“Just no panky?” Cindy scoffs.

She said she wanted to get some new shoes, so we’re at the mall, and I just finished telling her about my night over at Micah’s. True to his word, he grabbed the pizza from Taylor when he got back, we watched some more Netflix, and then made out a little more. Okay, a lot more.

“Veronica, panky is the funnest part of hanky panky. What’s the point of hanky, if you don’t finish it with the panky?”

I narrow my eyes at her, confused. Then we both start laughing. “It was nice. He gave me a shirt to sleep in, and—”

“And blah, blah, blah. Get to the good stuff, V. All you’ve told me is how much you both hate olives on pizza.”

“They’re gross.”

“Girl,” she says through clenched teeth, raising a fist to me, “if you don’t spill the beans on the kind of hanky you guys had, I’m gonna go total bitch-mode on you.”

I laugh again. “Jeez, someone’s grumpy.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” She hangs her head low. “Stupid, Jackson. He called me but then blew me off yesterday. I can’t get a read on that guy.”

“Cindy, just drop him.” I stare at her, my tone severe.

“I know, I know. Anyways, enough about him. You’ve been smiling way too much today for me to believe there was no hanky pan— Ugh. I’m over that phrase.” She laughs. “For me to believe you guys didn’t do it. You know you can tell me. I’ve been your biggest supporter in Project V, remember?”

We walk into a Jamba Juice and order as I start laughing. “I’m serious. We didn’t. We just made out and messed around a bit. And this morning, it was …” I bite my lip, trying to contain my smile. “It was a good morning.”

“Veronica, if you don’t tell me what’s going on, I swear to God, I’m going to dump my Pomegranate Passion all over you as soon as I get it.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Okay, get ready for a pomegranate shower.”

She’s handed her drink and starts to raise her hand, taking the cap off the drink. I know she wouldn’t really, but I throw my hands up anyways, laughing while I do it.

“Okay, okay,” I say, lowering my voice. “We didn’t have sex.”

“But?”

“But … we did other stuff.”

“Other stuff?” She quirks an eyebrow, and I nod, looking away. “Well, that’s good for him, I guess.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“V,” she groans, rolling her eyes. “If you’re happy, I’m happy, but you better speak up this time. If he acts like Tim and doesn’t reciprocate at least a couple times, I’m gonna force you to break up with him on principal.”

I bite my lip, trying and failing to hold back my smirk. “Oh. That’s … not gonna be a problem.”

“What?” She stops in her tracks, her eyes popping open. “So you’re saying …” I nod while unleashing a wide smile. “Yass!”

Her scream makes a couple mall-goers turn and stare at us as she wraps her arms around me. “Oh my God. It’s the best, isn’t it? I can’t believe it, thank God!”

“Okay, okay, calm down!” I get my drink, trying not to blush because I know the employees have heard at least some of this conversation, so I usher her out of the store.

“Okay, serious question,” she says as I roll my eyes and we start to walk again. “Did you have to ask, or did he offer?”

“Cindy, I’m not talking about that.”

She grabs my arm. “Please, please, please. Just this one question. It’s important.”

“How is it important?”

“Answer and I’ll tell you.”

She gives me a mischievous grin. “Fine. No, I didn’t have to ask.”

“Giiirl,” she says, eyeing me sideways. “Don’t get rid of him, because I will swoop up on him if you do.”

“You are so stupid,” I reply, letting out a laugh. My laugh immediately halts. Tim’s walking out of a store, the same skinny brunette from the street fair wrapped around his arm.

“What is it?” Cindy asks before she turns and sees him. “Great.”

“It’s fine. I’m fine.”

Our pace slows, and I try not to look, but I do. Our eyes meet, and he smiles. As much as I still despise him after cheating on me, and as happy as I’m feeling about everything that’s happened with Micah this last week, I still feel something for that douchebag. His smile always gets me.

“Hey, V. What’s up, Cindy?”

“Nothing, dick,” Cindy says bluntly. The girl on his arm jerks her head back in shock. Tim gives her a smug smile.

“Cindy.” I cringe and shoot her a look.

“How are things?” he asks.

“It’s good,” I answer, giving him a timid smile.

“Cool, cool.”

Cindy jumps in. “Yes, everything is great. Fantastic! She’s going out with this great guy, and you know what? He went down on her this morning. Yeah!”

“Cindy!” I grab her arm, but she doesn’t stop.

“And she didn’t tell me, but I know she went down on him. I’m sure he’s a bigger man than you, in more ways than one,” she snarls. She actually snarls, and steps to the brunette. “Honey, I hope you know what you’re getting, cuz this jackass likes to take and not give.”

