Shannon was spending yet another afternoon in Kelly's salon, this time getting her nails done. However, more than anything it was an excuse to talk to someone about Joe. Kelly was her only friend who knew the full story and at least she wasn't disapproving, not exactly.

'I've cut my hours down at work,' she told Kelly not wanting to instantly launch into a tale of woe.

'Why?'

'It's so boring, and I'm tired all the time. I need to find another job, this isn't exactly challenging.' They both looked up as the door opened and a dark hair woman strutted over.

'Hey, you're Shannon right?' Shannon thought she looked vaguely familiar but she couldn't place her.

'Oh hi Danielle,' Kelly said with fake pleasure. 'What brings you here?'

Danielle ignored her, her attention on Shannon. 'I just wanted to let Shannon know that Katherine and Joe are happy,' she snarled. Shannon felt herself start to blush and looked down momentarily.

'We all know they're totally loved up,' Kelly said tersely. 'But it sounds like you've forgotten that.'

Danielle frowned, clearly wrong-footed by the comment. 'I've not forgotten but your friend's overstepping the mark.'

Shannon found her voice. 'You don't know what you're talking about. If Katherine or Joe have a problem with me then they can tell me themselves.'

'Yeah but they won't because they have some dignity unlike you,' Danielle snapped and Shannon's face flushed with anger.

'Danielle it's hardly dignified coming here and berating one of my customers,' Kelly said her tone icy. 'This is a professional establishment and I'm going to have to ask you to leave.'

Danielle rolled her eyes. 'Just stay away from Joe,' she said to Shannon, giving them both a look of contempt before she left the salon.

'God,' Shannon exclaimed letting out a deep breath.

Kelly shook her head. 'This is only gonna get worse Shan. People are working out that you and Joe are more than friends.'

Shannon's eyebrows knotted together. 'I don't see how.' Only Donnie possibly had an idea of what was really going on.

'Kat's obviously been venting to her friends, and they see you as a threat,' Kelly said as she resumed painting her nails. 'But forget about them, Joe's getting married, and he's messing you around. I'd tell him to make a choice or I'd make that choice for him.'

'I guess,' Shannon murmured. 'But I think Katherine would be his choice, and so she should be.'

'Why?' Kelly looked up abandoning her nails for a moment. 'The fact that he's been with you speaks volumes as to how committed he really is. Why are you selling yourself short?'

'Because I'm not sure he'd be any more committed to me,' Shannon admitted. 'I think it's an old times sake sort of thing with him, and if that's the case he should go ahead and marry Kat.'

Kelly looked at her doubtfully but she didn't say any more and Shannon was grateful. She kept reminding herself that Joe had been happy to get married a few months ago, she was nothing more than a blip in the road. She had to end it before she fell any deeper.

~~~~

Katherine sat up in bed watching Joe get ready for work. Having worked Saturday she had the day off in lieu.

'I bumped into Donnie at the gym,' she said and Joe raised his eyebrow in inquiry. 'It was weird, he didn't seem to remember going out with you the other night, he was moaning he'd barely seen you.' She watched him closely and she was almost certain he paused just a fraction too long.

'Well three weeks is a long time to Donnie. Don't forget he's out with the guys every night,' he said with a half laugh.

'I wouldn't know but it was odd that he didn't remember.'

'Yeah he parties too much, he needs to calm down,' Joe said as he buttoned his shirt. Katherine wanted to believe him but she wasn't convinced that Donnie had simply had a memory lapse.

'Are you sure you met up with him?' She got out of bed and stood behind him wrapping her arms around his waist. She felt him sigh.

'Yeah of course, I don't have enough nights out to forget details like that,' he said smiling as their eyes met in the mirror. She rubbed her head feeling confused, if he was lying surely he'd be showing some sign of guilt?

She took a deep breath. 'It's just that night you came home and all but said you wanted to call off the wedding?'

They couldn't avoid the subject forever.

Joe turned to face her. 'Yeah I'd been out with Donnie and you know how he goes on.'

She felt some of the tension leave her. 'So that was down to him?'

'Kinda, he'd been on at me, and then you were giving me the third degree about Shannon. I guess I just lashed out,' he said pulling her into his arms.

'You don't know how much this has hurt me,' she admitted resting her head against his chest.

'Yeah and I'm sorry,' he said stroking her back.

'I just feel like you're not as into me as you used to be,' she admitted and Joe sighed.

'That's not true, it's been stressful lately with work, and the wedding, I guess I underestimated it the impact of it all.'

'You rarely come near me these days,' she said and she hated that she sounded so needy but Joe used to be all over her, he was much less bothered lately.

'I'm near you now aren't I?' he said smiling before softly kissing her. Instantly she responded, desperate for some sort of affection and reassurance.

'I should get to work,' he said moving back from her slightly.

'Couldn't you could go in late?'

'I guess I could,' he said, and relief flooded through her that he wasn't turning her down yet again.

