Page 50 of Family Bonds- Jarrett & Andi

“Most likely,” he said, sitting next to her. “You start.”

“I know you’re letting me set the pace.”

“I am,” he said.

“I appreciate it,” she said. “Ireallydo. It’s been a few years for me. Life has been crazy.”

“I’m somewhat aware.”

“I want you to know that I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “I hope you don’t think that.”

“I’m not sure what to think. If that happens we’ll deal with it.”

There wasn’t much more she could say to that but appreciated that he wasn’t shying away from it.

Well, she could say a little. “Listen. Jack keeps talking about putting in for a transfer to Boston. He likes to be close by. He wouldn’t do that if he thought I’d leave. It’s not easy for him to keep transferring.”

“That doesn’t ease my mind that everything is fine with you if he wants to be close by.”

She made a misstep there. “Itisfine. You know I didn’t have a lot of family.”

“So he’d been doing it as your cousin?” he asked.

She didn’t want to lie. She was positive Jarrett knew that Jack wasn’t related to her. It was best to not answer a direct question to not be caught in a lie. She’d always played her cards that way.

“There are lots of reasons and none of themthat areany cause for concern. I mean that.”

“Then I have to take your word for it,” he said.

Andi reached her hand for his and threaded their fingers together. “I don’t want to have tension or trust issues with us.”

“I understand,” he said. “I wish I didn’t, but I do. More than most. I’m getting there.”

“I really would come to you if I was concerned or in trouble. I promise you that. I know we’ve only known each other a few weeks, but there is something about you that just reminds me of my father.”

“In a good and not creepy way I hope,” he said. “I don’t picture you the type that needs a father figure in your life.”

“No,” she said. “I’m not that way. I miss him. I miss how he was always worried and concerned. Sometimes it was annoying, but most times comforting.”

“You miss that,” he said. “The comfort you got?”

“Comfort. Familiarity. A sense of security. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that.”

“Not even with Jack?” he asked.

“There are no romantic feelings with Jack.” Shit, she blew it saying that. Why would she even bring up romance if Jack were her cousin? Then she reminded herself that Jarrett didn’t believe she and Jack were related anyway. “We care about each other. I often think I’m an obligation and a guilt to him. I shouldn’t have said that and I won’t say much more. We share something that can’t be taken away, but it’s nothing more than that.”

Jarrett nodded and didn’t call her out on the relations and she was glad he didn’t pressure her. “So that is all there is?” he asked.

“That is what you’ve got that reminds me of my father. You will put others before yourself. You drive by to check on me but don’t want me to know. I’m not even bothered by it. SometimesI wish you would come in more, but I think you are afraid you’re putting pressure on me.”

“I am,” he said.

“There is this attraction I feel for you I’ve never felt as strongly before for another man. I want you to push me more and it’s hard for me to say that. I worry that you won’t believe or trust me. I worry that we are both so busy we won’t see much of each other either.”

“The time issues have come into my head a few times.”

“I think we understand each other there. I’m not worried if you aren’t. I think if we want to move forward with what we’ve got we can work at it easier if we are open about it.”

---