“Okay,” Tim mutters, looking embarrassed. I’ve never seen him embarrassed before. “Well, I guess we’ll get going.”

He walks away, the girl eyeing me carefully, before looking back at Tim. She whispers something to him, and he frowns, shaking his head. I spin on my feet, waving my hands in Cindy’s face.

“What the hell was that?”

“What?” She stares at me as like she did nothing wrong. Like what she just said was completely normal, justified, and as common as telling someone what the last song she heard was. “He deserved that.”

“It was freaking embarrassing.”

“V, you have nothing to be embarrassed about. You should feel proud.” I shake my head at her, confusion still across my face. “You have a hot guy, who likes you. And Tim is obviously second-guessing things. Sucks for him.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let out a huff. “What are you talking about?”

“He was checking you out right now.”

“No, he wasn’t.”

“Yes. He was. You were too busy looking at the ground all bashful, but he was. And as you can tell, he didn’t have Hilda on his arm anymore. And Janet was one and done. If he had his way, he’d probably ask you out again.”

“You’re crazy. That girl was like a size two.”

“Gah! I’m so over this.” She throws her hands up and starts briskly walking ahead of me. “Follow me.”

“What? What are we doing?”

Ignoring me, she peers inside different stores. “No, not there. I’m going to prove something to you. I’m sick and tired of you comparing yourself to these boney ass girls, just because you got some meat on your bones. Micah likes you, V.”

“I know he does, but that doesn’t mean—”

“No.” She spins on her heels, shoving her hand in my face. “Don’t you say another word.” Turning back around, she starts walking again, continuing to look through different store windows. “No, no. I think … no, that’s a girl. Oh, here we go.”

“Cindy, what are we—” My whispers are cut off as I follow her into a clothing store. A guy is standing behind a counter who smiles as Cindy approaches him.

“Hi,” she says, way too flirty.

“Hey, how you girls doing today? Anything I can help you find?”

“No, I just had a favor to ask you.”

“Um, okay.” He looks at me suspiciously, before returning his attention to Cindy.

“You’re cute.” She lets out an over-the-top giggle. Leaning a little closer, she reads his name tag. “Chad. Chad, I’m Cindy. This is Veronica.” I nervously take a sip of my drink as she motions to me. “So, first off, do you like Asian girls?”

“Um … what?”

“I mean, I don’t want to know if you’re a racist or anything, it just helps to know if a guy likes me because of that, or if that doesn’t really play into their decision making. I’m half Korean, that’s why I ask.”

He narrows his eyes, his mouth dropping as if he’s trying to solve an equation. “I don’t … I don’t understand …”

“Never mind.” Cindy waves her hand. “That’s a touchy topic anyways, let’s just base this totally off looks.”

“What is happening right now?” he asks, staring at me, and I shake my head, completely confused.

“Chad, focus.” She taps his nose with her finger. “Now, I’m going to ask you a question, and I need you to be totally honest with me, okay?”

“Okay …”

“Do you think I’m cute?” As she asks it, she leans on her hip and starts twirling his short, black hair.

“Um …” He pauses again, and his gaze bounces around the store. “Am I being pranked right now? Is this some kind of YouTube show or something?”

“No, I’m totally serious. I’m trying to prove a point to Veronica here.”

“Chad, I’m sorry.” I tug at Cindy’s arm. “This is completely embarrassing. She’s crazy. She has episodes. Come on, Cindy. Time for your afternoon nap.”

The words come out as calm as I can make them, but my voice still cracks, and I know my entire face is probably crimson red. Cindy doesn’t even look at me, pulling her arm away, still staring at him.

“No, this is important. Chad’s a guy. And I’m not lumping all guys in the same boat or anything, but he’s gonna be honest.” She leans closer to him. “Aren’t you, Chad? You wouldn’t lie to a couple of cute girls, would you?”

“Uh … no?”

“See?” Swiveling her head in my direction, she smiles at me, before turning back to him. “And so, you do think I’m cute, right?”

“Yeah …” He nods. “Yeah, sure. You’re cute.”

“And what about my boobs?”

His eyes pop open, then dart around, looking anywhere but her chest. “Uh, what?”

“My boobs,” she repeats, grabbing herself. “The girls here. What do you think about them?”

“Ohmygod.” Grabbing her, I try to pull her away. “What are you doing? This is insane.”

