Page 32 of All You Need Is Love

“Sure, sometimes.” The former football player shrugged his shoulders. “But I get back there often enough for meetings. And this is where our family is.”

“Exactly.”

“Someday you’re going to miss it too, Quinnie.”

“I highly doubt that, Ty Ty.”

Marshall listened to the siblings tease each other and glanced up at the sky, where a thousand different stars sent light tumbling through space to reach them here, like the coolest magic trick ever invented. Definitely couldn’t see that in the city.

Gabrielle leaned forward as she walked, fixing her gaze on Quinn. “Soon you’ll have a good enough reason to come visit, though. Your new niece will probably have you wrapped around her little finger.”

Huffing, Quinn’s steps faltered a bit, but she righted herself quickly as they rounded the corner to Tyler and Gabrielle’s house. “I think you’re confusing me with Shannon. She’s the one who’s good with kids.”

The house came into view in front of them, and Quinn threw open the gate on the white picket fence. “I have a headache. I’m going to bed.” Then she strode toward the house.

Gabrielle turned worried eyes on Tyler. “I’m really trying. I just don’t think she likes me.”

“It’s not personal, Gabs. She has a headache. You remember how cranky she gets when she doesn’t feel well.” Tyler kissed Gabrielle’s forehead, then turned to Marshall. “Want to join me in the back? I’ve got a little project for us.”

Marshall should probably check on his work email, but it could wait a bit. “Sure.”

After hugging his wife, Tyler led the way around the side of the house into the back, where a modest patch of grass extended to a brick-walled fence surrounding the yard. Then he rounded on Marshall.

“Do you love my sister?”

Whoa. The guy was cutting right to the chase. Marshall could admire that. He just wasn’t quite sure what he was supposed to say.

But Tyler didn’t give him a chance to answer. “Because the way you look at her isn’t how a man in love usually looks. You almost seem … I don’t know, pained or something.” The guy frowned. “And it’s totally different from the way you look at Shannon.”

Spots crowded the edges of Marshall’s vision. “What? That’s … crazy.” He nearly groaned at the weakness in his own voice. But he couldn’t help the fact he’d always been a terrible liar, even as a kid.

And until now, he hadn’t had to do much direct lying, just mostly going along with what Quinn said. But they hadn’t fooled Quinn’s twin. Just how much did he suspect?

Marshall sighed. “Look, man …” But what could he say? Even Marshall didn’t understand why Quinn was doing this, other than embarrassment over being dumped just before the reunion.

Silent, maybe even brooding, Tyler walked a little way into the yard, and Marshall followed him. This small corner of the yard held a raised flower bed, where some purple flowers Marshall didn’t recognize grew, their buds just starting to open. A few other holes had been dug but remained empty despite the gold flowers sitting next to the bed in temporary black pots. Someone obviously had unfinished business here.

Tyler looked Marshall square in the eye. “My sisters are complicated. Quinn puts on this tough act, but …” His jaw flexed. “And Shannon. She’s fragile, especially when it comes to Quinn. There’s history there you don’t know about.”

How should Marshall respond? He wanted to defend Shannon. She was delicate, yes, and sensitive, but he got the feeling she was a lot stronger than anyone gave her credit for—herself included.

But the curiosity to understand the sisterly dynamics took precedence. “So tell me.”

“I shouldn’t.” Tyler kicked at a clump of dirt, which broke open to reveal a mess of tiny roots. Lowering himself to his knees in front of the flower bed, he slipped on a worn pair of gardening gloves that looked a bit too small.

Huh. Marshall hadn’t figured Tyler for the gardening type. Or maybe it was normally Gabrielle’s job but she couldn’t do it right now.

The things a man in love did. Marshall’s heart rate escalated at the thought.

Tyler snatched up a nearby hand trowel and handed it to Marshall, who took it. “As you can probably tell, my sisters are complete opposites. Always have been. But there was a time when we all got along—as well as most siblings, anyway.”

Marshall squatted.

“We need about eight holes.” Tyler pointed from the bed to the unplanted flowers.

“Got it.”

“Not too deep though. Maybe about six inches.” Tyler took hold of the first plant and shook the plastic pot loose, revealing a half-foot of packed dirt in a rounded square shape at the bottom. “Anyway, Quinn and my mom were in this car accident when we were kids, and a lot of things changed then. I’m sure she’s told you all about that though.”

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