“Totally,” I say, grinning from ear to ear. In the background, I can hear Maddie talking.
“What’s he talking about?” she says.
“He met a girl,” Colby tells her. To me, he says, “What’s her name?”
“Actually, Maddie knows her,” I say, glancing up at the store to make sure I’m not inadvertently ignoring any customers. “They had classes together last year.”
There’s a shuffling of noise while Colby relays the information to his girlfriend and then Maddie gets on the phone. “I know her? Who?”
“Bess Navarre.”
“Oh my God, really?” she says so high-pitched that I have to hold the phone away from my ear. “That is so cool! I love her! She’s the sweetest!”
“Have you been drinking?” I ask. Each sentence she said was higher and more slurred than the last one.
“Mayyyybe,” she says back, laughing. “But seriously. O-M-G, I’m excited for you, Josh. Bess is so sweet and so cool.”
“I know. I’m falling for her hard.”
“Just be careful, okay? She’s kind of . . . sensitive.”
I grip the phone tighter. “What do you mean by that?”
“Well . . . I shouldn’t be telling you but . . . she’s insecure about her looks, mostly her weight. She’s always complaining that she doesn’t think she’s good enough to get a guy. So, just make sure you let her know that doesn’t bother you. I keep telling her the right guy won’t be bothered by it.”
“What’s with this shit?” I say, letting out a big breath of air. “The girl isn’t fat! So what if she’s not rail thin? Honestly it’s hot as hell when a girl has curves.”
“Amen to that,” Colby says. I must be on speakerphone.
“Oh yeah, before I forget. I’ll explain it more later, but we’re currently not talking to Bryce, okay?”
“Okay,” they say at the same time. I like that my friends are good enough friends to just take my word on it and not ask questions.
“Hey, Maddie?” I ask, before we get off the phone. “Do you have any suggestions for me? Any way I can really win her over?”
“Just be yourself,” she says. “And let her know you don’t care about her weight.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“We’ll be back home soon,” Colby says. “We’re thinking of throwing a party when we get back, so you bring your new girl, okay? I want to meet her.”
My girl. I like the sound of that. “Sounds good. Ya’ll be safe.”
I ring up a few customers and watch my dad sell some expensive surf boards before lunch. I can’t stop thinking about what Maddie said, and what Bryce said for that matter. So what if Bess was a little chubby when we were kids? She’s certainly not now. She’s sexy as hell. I hate the idea of her being ashamed of her body because of what pricks like Bryce have told her in her past. I’ll do whatever it takes to convince her that she’s beautiful and has nothing to worry about.
A short while later, my phone alerts me that I have a new email.
From: BessNavarre
To: TheFlyingJosh
Subject: ughhhhhhhh
Yeah so my stupid phone is dead! I woke up this morning wanting to text you, but I can’t, and although it’ll probably only take a few minutes to charge up enough to turn it on, I’m sending you this frustration email to pass the time. How’s work? I’m enjoying my day off…so much better than working… ha! Can’t wait to see you again. Or talk to you. Or text you… stupid phone.
See ya,
Bess
I smile as I read, picturing her cute voice saying all the words to me. Knowing her phone will be on soon, I send her another text.
Josh:So about that date. I’m taking you out tonight at six. Dress comfortable. I think you’ll really like the date I have planned.
A few minutes later, my phone chimes while I’m helping a customer and it drives me crazy waiting to read her reply. Finally, I get a chance to sneak off and check my phone.
Bess:Sounds good. Can’t wait!
I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling so much. The date has been arranged and she’s agreed to it. Now all I have to do is pull off my super romantic plan.
Knowing I can’t do this alone, I call my sister. “Hey,” I say when she answers. “I need your help.”
