Page 101 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

“We can’t get it out of our blood,” he said. Alex had lived in Plymouth for some time as a volunteer fireman working in a garage and bartending. Alex had only been biding his time before he could get to the island too.

Then he and Alex shared an apartment until he got his house and Alex bought his.

“What’s going on?” Mac asked. “Everything okay with Andi?”

“Yes,” he said. “Jack just called to say he’s transferring to Boston in a few weeks. He’ll be here next week looking at places to stay.”

“How do you feel about that?” Mac asked. “Or it’s more like I can see you’re pissed.”

He sighed. “I’m not pissed. I’m annoyed.”

“Because you want her all to yourself?” Mac asked.

He knew his brother would understand this. “Is that a horrible thing?”

“It could be,” Mac said. “I don’t picture Andi the type that wants to be with someone like that.”

“I love her. She loves me. She has friends on the island.”

“She is friends with my wife and Amanda and Jennie. That’s not the same thing and you know it.”

His brother had a point. “She is getting a life here again. She told me that. She’s happy and wants to stay.”

“WhichI’m assuming Jack has realized and that is why he’s pushing the transfer now and not waiting a year like Andi told him to do? What did she say about this?”

“She doesn’t know. Jack is going to call her tonight. He reached out to me first.”

“Which is conflicting for you because there is part of you deep down that appreciates that move out of respect.”

“Yeah,” he said. “He says that if he didn’t take this transfer now he didn’t know when he could again. Things don’t open quickly and I know that.”

“Seems as if it was working out perfectly for him but not you and Andi. Though if he’s still a ferry ride away and can’t just drive over in thirty minutes when he wants, what is the big deal?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “Jack pointed that out and asked me to make sure Andi realized it too. But the dude still showed up on New Year’s Day without anyone knowing.”

“I’m sure he won’t make that mistake again. You said Andi was livid and it seems they are just getting things back on track.”

“They are,” he said. “I don’t want her to worry that having him close by is because he’s keeping something from her about her past.”

“Do you think that is happening?” Mac asked.

“No. I don’t know. I think Jack is telling me the truth.”

“Then make sure Andi is aware of that also,” Mac said. “I’m willing to bet Jack was banking on your support.”

“He is,” he said. “I’ve looked into the Dustin Family.”

Mac lifted his eyebrow. “Officially or unofficially?”

“Unofficially. Just a general internet search. No more than you’ve done.”

Mac smirked at him. “I don’t like going into anything blind.”

He snorted. “Did you do any more? Talk to Griffin about it?”

“No,” Mac said. “I won’t. And if I did, I’d tell you first. Just like I’d hope you’d let me know if you were going to talk to Griffin too.”

“I would,” he said. “Jack thinks there might have been a mole. Because of that, I wouldn’t risk anything. I didn’t like what I read and I know it’s not even a fraction of what there is on this family.”

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