Page 22 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

“What’s the verdict?” she asked.

“Good news. We can do what I had hoped. Just put the resin over your bottom tooth and a crown on the top.”

“I needed to hear some good news,” she said. “How soon and what are my restrictions before then? I’ve been eating soft foods. I’m getting hungry.”

He laughed. “I can probably get you in next week. As for food, eat within reason but chew on the other side if you want. I’d hate for you to chip another piece off even though everything looks stable.”

“I can do that,” she said. “Thanks again for seeing me so quickly.”

“Not a problem. Nice to meet you.”

“You too,” she said, leaving. He seemed nice enough. Attractive too.

Andi wasn’t sure why she was looking so much at men and thinking those things lately. Maybe it was the fact she hadn’t been on one date in almost two years and was missing it more than she could have imagined.

7

PUT HIM IN HIS PLACE

Toward the end of the day on Monday, Jarrett was driving back to the barracks and decided to swing by Andi’s house. He’d gone by a few times this weekend. Each time there’d been two cars in the driveway, but this morning he’d gotten a notification that Jack Wilson had left the island.

He’d seen that the ticket was purchased but more so, he’d gotten a notification from the docks that Jack and his rental car were tagged driving onto the ferry on the island and off of it in Boston.

This time when he drove by, he expected to see one car in the driveway and did.

He also saw her bringing groceries in and, before he could think better of it, pulled over and rolled the window down. “Do you think you should be doing that?”

She squinted at him in the black SUV and then smiled. The sun was hitting her head and he realized she had more redhair than brown.

Her hair was down and covering one side of her face. On Friday it’d been pulled back in a ponytail.

“I needed some food,” she said.

“Let me help you,” he said, putting the SUV in park and shutting it off. It’d give him time to feel her out too and find out if she felt safe or uncomfortable over anything.

“I suppose I couldn’t say no,” she said. “I’ve only got three bags.”

He jogged up to her and pulled the two out of her hands. “Give me that one too and you can open the door.”

She handed it over and he noticed that she had a lot of makeup on her face over her eye, but he could see it was still bruised.

“Thanks,” she said.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better,” she said. “Still sore but not horrible if I’m moving around.”

They made their way to the front door. “Do you want me to leave these here or bring them in?”

She seemed to hesitate. “You can bring them in. I trust you.”

“You should,” he said. “I’m only trying to help even if your cousin might have doubts.”

She sighed. “Jack is pretty protective. He can’t help it.”

“He’s gone now though, so he can’t be too protective.”

“I’m sure you got notification the minute he left,” she said, smirking but then winced when she did.

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