Page 31 of All You Need Is Love

Snagging a paperclip from the jar, Shannon worked it into a straight line. “Yes. No.” Oh, she was going to burst if she didn’t tell someone. And she couldn’t tell Ashley, her normal go-to confidante who was busy with Ben and Bella’s wedding … and her new husband. The thought still stung.

And besides, Jenna was outside the family drama but close enough to understand it. Maybe she was the perfect person to tell. “You have to keep this between us, all right?”

“My lips are sealed.” Jenna’s fingers zipped across her mouth.

“Yes, I may have developed a bit of a … crush. I actually met Marshall before I knew he was Quinn’s boyfriend.” She told Jenna about that day on the beach.

Crossing her arms, she frowned. “Sounds like he was flirting with you while dating another woman.”

“It looked like that, but …” Here went nothing. “I found out that they’re just pretending to date.”

“What? Why?”

“Quinn’s boyfriend broke up with her. I’m not sure why Marshall agreed to help, though.” She hadn’t stuck around long enough to ask. “But the fact he lied … that means I should stay far, far away from him, right?” Shannon took another paper clip out and unwrapped it, one metal end digging into her fingertips.

“Generally I’d say yes. I’ve dealt with my fair share of liars.” Jenna tapped her chin. “But I also know your sister. She could convince a starving man to give her his last bite of bread.”

That was the truest thing anyone had said to Shannon all day. All week. All year.

“So if Marshall means something to you, if you think there could be more between you, then ask him for the truth. All of it. And then decide what to do.”

* * *

Marshall should have gotten on a plane back to New York as soon as he’d told Shannon the truth. And yet here he stood, hand in hand with Quinn. They walked with Tyler and Gabrielle back to their house after Trivia Night, the cool night breeze rustling the collar of Marshall’s shirt.

“I still can’t believe we won.” Quinn let loose a girly woo-hoo across Main Street. “You did me proud, little brother.”

At least someone was happy. For Marshall, it had been a miserable night—all the pretending, all the lies. And Shannon hadn’t even been there, so he was left to wonder what she was thinking about his revelation earlier in the day.

Yep, miserable.

“Why can’t you believe it? I know everything there is to know about Marvel.” Even with his arm wrapped around Gabrielle’s shoulders, Tyler managed to puff out his chest.

His wife laughed. “He really does. Me? I’ll take Pride & Prejudice any day. But what do you think he wants to watch every Friday night?”

“That’s how you spend a Friday night?” The light from the streetlamp caught the flicker off Quinn’s dangling gold earrings as she shook her head. “You old married people are so boring.”

“Someday you’ll understand.” A secret smile slid across Gabrielle’s lips. Meanwhile, her hand seemed permanently attached to her stomach, stroking it.

Marshall had always been in the same camp as Quinn. He loved nothing more than heading to the bar at ten p.m. on Friday, working off the stress of another long week with a beer in one hand and a microphone in the other.

Back at his apartment, it was too quiet. His three roommates were never there, and even when the TV was blaring, a sense of quiet forever pervaded the place.

But what if someone were there at the end of a long day? Someone who could help him shoulder his burdens. Who’d curl up with him on the couch and nerd out over the movies he liked—or at least tolerate them with a smile.

Who’d remind him he wasn’t alone like he’d been ever since Mom died eleven years ago.

Shannon’s face popped into his mind, and suddenly, the idea wasn’t half as bad as it had always seemed.

“Ow.” Quinn pulled her hand away from Marshall’s and massaged it with the other. “Honey, you squeezed too hard.”

He had? “Sorry.” Not really. It gave him an excuse to sink his hands into his pockets.

“Is there something you wanted to say?”

“No, just admiring the view.” They stepped off Main Street and into Tyler and Gabrielle’s neighborhood. A brick house that was one step shy of being a mansion towered over them. Sprinklers tossed water across its pristine lawn.

Quinn laughed. “It’s just plain old Walker Beach. Not terribly exciting.” She elbowed Tyler. “I’m still surprised you came back and settled here. Don’t you miss the nightlife, the verve of Manhattan?”

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