Page 95 of Opening Strain

I only hope we can get past this. After all my jaded years, I can’t believe Lissa is able to throw my life into a spiral once again.

Chapter Thirty

After a restless night, I take a quick shower and put shorts underneath my sweats. No need to get dressed nicely for the doctor, as he’ll probably want to examine me. I toss a new shirt over my head and walk out of the primary suite.

I stop in front of the room Jenna’s using, but can’t hear any noises from inside. Is she awake? Still coming with me? Dare I knock and ask?

During what passed as sleep—more like tossing and turning and punching the pillow—I decided I need to let Jenna make her own decision about me. I don’t want to strong-arm her into coming to NYC. No matter how bad it will suck if she doesn’t take the flight, I can’t force her to do something she doesn’t want to do.

Even if I believe enough for the both of us.

I force my feet to approach the stairs, longing for the time when I could bounce down them at a fast clip. Now, I take each step one at a time hanging onto the banister, careful not to fall or make a sudden movement. When I finally reach the landing, I enter the kitchen and set up the coffee maker. For some reason, I have a hankering forthe brew this morning. I make enough for both of us, even if I’m the only one drinking it.

Too restless to do anything except walk in circles throughout the first floor, I count the number of steps it takes to complete one entire lap. One-thousand, five-hundred, thirty-seven. I bet if my gait were normal, it would be much less.

If my gait were normal, I wouldn’t have met Jenna again. Let her into my life. Seen what Darren saw in her—and then some.

Darren was head over heels for her, given how he showed her off at every possible moment. Whether the other ladies wanted to hear his gushing or not. If she were mine, I’d be the same. Yet, unlike when she was with Darren, we’re still in the middle of my PT and we’ve already kissed. Done much more. What does this mean? A new thought rears its ugly head—does she only want me because I’m in the same band as he was? This can’t be true.

Our conversations replay. I allow myself to believe her when she says I’m not a stand-in for Darren. My stomach knots. How can I make her believe I love her? Especially when we’re not talking?

The intercom linked with the gatehouse blares and the guard informs me my car service is on its way. My heart pounds louder than when Río starts the opening for “Refocused Destiny.” Is she joining me, like she promised? Should I tell her the car’s on its way?

Upstairs, a door opens, causing my entire body to sag. We can work things out so long as we’re communicating. As fast as currently possible, I race to the kitchen and prepare two to-go coffee cups. We meet at the front door.

I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. “You came.”

“I did.” She eyes the mugs in my hand.

I pass one to her. “You’ve made me happy.”

“Thanks. Although, are you sure you still want me to come with you?”

I don’t let any space exist between her question and my affirmativeanswer. “Definitely.”

She points at me with her mug. “As your physical therapist, I’m living up to my promise to speak with your doctor about your remarkable progress.”

The motion sensors at the front of the house indicate a car’s coming up the drive. I let her precede me out the front door. I open the car door for her to get in then walk to the other side. The driver does a double take when he sees me.

God, I don’t want to have to deal with my annoying fame again. Slipping into the vehicle, I reach across to the front. “Hi, I’m Bennett. Thanks so much for taking us to the helipad. Will you be picking us up as well?”

He smiles. “Yes. You were booked both ways.”

“Great. How long does it take to get there from here?”

“It’s fast. Only ten minutes once we get out of your development.”

“Wonderful. Thanks for driving us.” Niceties over, I turn to Jenna, who’s busy watching the houses go by. I pick up her hand and kiss it. “Thank you.”

Her lips purse. She either doesn’t want me to touch her or—I’m hoping—doesn’t appreciate PDA. Before her, I never did either.

When I buy Secluded Rest, I’ll add a heliport on the side lawn. It’ll make life so much easier.

When?

We arrive and are escorted into the waiting lounge. “I’ve never been on a helicopter before,” she admits.

“It’s fast. You get to see Manhattan from a bird’s-eye view.”

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