Page 29 of Another June with You

“By what?” Shannon replied.

“You can’t be the woman he needs? What does that mean?”

“Nothing.”

Jamie shook her head vehemently. “Spill.”

“Now is not the time to get into it.”

“Fine, but you will tell me.”

She didn’t want to talk about it. She lived it on a daily basis. Every day when she gulped down a kale salad or a green smoothie or ate a handful of walnuts instead of a candy bar, she remembered how her body constantly betrayed her. Every day when she popped that birth control pill, she was reminded of what she would likely never have, what she would never be. And every day, when she looked in the mirror, she saw the face of a woman who would never have the future she and Micah had dreamed about.

Chapter 9

Shannon climbed out of Jamie’s car and stared at the brightly painted sign before her. CROSSFIRE WOODS.

“Have fun!” Jamie couldn’t stop giggling. “Don’t get shot!” she cried as she pulled away.

Paint ball was not something Shannon had photographed before, but she was definitely up to the challenge.

“Shannananana!”

It was a voice long ago heard but never forgotten, and she spun around to see Zeb Daniels jogging toward her. His dark blond hair was still buzzed tight to his head—a little less of it than he used to have. His tall, broad-shouldered stature was the same, but he looked like he’d packed on a few pounds in the last ten years. One thing that hadn’t changed at all was his big, comforting grin that made a girl feel like she was the only one in the world. And she bet his hugs were just as tight as they used to be.

He scooped her up and lifted her off the ground with his giant, bear-like arms.

Yep. Exactly the same.

“Zeb! How are you? It’s been too long.”

He lowered her to the ground and laid his heavy hands on her shoulders. “You look just as pretty as you always did.” He leaned in as if to tell her a secret. “Maybe even prettier.”

She blushed a little at his sweetness. He had always been that way. There was something about him that made all the girls feel special. And he meant every word he said. There was absolutely nothing fake or insincere about Zeb Daniels. He was as genuine as a person could get.

“What’ve you been up to?” she asked.

“I own a sporting goods store up north. Keeps me pretty busy.”

“You own it? That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you.”

“Aw, thanks. It was left to me when my dad died, so it wasn’t like I set out to do that with my life.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, Zeb.”

He smiled. “Thanks. I’m happy there. It’s what I was meant to do.”

She glanced down at his hand, curious if he had ever married Charlotte. No ring.

“You’re wondering if I’m married.”

Her eyes shot to his. Busted. “I was simply curious if someone helped you up there in that store. Maybe Char—”

“Nope.” A shadow of sadness crossed his face for an instant, then his usual grin returned. “Just me. For now.” He winked at her.

Zeb had always been flirtatious with her, but they had been such good friends that moving from friends to more hadn’t felt right to Shannon.

“So Micah invited you down here for this?” she asked.

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