A Curvy Carol (A Curvy Girl Christmas #2)

21. Carolynn

21

CAROLYNN

I had escaped to Scrooge’s for the time being, but at some point, I’d have to go back home and face my parents.

I ignored the texts from my parents and wiped away the tears threatening to run down my cheeks.

Just when I thought Christmas with my parents couldn’t get any worse, they had paid a boy to hang out with me.

I felt so humiliated. All this time I thought I was making a friend, maybe even more, but all I was making was a fool of myself. Now, every memory I looked back on of Whit and me was layered with shame. He had to have thought I was pathetic, needing my parents to pay someone to spend time with me.

Scrooge came by, and I quickly got it together and pretended to study the menu. “What’ll you have?” he asked.

I ordered my usual burger and fries, with an orange soda.

Scrooge had it out in no time, and I began eating. Even though I was hungry, I wasn’t in a big mood to eat. I let out a sigh as I looked at my meal. Any other day, this would have been perfect—getting some time to myself with the best food in town. But today, I just felt sad.

Scrooge must’ve wondered if something was wrong with the food because he came over again. “Everything okay?”

Exhaling carefully, I looked up at him. “How do you do it, Scrooge? How do you keep from celebrating Christmas every year?”

He grunted. “Christmas is for family. It’s easy to avoid the whole thing when you don’t have a family around anymore.” He looked like he had half a mind to walk off, but he didn’t.

I felt kind of bad for him, since he didn’t have a family anymore, but I was also tired of dealing with mine.

His dark brown eyes shifted from the left to the right. And then he sighed and ran a hand over his scruff. “Is this about that boy?” he said gruffly. I was sure he was wondering if he needed to hurl a frying pan the next time Whit came in here.

I shrugged my shoulders. “It’s complicated.”

“Well, I know family can be complicated too,” he said. “I’ll tell ya one thing. Even if they’re difficult, they usually are doing what they think is best because they love you.”

I stared up at Scrooge. I’d never heard him talk this much before, especially about family.

“I know family can have their difficulties and their quirks, but… you never know. One day, they can be here, then gone the next.”

I nodded. “You’re right.”

Already, I could feel the anger at my parents dissipating a little. Dad had said how hard it was to see me sad around the holidays, and being with Whit had made me happy—even it felt painful now that I knew the truth.

Even if I missed what I thought we had, I wasn’t sure I wanted to see him ever again. Or that I could stomach the humiliation of facing him.

Just then, the bells on the front door rang out. We both turned to see who it was.

I gasped a little under my breath, seeing Whit come through the door, and Scrooge leaned closer. “Do I need to kick that kid out again?” he asked quietly.

“No,” I replied quickly. The last thing I needed was another scene at Scrooge’s. Even though it was the day after Christmas, the diner was far from empty. “I’m okay.”

Scrooge looked as dubious as I felt as he left and Whit approached my table.

I shifted uncomfortably, not meeting his eyes.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “Is it okay if I sit down?”

I finally looked up at him, surprised to see the hurt in his eyes. The shock I felt had me nodding and saying, “Sure.”

He sat across from me. “I got worried when I didn’t hear from you.”

I didn’t say anything. Not sure what to say, really. There was so many thoughts swirling through my mind that I could share, but I didn’t want to be embarrassed more by crying in this diner.

“Talk to me, Carolynn? What is it?” he pleaded. “I thought we were friends?”

“Friends?” I said drily. Hurt creeped through the bitterness in my voice. “Did you think I would never find out?”

He looked more puzzled than ever. “Find what out?”

He really was a good actor, but I wasn’t convinced anymore. “I know, Whit,” I told him. “I know that my parents paid you to spend time with me.”