I can’t move her more than a couple steps before she takes her arm back. “I’m proving a point.” She turns and goes back to Chad. “So? You decide?”

“Are you sure I’m not being pranked?” He eyes the counter in front of him and the cash register, searching for a hidden camera. “Someone is watching this right now, isn’t there?”

Reaching over, Cindy grasps his arm. “Chad, please. You’re not being pranked. Yes, this sounds crazy, but it’s for the benefit of all womankind.” She laughs. “Okay, that’s laying it on a little thick. It’s really just for Veronica’s benefit.”

“Me judging your boobs is for her benefit?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“It just is. Please, Chad.” She leans in even closer, and I know the look she’s giving him. I’ve seen her use it on other guys. It’s a pleading, doe-eyed look. It’s the one that says, ‘Aren’t you going to help poor little ol’ me?’.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head.

“Um … okay … well …”

“It’s okay, I’m a big girl. I can take it. And I’m asking for your honest opinion.”

Wrinkling his nose, he averts his eyes. “I mean, you’re kind of small.”

“Kinda,” she chuckles and looks over at me. “He’s being so nice. Chad, I am small. I know that. But I make up for it in … other ways.”

His nervousness vanishes, and he turns about as red as I know I am. “So, you think I’m a little flat chested. Okay, that’s not news to me. But here’s the thing, Chad. Would you go out with me?”

“Well, I have a girlfriend.”

“Aww,” she turns to me and smiles. “He’s got a girlfriend. Chad, you’re a good guy for being straight up. But, let’s just say that you didn’t have a girlfriend. Would you go out with me?”

“Yeah. I guess so.” He lifts his shoulders and nods.

“Even though I’m lacking in a certain department.” She gives a slight shake of her chest, he gives an uncomfortable chuckle, and I just stare at the ground. Horrified.

“Yeah,” he answers.

“You see?” She turns to me and stands triumphantly.

“See? See what? This has been mortifying, and I have no idea what you’re trying to prove.”

“Hold on, I forgot the most important part.” She turns back around to him. “How about Veronica, Chad? Would you go out with her?”

“Yeah, she’s cute, too.”

“I can’t even.” I stare at the ground, wishing I’d disappear.

“Even though she’s got that full-figure going on? She’s still hot, right?”

He raises his eyebrows, seemingly more comfortable with this conversation as it’s gone on. “Yeah.”

“And she’s got a great rack, right?”

“Cindy!” I yell through clenched teeth. She pays me no attention, waiting for his answer.

Gone is his trepidation when she asked him about her own chest because now he nods his head in agreement. I cross my arms in front of myself as he says, “Yeah. Great rack.”

“That’s it, I’m leaving.”

I don’t wait for her. Turning around, I head out of the store, but I can hear her behind me. “Thanks, Chad. You’ve been a terrific help. You deserve a raise. I’ll call customer service or something and tell them how helpful you’ve been.” I hear her footsteps as she hurries to catch up to me. “V, slow down.”

“Slow down? Slow down! Are you insane? I’m the one who usually spouts off at the mouth, not you. What the hell was that?”

“I was proving a point.”

“Oh yeah, what point? How far along I’ll go with something before I’m horrified of going out in public with you again?

“No,” she responds, laughing. “That you’re the one with this hang-up. That guy in there didn’t know us. He’d never seen you before. But he still thought you were cute. And,” she nudges me with her elbow, “he was definitely eyeing your chest a lot longer than he was eyeing mine.”

I stop, turning to face her. “This isn’t funny, Cindy. That was freaking humiliating. He was checking me out and—”

“And nothing.” She puts her hands on my shoulders. “That was exactly the point, V. He was checking you out. I don’t know how many times we have to tell you, that yes, you may be overweight and yes, you may have issues with that, but you have to get over it. Because there are guys out there that will like you because of that, and more importantly, there are guys out there who won’t give a damn about that. Guys like Micah. He likes you. But how long do you think he’ll like you if you’re constantly saying you’re too fat to be loved?”

Her tone has turned from fun to severe, and the last sentence hits me hard. “I never said I’m—”

“You’ve never had to. The jokes and comments you make all of the time say it for you. I love you. Your family loves you. And we all feel like that because of who you are, not because of what you look like. If you stay hung up on this, especially because of that asshole Tim, how long do you think it’ll be before Micah starts seeing it and wonders if what he feels for you will ever be enough?” Her dumb joke and my embarrassment are all gone, and it’s just one of my best friends confiding in me now. “I love you, and if you don’t see that you’re an amazing person, what kind of life is that for yourself?”