Page 29 of All You Need Is Love

Chapter 6

“I’m not really Quinn’s boyfriend.”

The words beat a path around and around Shannon’s brain as she hurried up Main Street, Lucky in tow. Marshall had lied to her. He was a liar.

He was also single.

Groaning, she tugged Lucky’s leash as the dog stopped to smell a pot of flowers outside Hardings Market. “No, boy.”

Man, what a confusing day. First the interview, then Marshall. If Shannon had her way, she’d go straight home, curl up to watch a romance flick, and try to forget this awful day had ever happened. But first, she had to do her Baker family reunion duty and check in with her cousin Cameron about tomorrow night’s event.

After a few minutes of walking, she came upon Rise Beach Rentals, which Cam managed for an older couple who lived out of town. The pale green storefront had a small porch with a white railing and a large colorful sign out front, designating it as the place to get all manner of beach supplies—from kayaks to bikes to jet skis.

Shannon tied Lucky to a cute black lamppost and walked inside. Two kayaks were mounted to one wall along with a colorful display of paddles painted different bright colors. A few young tourists browsed a catalog of available supplies, and a woman in a wet suit filled out a form at the front desk, where Jenna Wakefield stood playing with a paperclip.

Their eyes connected and a wide smile stretched across Jenna’s face. “Shannon! Hey!”

“Hi.” Her voice still wobbled despite her best efforts.

The browsing customers briefly flicked their gazes toward Shannon before going back to their own business, and the one with the paperwork finished and slid it toward Jenna.

Jenna held up a finger to Shannon. “Be right with you, okay?”

“No problem.” She was here to talk to Cameron anyway, though there was a chance he was giving a kayak tour or snagging lunch or doing a million other things. Either way, she just needed to confirm he had everything handled for tomorrow and then she could bury herself in blankets at home.

Maybe she’d even get the courage to text her parents and beg off of the Marvel-themed trivia tonight. Because the thought of facing Marshall and Quinn after everything she’d learned today …

Jenna finally finished ringing up her customer and disappeared into the back, re-emerging with a beach umbrella and snorkeling equipment for two. Somehow she handled the bulk like a pro without fumbling. Did becoming a mother make a woman more nimble? Shannon had seen countless young moms around town carting kids, strollers, and bags like pack mules, so it was possible.

Noah wasn’t a baby, but maybe Shannon would—

The truth smacked her in the gut again. That dream might be gone, all because she’d taken her eye off the prize and allowed herself to be distracted.

By a liar.

She faced the wall and squeezed her eyes shut, but more tears wouldn’t come. Seems she’d loosed them all on Marshall’s shirt.

“Sorry about that.” Jenna’s voice popped up behind her.

Shannon turned toward her sort-of-friend-sort-of-family-member. A quick scan showed they were alone in the store. “No problem.” Her voice scraped the air.

“Whoa, you okay?” Shannon attempted a nod, but Jenna frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Cocking her head, Jenna placed her hands firmly on her waist. “Shannon Baker, I’ve never seen you look more pitiful. Has Quinn been saying mean things again?”

“Again?”

Her hands waved in the air. “Yes, again. I know we weren’t close in high school, but I saw the way she treated everyone, including you.” She lowered her voice and leaned closer—as if there were anyone else to hear her. “And I remember the whole Cody Briggs thing too.”

Shannon’s cheeks were suddenly warm as she approached the front desk. “It isn’t Quinn this time.” Not directly anyway. She blew out a breath. “I think I bombed my foster care interview this morning.”

“What? You? No way. You’re more qualified than me to be a mom.” Jenna joined her at the desk and leaned sideways against it, facing Shannon.

A staccato laugh left Shannon’s throat. “That’s hardly true.”

“Please, girl. I was seventeen when I had Liam. And I’ve been a depressed mess for most of his life.”

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