Page 104 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“If I have to, I will. But I need to let the process do its job. The DA and the police have to take care of it first. If I don’t like the answers I get, then I’ll find an attorney there.”

“Not to get in your business, but you want a strong attorney. You’re here, not there. My cousin Hailey Bond owns a big law firm. She has a lot of staff who can practice in multiple states. It might be easier with you here, but it’s your choice.”

“I’ll think about it,” she said. “I appreciate it. I just want to see what the DA says. I’ve learned one thing: nothing moves fast in the judicial system.”

“I don’t think so,” he said. “Are we good?”

“We are,” she said. “Why ask?”

“I just want to make sure. You’re tired. You need to go to work. You’ve had a good few days with your sister and I’m going to assume they were emotional. Then this. I don’t want to add to your worries.”

“And there you go, putting other people’s problems on your shoulder, Garrett. Don’t add toyourworries.”

“You do that when you love someone.”

“Do you?” she asked. “Do you take it all on yourself or do you share things?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “If you’re not sharing then I’m thinking you’re taking it all on and I don’t want you to do that. I’m scared of your sister. She might hurt me if I hurt you.”

She laughed. “I’m kind of scared of her too. Can we just be more open with each other? I know there are things I don’t always open up about and share, but I’m trying. I want you to do the same. Even if you’re embarrassed.”

He seemed to hesitate and she wasn’t sure what that was about. “I’ll try,” he said.

She was going to give him the benefit of the doubt that it was a male ego thing and that he wasn’t hiding anything from her.

31

AN AWKWARD POSITION

“How are things with Justine?” his mother asked when he visited her on Saturday afternoon.

Justine was home sleeping and would stop over to eat before she went to work at six. It was one now.

“Fine,” he said.

“Fine doesn’t actually sound fine,” Gabriela said when she walked onto the deck.

It was just his parents and sister on the island for a small Fourth of July holiday cookout. They were rarely all together now and if his parents could find a way to do it, they did.

It was easier when he was in Boston. He could have even gone there for the day, but they understood he wanted to spend some time with his girlfriend too.

“We might have had a slight hiccup yesterday,” he said, cringing.

He was an idiot and knew it and was prepared to get his butt handed to him by his sister if he admitted what happened.

“Oh really?” his mother said. “Is everything okay now?”

“Don’t be nosy,” his father said.

“We are always nosy,” Gabriela said. “And we’ll see if everything is okay when Justine gets here. If she shows up.”

“She’ll be here when she’s up and dressed,” he said. “We are fine now. I’m pretty sure.”

Gabriela laughed. “I need to know.”

He walked over to the outdoor fridge, got a beer, and sat in the shade. “She stopped over to visit with me after dropping Jordan off at the airstrip. I didn’t know she was coming.”

“So,” Gabriela said. “Unless she caught you doing yourRisky Businessimpersonation, I’m not sure what the big deal is. She’s seen you in your underwear before. Maybe not sliding across the floor dancing, but you know that might be her thing too.”

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