Page 102 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“I expect you will,” she said.

When was the last time she was this jealous?

She knew exactly what she was feeling, but it was also being twisted up with betrayal that she hoped wasn’t true.

He moved to the window and then looked toward what she assumed was Vanessa’s house. “She’s bat shit crazy.”

“Huh?” she asked.

“She’s been hinting toward us dating for years. Years! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned her down or said I was busy.”

“And she still shows up here dressed like that? Guess you aren’t very firm or clear,” she said, angling her head.

He sighed. “No,” he said. “I’m not. Gabriela gives me shit about it too. I don’t have it in me to be a dick.”

“So your girlfriend should come over and witness what I did?” she asked, crossing her arms. “And you’ve never once said a word to me about this.”

Which might be worse.

“What was I supposed to say? That my neighbor who is older than me is always hitting on me? It’s embarrassing and I didn’t want to sound like a conceited asshole either.”

“I wouldn’t have thought that,” she said. “I wish you’d said something though. Because I’m not sure what to think.”

He seemed shocked. “You think I’m interested in her? Or have had something going on with her? You saw her. Do you think that is the type of woman I want to spend any time with?”

She had to admit it seemed odd to her. Garrett always came off as low key and that woman was far from that.

“I didn’t expect you to not be able to be firm,” she said. “Or say at any point you had a girlfriend.”

His shoulders dropped. “I’m a wuss,” he said. “There you go. You want a negative or a character flaw? It’s smack dab in your face right there. I should have done it and haven’t. She’s been out of town. Maybe I was hoping she’d see you here and she obviously hasn’t.”

“So you haven’t purposely parked in the garage with me so she wouldn’t see me?”

“God no,” he said, running his hands through his hair. He’d never looked agitated like that before. “She’s trying to get a rise out of you.”

“Yep,” she said. “It’s working. I’m trying to figure out why you could have said something and never did. Not once.”

“I’m a coward,” he said sheepishly. “I run and avoid. How is that?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Is that a shot at me?”

“No! It’s a shot at me. It’s the truth. I’m serious,” he said. He pulled his phone out of his pocket. “I need to find a text that I sent to Gabriela before you and I started to date. I asked her to call me right away as an emergency when Vanessa showed up on my deck. Then when Gabriela did, I pretended it was work. I’m serious. She busted my ass too.”

He was scrolling through his phone and then handed it over.

She read the message asking his sister to call and then the next day Gabriela was riding his ass to tell his neighbor to keep her slutty eyes away from him and for him to grow a pair.

“Ouch,” she said. “I might have a better appreciation for your sister.”

“I know. I suck. I suck even more for not telling you, but if I can’t tell Vanessa, what makes you think I’d tell you? It’s embarrassing. Men don’t have it that easy when someone won’t take the hint.”

She frowned. “Not sure I agree with that.”

“It’s the only thing I’ve got. I’m not a cheater. Ever. I’m trying hard not to get annoyed you might think that.”

He looked hurt and she didn’t want that either. But she wasn’t going to back down at how stunning this situation was.

“I didn’t want to think it. I didn’t want to find you guilty, but it knocked me off balance to walk up and see that too.”

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