Marcel’s concerned face peers into the darkness. His gaze lands on us and he steps outside. “You okay, Sunshine?”
I must look rattled. He doesn’t issue a single threat for Murphy to get his hands off of me.
“Hey, brother.” Murphy releases me and throws a hello punch, grazing Marcel’s arm.
My body vibrates with the need to get closer to my other half. And as if Marcel knows it, he wraps me in his arms. I rest my cheek against his chest and inhale deeply. The crisp, fresh scent of him fills my nose and calms me.
“I’ll see you two inside,” Murphy says.
“Thank you,” I mumble, without moving.
The door clicks closed and we’re alone with nothing but the harsh outdoor lights of the clubhouse in front of us and the dark forest at our backs.
“I’m sorry,” Marcel whispers. “I wasn’t sure how to—”
“No.” I pull back so I can see his face. “I wanted you to stay. I don’t want anything to take away from their moment. This is a happy time, and I didn’t want to burst into tears and ruin it for them. I needed a second to pull myself together.”
He kisses the top of my head and rocks me from side to side in his arms. “Love you, Charlotte. Can’t wait to marry you.”
“Me too,” I whisper.
“We can go home if you want.”
“No, I don’t want Heidi to think we’re mad at her.” I sniffle and dab at my eyes with the backs of my hands, praying I’m not smearing mascara all over my cheeks. “She was apparently worried about your reaction.”
“Why does everyone assume I’m going to lose my shit? They’re married, for fuck’s sake.”
I cock my head at him. He can’t be serious.
His lips quiver with amusement. “Hey, can I tell you something?”
“Anything.”
He turns his head, giving the immediate area a quick, dramatic search with his eyes. “Promise you won’t tell anyone?”
I hold up my hand as if I’m ready to take an oath. “I swear.”
He glances over his shoulder one last time, then leans in close to whisper, “I feel a little shitty now that I didn’t give Rooster my patch for Shelby.”
I doubt he really feels bad about it, but since he’s trying to cheer me up by taking my mind off of things, I play along. “Why? You’ve only met her a few times.”
“Yeah, that’s what I told Rooster.”
“Murphy and Wrath were on the road with her for a while,” I add. “It makes sense they’d approve. They had an opportunity to observe her in different situations. Wrath spent time with her at another charter, right?”
“So I heard.” His gaze shifts toward the clubhouse. “I guess he was also impressed that in all the interviews she’s given, she’s never thrown the club’s name around.”
I’m not sure if her silence stems from her loyalty to the club or self-preservation. Being associated with a motorcycle club might not enhance her sweet, clean country-girl persona. But saying that seems disloyal to my new sister.
“Well, there you go.” I run my fingers over his chest. “If you give out your patch to fit in, it’ll lose its meaning.”
“Rock and Z didn’t give theirs either.”
“I noticed.” I reconsider the patches she received. “Dex makes sense because he was there through the whole tour. Jigsaw because he and Rooster are so tight. He probably knows Shelby the best.”
“Absolutely.”
“I like her a lot.” My gaze strays toward the kitchen door. “She fits in well. Handles the guys with the right amount of sweet and sassy. Heidi adores her.”