Page 38 of Coming Home

I somehow refrained from saying, “I see you’ve found mine as well.” Instead, I discreetly winked at Shelby.

Cole’s phone rang and he grinned down at it. “Speak of the devil.” He turned his phone for Walker and me to see it was Patrick calling. “I’ll take this outside, and let you know what he says.”

“Thank you,” I told him.

Lizzy excused herself and headed back to the kitchen, but Shelby stuck around. She sat down on the coffee table in front of us and demanded to know what was going on.

“What was that all about?” she asked.

“Hooking your boy up with a new job,” Walker said. “How do you feel about Westin Pack?”

Her face fell as she gave me a serious look. “You’re serious?”

“I’m just looking into my options, sport. There’s not exactly a ton of jobs requiring my particular expertise. They may have one. I’m not making any decisions without you,” I assured her. “I’m just seeing what’s out there.”

“You were serious when you said you’d leave the military?” she asked.

I reached over and took both her hands in mine, not caring who saw us. “Shelbs, this isn’t my life, this is our life now. We’ll figure out what’s best for us, okay?”

She had tears in her eyes as she gave me a hesitant smile and nodded.

Shelby

Chapter 13

As I helped finish the last of our Thanksgiving meal, my mind was a million miles away. I had been proceeding with caution where Ben was concerned, but he seemed serious about getting out of the military. I wasn’t going to ask him to do that. I could handle him being away, as long as he didn’t go dark on me again or never come back home.

I hadn’t even considered what other options there may be for us. I just started my new career and loved it. Could I pack up and leave Collier?

San Marco was nice, and I would have Maddie there, plus half the year I’d have Lizzy, too. I loved the Westins, but could I call it home?

I wasn’t sure and I knew that I wasn’t going to figure it all out today. I tried to push the thoughts aside, but it was hard.

“You look a million miles away,” Mom commented.

“Sorry, just a lot on my mind,” I admitted.

“Walker and Ben seem to be hitting it off. I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous about having the two of them here together.”

“Why?” I asked.

Mom gave me a stern look. “You are not that oblivious, Shelby. Anyone can see Ben still has feelings for you.”

“They can?”

She shot me another look. “I know it’s been hard on you having him back home. You two were so close for so long, and now you have Walker in your life and I just don’t want there to be any problems today with them both being here, that’s all I’m saying.”

“You do know Walker and I are just friends, right, Mom?”

She gave me a knowing look, as if to say she wasn’t buying that one bit. Then Peyton called her away. I groaned in frustration and went to check to ensure the table was set properly just as Walker and Ben wandered into the dining room looking like old friends.

Someone had set out place cards and I immediately noticed that they had sat Walker next to me and Ben across from me. I frowned at them.

Walker took notice and shook his head. He snatched the card with his name on it and walked around until he found Ben’s and switched them.

“They’re going to notice,” I assured him.

He shrugged. “So what? It’s asking for trouble. At least this way if Ben’s wolf starts to act up, you’re within arm’s reach to calm him.”

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