Page 69 of Mic Drop

After many thanks for as nice an afternoon as possible, the three of us make our way to the front door, where our rideshare waits. Jenna hugs her friend, who leaves for her own car. I open the black SUV’s door for my wife, who climbs into the vehicle. I slip in behind her, and we begin the trek to Secluded Rest.

“I think your mother would’ve enjoyed today,” I try.

“Yeah.”

Silence.

“There were lots of people there.”

“Uh-huh.”

Silence.

“The UC PR team is in full force against the paparazzi. They’ll shut them down.”

“I hope so.”

Silence.

I reach for something else positive to say. “The minister said some nice things.”

“Bennett.” Jenna twists to face me. “Let’s not. Today sucked so hard. I had to say goodbye to the most important person in the whole world. I don’t care who came, or who didn’t. It doesn’t matter to me that my father showed up, and my sister re-formed some sort of bond with him. I don’t want to compliment the chefs or the florists or the limo drivers. None of that matters.”

I want to hold my arms out to her and hug her pain away. I want to kiss away her tears and share our love. Something tells me such a gesture might only make things even worse between us.

We reach the security guardhouse in silence and are allowed to proceed. I’m filled with pent-up energy and want to punch something. Or play arcade games. Or walk on the beach. But my preferences don’t matter. All that matters is helping my wife.

“Jenna,” I say as the car pulls up the driveway.

She waves her hand. “I’m tired, