Page 50 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“No,” she said. She hesitated. “I just had a random thought in my head. I didn’t realize that I made a noise with it.”

He laughed, but he was searching her eyes and her face.

He knew what he’d like that random thought to be but didn’t want to assume anything else.

“Anything you want to share?”

“Not really,” she said, smirking.

She didn’t seem upset or bothered so he was not going to press.

“I didn’t think so,” he said. “But you know, I’m here if you want to talk about anything.”

When tears filled her eyes he had a panic moment.

Oh shit, what did he do?

He went to pull her into his arms, but she jumped up and went to get a tissue and blot her eyes.

“What’s going on, Justine?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Ignore me.”

“I can’t ignore you. I don’t want to ignore you. There has to be something. I don’t picture you the type to cry for no reason.”

“I’m not,” she said.

“Are you missing your father? Grief hits people at the strangest of times.”

She laughed, but it wasn’t a funny sound, and she clearly forced it.

“I’m always going to grieve him. It’s hard not to. We were close. It’s nothing.”

“Justine,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “It’s something. If you don’t want to talk to me, then let me just hold you because I think you need that.”

When she cried in his arms, his heart not only broke for her but opened up to the possibility that he didn’t want to lose her.

He wanted to fix whatever problem she had and heal her but also knew that she wouldn’t let him in.

Not that deeply.

Not this soon.

After a minute, she stepped back and he was pretty sure that it took a lot for her to stay in his arms that long.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “Do you want to talk?”

She shrugged and he took that as a yes, but he might have to coax her some. “How about a little wine or beer?”

“I’ll have a glass of wine with you,” he said. “If you want.”

“I’ll get them,” she said.

He let her go and she tried to compose herself while she did it.

He helped himself to some food and then grabbed a piece of the wrapped dark chocolate.

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