Page 32 of Charlie Beck Says I'm His

Shelby shook her head.

“He’d be stuck between a rock and the deep blue sea.”

Shelby tipped her head to the side. “Between a rock and a baby?”

“That, too,” I moaned. I scrubbed my hands down my face and tried not to scream. This was not what I was expecting to be doing before heading to dinner with Charlie.

“Maybe it’s time for you to step up to the plate and lay your cards on the table.” Shelby stared at me expectantly. “Did I do it right?” she asked. “Did I smash two idioms together right?”

I chuckled and nodded. “You did it brilliantly.”

She wiped her brow. “Whew, that was a lot of pressure.”

But she was right. I did need to lay my cards on the table. I just didn’t want to do it until I knew if Charlie wanted me, just being me.

“I’m not saying you need to tell him tonight, but you are going to have to do it soon.” She looked at my stomach. “I don’t know how the heck I didn’t notice before.”

“Because I’ve been living in baggy clothes and avoiding you.”

Shelby glared at me. “I noticed you were avoiding me, girl, I just didn’t realize the reason you were was because you were growing my niece or nephew.”

“You’re awfully confident about being their aunt, huh?” I laughed.

“Um, Missy Clark, I hope you know that even if Charlie loses his mind and doesn’t want you and Nugget, you can bet your ass I will not only be the best auntie ever, I will also be Nugget’s daddy.” She held up her hand. “I will not hear you argue differently. Right now, Charlie has a shot at being the daddy, but you can bet your butt I will be waiting in the wings to swoop in.”

“That is very strange but also heartwarming.” My eyes watered. “Nugget appreciates you.”

She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and pulled me into a hug. “We really have to use a different name, Missy.”

“They’re going to stick out like a sore throat in school if I put Nugget on their birth certificate, yeah?” I laughed.

“Yeah, honey, I think you might be right.”

I laid my head on her shoulder and sighed. Bandit jumped up on the couch and squeezed in between Shelby and me. “I’m really mad you gave Bandit my last biscuit.” I lazily petted his head, and he sighed heavily.

“You told him you were pregnant before I knew,” she countered.

“Shelby,” I laughed. “He lives with me. He probably knew before I did because I swear he knows my emotions before I do. And you didn’t know I was pregnant when you tossed him the biscuit.”

“Missy,” she laughed. “How can you possibly be thinking about biscuits right now?”

I shrugged. “It’s not like I need to hide being pregnant from you anymore,” I pointed out. “And I am hungry.” Hungry was a state I was always in. The morning sickness had passed rather quickly, and I was firmly in craving land.

“Maybe you can ask Charlie to swing through the drive-thru after your date to stock up on biscuits.”

“Maybe. We’ll have to see how things go.”

“You’re going to tell him you’re pregnant, right?”

Eventually, I would. “We’ll need to talk first. I can’t just come out with the shocker of being pregnant.”

“Charlie loves you, Missy,” Shelby whispered.

Did he? Or did he just miss the comfort of knowing I would be there? “Maybe.”

Whether or not he did, I was going to find out for sure tonight.

“Are you sure I can’t help you find something to wear tonight now that I know you are pregnant?” she asked.

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