Page 33 of All You Need Is Love

No, but Marshall couldn’t exactly admit that to Tyler. He dug the trowel into the soft soil, the wooden handle rough against his palm.

“But what she maybe hasn’t told you about is this guy in high school. Cody something. I don’t know all the details, but suffice it to say that Shannon liked him—but Quinn got him.”

With a much-too-vigorous plunge into the dirt, the tip of Marshall’s trowel flew up, flinging soil backward into his face. He coughed and spit the dirt out of his mouth.

“Dude, you okay? I know it’s no fun to think about your girl with another guy, but it was a long time ago.”

Sure, let him think that. “I’m fine.”

“The good news is she dumped him when she left for college in New York.” After placing his flowers in one of the previously dug holes, Tyler pulled in the dirt around it, smoothing and patting until the flower looked like it had been there all along. “They were only together for a few months.”

Sounded like the poor sap had escaped Quinn’s clutches. Marshall grunted, and for a while, the guys worked in silence, Marshall digging while Tyler planted.

Finally they finished, a complete flower bed now assembled. Tyler tugged off the gloves and wiped his brow with his forearm. “Gabrielle is going to be happy when she wakes up and sees this tomorrow. Thanks, man.”

“No problem.” And because he was a glutton for punishment, Marshall cocked his head and narrowed his eyes slightly at Tyler, trying to figure the guy out. “Much as I like the idea of making a pregnant woman smile, I’m guessing you had a point in bringing me out here?”

Tyler hesitated before nodding. “I know you’re not a bad dude, Marshall. But you need to be careful with my sisters’ hearts. The last guy that came between them, well … I think it broke something in both of them. It definitely drove a wedge. And I don’t want that to happen again.”

If only Tyler knew the truth. But if Marshall told him, there was no way he’d keep it to himself. The whole family would know, and then whatever secrets Quinn was trying to keep would be exposed.

And yeah, Marshall wasn’t so selfless as to forget the impact it would have on his life too. His future. But he really did hate the idea of Tyler thinking badly of him, especially since Marshall still managed Amazing Kids Foundation’s account at the firm. But also, because Quinn and Shannon’s brother was a good guy, and Marshall respected him.

“Tyler …”

“All I’m saying is, it’d be better for you to leave and not look back than to continue down the path you’re on.”

Marshall couldn’t argue with him there. And if he were a stronger man, he would listen.

But the idea of never seeing Shannon again, of never having the chance to explain himself further …

Just call him a weakling, because his emotional muscles had the strength of an infant.

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