Shelby’s cell vibrated indicating she’d just gotten a text. It was from Carlotta. “Anyone hungry? Carlotta is at the diner putting together a baby-watch basket of goodies for everyone.”
“I’m starving,” Seth, one of Charly’s men, said.
“Me, too,” Mary chimed in. “Nerves probably.”
“Shel and I will go get the food,” Charly answered.
Heath, another of her men, said, “I’ll go with you, baby.”
Charly shook her head. “I’d like a little alone time with Shelby. Girl talk time.”
“Okay, love.” He nodded. “If it’s too big for you two to carry, just text me. Okay?”
“I will.” Charly stood up and all six of her men surrounded her. Each gave her a kiss.
“Young love,” Maude said sweetly.
Shelby got to her feet, too. What Charly and Jessie had was what she wanted with the Champions more than anything. But could she?
She didn’t really know Brandon yet. She’d only been on one date with the flirty Justin. And then there was dancing with Alex. Of course, it had ended at his apartment with something more than just dancing.
She’d been hoping for a moment to talk to Charly about what had happened in Elko and also back at Alex’s place. Her head was spinning and she needed a sane female to try to make sense of what she was feeling.
As they walked to Norma’s Diner, only a block from the clinic, Charly asked, “Details, Shelby. Tell me about your date with Alex Champion.”
“He pulled out all the stops.” She told her about the date in Elko, including the two women she’d made cower. God, she hated that she’d lost her head with them.
“You’re too much, Shelby. I wish I could’ve seen that.” Charly stopped right in front of the diner and then turned to her.
“Are we going to get the food?” she asked.
“In a minute,” Charly answered. “What’s troubling you, Shel?”
She shrugged.
“You had sex with him, didn’t you?”
“I swear, I’m an open book to everyone.”
Charly smiled. “Only to people who care about you. Talk to me.”
“Thanks.” Shelby sighed. “How did you come around to the Wilde way o
f things, Charly?”
“You mean the poly lifestyle?” she asked.
“Yes. You’re an outsider. It must’ve seemed so weird to you how we choose to live here.”
Charly put her hand on her shoulder. “You’re worried that Alex and his brothers won’t come around, aren’t you?”
“Why shouldn’t I be, Charly?” Her heart was all in and that wasn’t good. “There’s a crash coming and I will be the only victim. How can I expect guys from Elko to choose what I’ve known my whole life? It’s my dream, not theirs.”
“Shelby, do you see yourself with them?”
She shrugged. “I might be falling in love with Alex.” Or am I already in love with him? “Justin is the kind of devil I am attracted to and Brandon is so freaking handsome it makes me tingle just looking at him. But does any of that matter?”
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’” Charly grinned. “Give them a chance, Shelby. If my guys and Jessie’s guys hadn’t taken the risk on us, neither of us would have the happy-ever-after we’re now living.”