Page 56 of Love Everlasting

Shannon’s rib cage shrank, the thought of not seeing Sam on a regular basis suddenly bleeding the air from her lungs. “Maybe that’s for the best,” she whispered.

For both Jasmine and for me.

He halted so fast, she was already several steps ahead when he caught up at the entrance of the pier to brace his hands to her shoulders. “No way, Shan, we’re buds, and Jazz is just going to have to accept that.”

“Not after you get married,” she said softly, knowing full well her friendship with Sam would have to come to an end. “Your wife’s needs and desires come first, Sam, remember? If you were my husband, there’s no way I’d want you hanging out with an old female friend.”

He stared at her for several seconds, then expelled a heavy sigh and dropped his arms, continuing onto Tybrisa Street. “Well, then, we’ll just have to become couple friends.” He slid her a wary look while he placed a hand to her lower back, guiding her out of the path of a bike. “Speaking of which—how was your date with Chase?”

Her body automatically relaxed at mention of Chase, the man who’d offered to help her keep it together while Sam was pursuing Jazz. “Good.” She slid into Sam’s car when he opened the door, smiling at the memory of both Lulu’s on Saturday night and biking with Chase on Sunday. As one of Jack’s best friends, Chase fit right in with her family, especially since Jack and Lacey still lived next door till they found a house of their own. It surprised Shannon how quickly she and Chase slipped into a comfortable and easy friendship, affection lighting her eyes for a man she knew would become a close friend. “He’s a great guy, and I like him a lot, although we’ve only gotten together about three times.”

Sam’s gaze felt like a laser as he started his car. “Three times since Saturday?” he asked, a ridge above his nose. “Sounds like things are moving pretty fast.”

She glanced out her window to deflect the blush she felt in her cheeks. “No, we’re just hanging out, that’s all, having some fun.”

The car didn’t move. “Just fun … or more?” he asked, and she turned back at the edge in his tone, her eyes softening when she remembered Chase’s words.

“Call me gun-shy, Shan, but he looked and acted just like Jack did when I started dating Lacey—jealous.”

“Well, I’m not having the same problem you are with Jazz, if that’s what you mean,” she said with a tender smile, “so you can rest easy, Dad.”

“Good to know.” The car started with a growl that matched the look on Sam’s face as he backed out of the parking spot with great care, face relaxing into a smile when he waved to a young couple with a toddler in a stroller, waiting until they crossed the street. “I just love kids,” he whispered, his whole demeanor changing as he watched the couple with a sense of longing in his eyes. “I hope and pray I have a houseful someday, although I doubt I can talk Jazz into more than two.” He shifted and eased the Vette down the street, shooting a grin Shannon’s way. “But I sure love their honesty and innocence, you know? Which” —he reached over to give her knee a quick squeeze— “is one of the things I love most about you too. Seeing that kind of purity in kids is one thing, but in an adult?” He shook his head as he signaled to change lanes. “You’re a rare find, Shannon O’Bryen, in such a jaded world.”

The lining of her stomach turned to lead, weighing her down with the need to tell him the truth. “Sam … there’s something you need to know…”

The theme to Jaws began to play on his phone, and he snatched it up, silently mouthing an apology. “Hey, Jazz, what’s up?”

Shannon slowly released the breath she was holding as Sam calmly talked Jasmine through some computer emergency, his tender and caring tone making her heart ache. By the time Jasmine finally let him go, they had pulled into Shannon’s drive, where Jack and Matt were playing basketball.

“Hey, you two, you’re just in time for some two-on-two—interested?” Jack strolled down the paver driveway with the ball under his arm. “I need some real competition because goofball here’s about to put me to sleep.”

“That’s what happens when you lose, dip-stick,” Matt called with a hand to his mouth, reaching for the hose to get a drink. “Boredom sets in.”

Jack leaned on Shannon’s side of the car. “Come on, guys, I need some exercise, and the only workout Ball gives me is with his yapper.”

“Trust me, Jack,” Sam said with regret in his tone, “there’s nothing I’d rather do than trounce you in basketball, but Jazz called with a hard-drive issue, and I’m her IT guy.”

Jack opened Shannon’s door with a grunt. “Trust you? The day you’d rather trounce me in basketball over spending time with Jazz, dude, is the day I’ll begin to worry.”

Shannon got out and quietly closed the door. “Thanks for the run, Sam. I do believe I’m warmed up enough to feed these two guys some humble pie.”

“Ha!” Jack tossed the basketball in the air and caught it before looping an arm over his sister’s shoulder. “You’ve been hanging with Ham way too much, Shan. You’re starting to sound as cocky as him.”

“Nope, she’s just better at basketball—like me,” Sam said with a grin as he put the car in gear. He stopped to squint at Shannon. “Hey—you were in the middle of telling me something when Jazz’s call interrupted, so what were you going to say?”

“Nothing that can’t wait for a more opportune time,” she said with a smile, giving him a wave when he finally backed out of her drive. She stole the ball out of Jack’s hands and sprinted toward their homemade basketball court, dribbling all the way.

A more opportune time.

Eye on the net, she gave careful aim, soles launching into the air for a 3-pointer that sank as fast as her mood.

Like when she needed to end a friendship.

Chapter Thirty

Sam was having a blast. He glanced over at the bleachers in front of the baseball field where the Camp Hope Farewell Field Day was taking place, and his stomach took a dive.

But Jazz sure wasn’t.