Page 123 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

Just like Jarrett said now.

She let out a breath and sat down on the couch. “We have to move past this. I’m not sure how I can. I want to. I’m not Colleen Huntington anymore. I miss her but not as much as I thought because Luke Huntington isn’t in this world to be with her.”

“Whether your name is Colleen or Andi,” Jack said, “you’re still the same person.”

“No,” she said. “I’m not. I never thought I was naive before. My father made sure of it. But I didn’t realize how dangerous and crazy this world is. How precious it could be. Now I know.”

Both Jarrett and Jack sat in the same chairs they had on New Year’sDaywhile she tried to explain what was going on in her life.

Guess she was guilty of keeping secrets too and all it did was backfire on everyone in the end.

Though looking around this living room, not much backfired other than hurt feelings everyone was trying to work through.

She found the man she loved and didn’t want to live without him sitting next to the man who was her only “family” and both men seemed to get along well enough too.

“It’s time to move on,” Jack said. “For all of us. You’re Andi Benson. That’s your name. You live on Amore Island and have a great fun jobandfriends and a boyfriend. A normal life for the world to see.”

“I’m not sure what is normal anymore,” she said. She got upandmoved over to Jarrett’s chair and sat on his lap. “I’m tired of fighting. I’m tired of running. I’m safe and secure on this island. That much has been proven.”

“You are,” he said, rubbing her back. “You always will be. But you’ll be fine off the island too. You’re stronger than I give you credit for and I have to remind myself of that too.”

“The same,” Jack said.

“Did Jarrett ask you to come here today?” she asked. “For backup with me?”

“I had no idea he was coming,” Jarrett said.

“I did it because I owed him,” Jack said. “What he did was make it possible to put your mind at ease. Mine too. Most likely his with it. There truly seems to be little to no threat against you now.”

“Meaning I don’t have to be Andi Benson anymore?” she asked.

“I wouldn’t advise it, but it’s your choice,” Jack said.

She looked at Jarrett and he wasn’t opening his mouth and for that reason alone, she said the decision she’d already made.

“I like being Andi. I like the life I’ve got here. I don’t want to change it. None of it. And I expect if anything changes just a little bit, I get let into the loop too. No more worrying that I might be stressed or not be able to handle it. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t,but if that happens, I know I’ve got you both to get me through. Promise me that.”

“I promise, Andi,” he said.

“I promise, Andrea,” Jack said, winking at her.

“Then I love you both and this is where I’m staying and living out the rest of my life, regardless of what my name is.”

“Well said,” Jarrett said, giving her a tight squeeze. “Am I somewhat forgiven?”

“For now,” she said, laughing. “Just don’t do it again.”

“Never.”

EPILOGUE

One Month Later

“I can’t believeyou wanted to walk the trails today rather than going to see your new nephew,” Andi said a month later.

Aiden Griffin Bond had been born a few days ago. His brother was thrilled now that his wife and child were both doing fine.

Jarrett didn’t even want to think of those things. He had to admit he’d had enough worry with Andi for the past six months that her giving birth someday to his child probably wouldn’t faze him.

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