At first he’d encouraged her. “You’re doing awesome. Way to go! Have you tried Pilates? Maybe you should use more weight machines.”
Then it had turned into something else. He’d gone through her food diary. “You had a latte today. You know you shouldn’t be drinking those.”
“It was fat free. Less than 100 calories. I counted it on my daily intake.”
“You need to make better choices. How long were you in the gym today?”
“What does that matter?” Kate had been furious. Why was it his business?
“I’m just trying to help you,” he said as though he knew everything there was to know about fitness and health, and as if she was an idiot who needed her hand held.
“I’m doing fine. I need your support. Not your judgmental attitude.”
“I just don’t want you gaining the weight back.”
“Why?” Kate asked. “What does it matter as long as I’m healthy? I’m still the same person no matter what the size.”
Marcus made a face. “Fat people aren’t attractive. Would you be attracted to me if I gained twenty pounds?”
“Of course I would. I love you for more than just your body.”
Marcus rolled his eyes. “Well, I wouldn’t. So if you gain weight, I’m leaving you.”
Even though she told herself she wasn’t doing this for him, those words hit home. Kate became more obsessed than ever.
And then came the car accident, and along with it a broken leg and a cast. The doctor had told her to stay off it. No trips to the gym. No working out.
Despite watching her diet carefully, the pounds crept back on. Slowly at first, then faster. It was like a freight train she couldn’t stop.
The day she got her cast off was the day Marcus dumped her. “Frankly, you turn me off,” he’d said. “I can’t stand all the rolls of fat. You’re disgusting.”
He’d left her over a ten pound weight gain.
After that, she gained thirty more.
* * *
Durty Nelly’s was heaving again, but this time Kate strode in on a pair of ridiculously high heels with all the confidence and grace she’d been lacking before. Plenty of male heads turned her way, eyeing her like she was some kind of juicy steak.
Fury stabbed her in the gut. How dare they look at her like that? They were the same men who’d completely ignored her or made fun of her as Fat Kate and now they were acting like she was the hottest thing since sliced bread and they couldn’t wait to take a bite. She was startled by how angry that made her. She was the same person, dammit. Was she only worthy of being acknowledged as a human being because she was skinny?
One of the men had the temerity to approach her, but her snarl sent him scurrying back to his drunken friends. They all laughed at him, teasing him for daring to approach a woman so out of his league.
Kate hesitated. Out of his league? Really? Holy heck.
Her smile restored, Kate scanned the room for her date. He was sitting at the same table with the same drink in front of him. And one for her.
“Kyle.” As she approached the table he stood just like the gentleman he was.
“Kaitlyn.” He extended his hand, but his smile was only a small one and there was a distinct lack of warmth in his eyes, unlike their last date. The one he didn’t know they’d been on. “Nice to meet you. I ordered you a drink.”
“Amaretto and cola, my favorite.”
“That’s so strange.”
She glanced up from her drink. “What is?”
He shook his head. “Never mind. It’s nothing. I just know someone else with the same favorite drink.”
For a moment Kate’s entire body froze. “Really? How…odd. Who is it?”
“Just this woman I know, Kate.” Kyle shook his head. “It’s nothing. Lots of people have the same favorite drinks.”
“Sure.” But inside Kate was shaking. Her. He was talking about her. Kate. The real Kate. Fat Kate.
Her mind spun back to her last meeting with Branwen. What had the woman said? Something about there being one person who would remember the real Kate, and that when she found him, she’d better pay attention.
Kyle obviously remembered their first date and he clearly remembered Fat Kate. It was equally clear he didn’t realize that Skinny Kate was the same person. Either she’d done a damn good job on her dating profile, or Branwen had messed with his brain.
“Hey, listen, you want to get out of here? Get something to eat?” Kyle asked.
“Uh, sure.”
“I know a great place just down the Riverwalk.”
They chatted as they walked, about the latest scifi movie, who made a better Batman, and various other geeky things. Kate felt herself loosening up, laughing. Kyle was charming and she found herself having a great time.
The little Mexican place overlooked the water. It was the perfect spot for a date. Casually romantic. Nothing over the top. It was also one of Kate’s favorite eateries on the Riverwalk, but when it came time to order, she froze. She loved tamales, burritos, quesadillas, but her mantra kept playing over and over in her mind.
Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.
She was not about to give up this new, thin body. She couldn’t go back to old, Fat Kate. No way. She’d finally gotten the attention of the man of her dreams, she was not going back. When the waiter arrived she ordered chicken fajitas.
As they waited for their food to arrive, conversation turned more personal.
“What was it you did for a living again?” Kyle asked.
“I’m a dental hygienist.” She’d told him that before. Well, she was pretty sure she had. Wasn’t he listening?
“Oh, right. Weird.”
“Why is it weird?”
“Oh, it’s not. I mean it’s a weird coincidence. The woman I told you about, the one who likes the same drink you do, she’s a dental hygienist too.”
“Uh huh.”
“Is there something wrong with your food?”
“What do you mean?” Kate glanced down at
