Page 52 of Curvy Cabin Fever

Oh no.

“My friends told me to leave him,” I explain, and Damien releases me, watching as I lift my knees to my chest, dragging the bed sheets with me.

“Who?” Damien questions, his voice dangerously low, as if it were filled with grit or stone.

Jeez.

“My ex.”

“Name.”

I shake my head, and he sighs heavily.

“You tell me, or I’ll find out my own way,” he insists, rolling his shoulders like the cocky prick that he is.

“Good luck,” I respond, a smile dusting the edges of my mouth.

Damien raises a brow and salutes me before reaching over to his bedside table and grabbing his sleek phone.

“What are you doing?” I demand with a frown, but he doesn’t answer me, not directly, anyway.

“Why did they tell you to leave him?”

I cross my arms, trying to be brave.

I can tell Damien this, can’t I? I’ve already told him I’m the fat friend, for fuck’s sake.

But the memory of Trevor fucking that thin blonde, the one I knew he had a thing for…in our apartment…

“Aria.” Damien huffs. “Why?”

“Because he was a dick,” I reply honestly. “But I told you, us fat girls have to compromise.”

“Don’tcall yourself that. Not in front of me, never.” Damien’s words are like a slap in the face as he barks them. “I’m fucking serious. Words have meaning, Aria. What you say is what you are; don’t ever put yourself down.”

I stare at him as he searches my eyes.

“Do you understand me?”

I nod, even though I don’t. I will always be the fat girl, the fat friend, but maybe just not in front of Damien. But then I remember every guy that rejected me; strangely enough, they were always good-looking bastards.

“Maybe you just have a fetish for fat women,” I point out, watching as he closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Come on, Damien, be real. Look at me.”

Damien opens his eyes and suddenly yanks the bedding away from me, exposing me and all my flab.

“Damien!” I hiss, reaching for the covers, but they fall to the floor when he releases them, leaving me pretty much naked in front of him.

“I’m looking at you!” Damien snaps, waving a hand at me. “I seesucha beautiful fucking woman! So what if all the losers before me didn’t see it? Maybe that’s because you are meant forme.”

His chest rises and falls, and I swallow, the tears that were once threatening to fall soaking my cheeks.

I can’t speak. I don’t even know what to say.

“You should look at yourself, Aria, because I think you’re the most perfect fucking woman I’ve ever met.” Damien’s eyes narrow. “And now, I think it’s time you told me about your fucking ex.”

18

DAMIEN