Page 69 of Curvy Girl Summer

“Or you could’ve just said thank you because I was being nice to you,” she snarled.

I shook my head. “You were being condescending, not nice. And to be clear, I’m beautiful, funny, and he enjoys my company. That’s why he chats it up with me.”

Turning on her heel, she stormed away. “Whatever.”

Existing in my body and not being ashamed of who I was and how I looked was only an act of confidence to people who viewed me as if something was wrong with me.

And there was nothing wrong with me.

“What’s wrong with you?” Ahmad asked.

My eyes jerked up to his. “Nothing!”

“Then why do you have that look on your face?” His eyes pinged over me. “You good?”

“I’m fine.”

“You look stressed.”

“I’m not stressed. I’m…” My sentence trailed off with a sigh.

He stared at me, waiting with anticipation. But I didn’t feel like explaining the interaction I’d just had with his fan.

He checked his watch. With a serious expression, he asked, “Are you getting stood up again?”

I pursed my lips. “No.”

“You sure?” He lowered his voice. “It’s happened before.”

“Shut—”

“Is that him?” Ahmad interrupted me, nodding to a confused-looking man standing at the door, staring at his phone.

I didn’t feel anything as I watched him.

“Yeah.” I nodded slowly. “I think so.”

“You good?”

I forced a big smile. “Yes.”

“You’re full of shit.”

“And you’re full of yourself.”

Snickering, he backed away to go help someone a few seats down. “Okay, I’ll be back.”

When Mike looked up, he craned his long neck until he saw me. His lips pulled into a tight smile. His eyes roamed my body as he approached.

“Aaliyah?” he asked, extending his hand.

I shook it in return. “Mike, hi.”

He sat down on the stool beside me and then looked down at his phone. When he looked back at me, he laughed under his breath. “Wow, you look different in person.”

My stomach sank. “Um…”

Ahmad strolled up just in time. “Can I get you two something to drink?”

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