and upwards to forty to fifty thousand depending on the company.”

“Don’t lie! This dog cost more than my car?” I shout.

“Probably.” Andi answers.

I just can’t with this conversation.

“Who is ready for margaritas?” Tina asks holding the bottle of tequila they picked up and some strawberry margarita mix.

Andi and I both raise our hands at the same time, and say, “You can count me in.” We turn to each other and burst out laughing.

After Tina makes us the best frozen strawberry margaritas, we take it to the living room with my homemade salsa and tortilla chips. When we’re finished with our first margarita, I take the girls on a tour around the house and end up back in the kitchen where Tina makes us our second drink. By the time we’re at our third, all hopes of watching a movie and making dinner are out the window.

We spend the entire night talking about guys, the good and the bad. Being a plus-size woman can have its drawbacks and finding a man that loves you as you are without trying to change you is rare. In today’s society, it’s all about perception, being the imperfect woman, but in the right way. The way that’s right for society’s standards. I’m tired of trying to get others to accept me as I am. You can either love me, all of me. The curves, sass and all, or you can’t. Hunter has shown me that I’m worth it all. Never again am I going to let someone dismiss me and make me feel as though I’m less than.

We stop at margarita number three, plenty tipsy and not fit for driving. We end up falling asleep out in the living room, Andi and Tina sharing the couch while I crash on the floor on a pile of blankets and pillows. When the sun peeks through the windows, we’re all awake.

“Next time we’re grabbing an Uber, so we don’t have to crash at your place Whit.” Tina groans as she sips her steaming mug of coffee. We’re all standing on the back patio while Arya walks around in the grass.

“It’s a plan, at least until we get all of our furniture in.”

Andi bumps my shoulder and gives me a soft smile. “I’m happy for you Whit. You know that?”

“Yeah? I can’t believe how calm you are about all of this. If this were reversed, I would be freaking out right now.”

“Whit, everyone knew you and Hunter would end up together one day. Well, except for Ramsey. That man has no idea what’s going on right in front of him. He’s great, don’t get me wrong, but he’s clueless.”

I laugh, knowing exactly what she’s talking about. “Mom told me she knew how I felt about Hunter too. I guess I thought I hid it better than I did.”

“There was no hiding the smile that lit up your face whenever he walked into a room or the way he would stop and give you all of his attention when all of the other guys would ignore us.”

A text comes in, and I check my phone.

“Let me guess, lover boy is on his way home?” Tina asks.

I smile at my friends. “Yeah. He’ll be here soon.”

“We’ll get out of your hair then. We don’t want to intrude.” Andi offers, looping her arm through Tina’s and starts walking back inside.

I follow them in with Arya right beside me. “Y’all are never intruding. I hope you know that.”

Tina wiggles her eyebrows. “Oh, you say that now. Just wait. You’re not going to want us around when he walks through that door. You know I’m right.”

They have a point there. I help them out to Tina’s car and stand there in the driveway as they drive off. When they turn right at the stop sign, I begin walking back to the house. That’s when I spot a black Mercedes sedan parked across the street. I stop and look at the car for a while, something about it rubbing me the wrong way. The windows are tinted, so it’s hard for me to see inside, but I have the feeling that whoever is in there is watching me.

“Come,” I tell Arya firmly and quickly walk into the house and lock the front door. Walking around the house, Arya follows me as I set the alarm and then check to make sure all of the doors and windows are locked. My heart is beating double time in my chest. I hate that I’m so freaked out over something so innocuous, but sometimes you just know. I feel the same way I felt when I noticed my window had been opened, twice. If the person in that vehicle is responsible, I need to know.

“Whitley?” Hunter asks, gripping my shoulder softly.

“Hmm?” I turn toward him.

“You okay baby?”

“Was there a black Mercedes sedan parked across the street when you pulled up?”

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