~~~~

'Hi Joey,' Shannon said as she joined him at his table for their lunch date. He felt himself instantly relax in her company and quickly ordered a bottle of wine while he had the waiter's attention.

'I thought you were working,' Shannon said.

'Nah it's a slow day so we don't have to hurry.'

'Right,' she said and a frown slowly appeared on her face. 'I had one of Katherine's friends having a go at me the other day. I don't think you're being as discreet as you think you are.' She recounted the story to him.

'Katherine's jealous of you,' Joe said thinking that was an understatement, to say the least. 'She know's there's nothing going on with us but she still feels threatened.'

'Nothing going on with us?' Shannon exclaimed her face flushing with indignation.

'Let me rephrase that. She thinks we're friends, and she doesn't like it,' he said feeling slightly guilty about how he'd made Kat think her legitimate fears were irrational.

'I think we should stop, it's getting too close to home.'

'Shan you're overreacting cos one of the pit bulls had a go at you,' he said using his old nickname for Eva and Danielle. 'Kat suspects nothing, I even told her we were meeting for lunch today and she was fine about it.'

That was a slight exaggeration. He'd said it was coffee, and Kat's reply of, 'thanks for letting me know,' didn't suggest she was actually okay about it.

'Well you'll be married soon and I'll be left all on my lonesome,' Shannon said with a small laugh that did not match her forlorn expression. 'I think it'll be easier to make the break now.'

'Don't say that,' Joe pleaded. 'Give me some more time, maybe I won't get married after all.'

'You've told me that before,' she said looking down at her nails. 'I'm getting in too deep, and I know it's gonna hurt like hell to watch you get married.' He knew he should let her end it, that he was being selfish, but he felt stupidly pleased by her words.

'I don't want to lose you, Shannon, even after I'm married I hope we'll still be friends?' She nodded but gave nothing away. 'At least let me have a bit more time with you,' he said imploring her to agree.

She hesitated chewing her lip. 'A little bit,' she finally said and he breathed a sigh of relief.

~~~~

Katherine was happy when Joe had left for work but his text telling her he was meeting up with Shannon had brought her back down to earth again. She'd tried to tell herself that if anything was going on with Shannon then no way would he be advertising the fact.

'Don't be so dumb,' Danielle said as she berated her over the phone. 'It's called hiding an affair in plain sight.'

'I'm sure he's not having an affair.'

Danielle scoffed. 'You know Kat, you've been a bit insulated from the reality of what men are really like. You're so gorgeous you haven't experienced half the shit the rest of us have.'

Katherine laughed at her. 'I'm not gorgeous and I certainly don't think I'm immune from being cheated on but I don't think Joe would. He's never cheated on anyone.'

'You only think that cos he told you so,' Danielle said impatiently. 'And just cos he hasn't done it before doesn't mean he isn't now.'

Katherine's hackles went up. 'Shannon's not even his type. You've seen her, all lipstick and highlights...' She paused hearing Joe's key in the door. 'I've gotta go, Joe's home.' She terminated the call and brushed herself down, taking a couple of deep breaths.

~~~~

'Hey,' Joe called as he entered the house and Katherine quickly appeared.

'So how did lunch with Shannon go?'

Joe's eyes narrowed as he sensed the trap. 'It was only coffee,' he said not missing a beat, and he could see Katherine relax. Round one to him. 'You know her mom's not been well? She had cancer.'

'But she's okay now isn't she?' Katherine asked sitting down next to him.

'Yeah she's in remission touch wood,' he said tapping the coffee table. 'But Shannon's still upset, she feels guilty she wasn't here when her mom was undergoing treatment.'

'Right, I guess that's understandable,' Kat said her voice uncertain as she no doubt wondered where he was leading.

Joe cleared his throat. 'Well Shannon's been getting a hard time about it, you know how people are? It's easy to judge, and now her mom's out of danger they don't have to worry about making waves.'

Katherine frowned, her mouth twisting. 'I see, so she's been confiding all this stuff to you?' She sounded sceptical, and Joe couldn't blame her since it was a crock of shit.

'I guess I'm removed enough from the situation that she feels she can talk to me,' he said and Kat's mouth turned down.

'So is this going to be a regular thing? You being her shoulder to cry on?'

'No, she's just having a hard time at the moment, I'm sure it'll pass once people have something better to gossip about. But I think I should be there for her, if you're okay with it?' He could see the wheels turning in Kat's mind and he knew she wasn't happy with the suggestion, but she was a nice person so how could she say no?

'I guess it's okay so long as she doesn't overstep the mark,' she said tentatively.

Joe breathed a sigh of relief, that gave him some time to sort his feelings out. 'Don't forget she dumped me. She's not seen me like that in years,' he reassured her.

'I hope you're right.'

'Course I am, and if I'm not, then I'll tell her to back the hell off,' he said firmly and Katherine smiled. He should have felt bad about his manipulation but it was just for a short period of time. Once they were married he'd make a clean break, he intended to take his vows seriously.

~~~~

Thank you for reading, please consider voting.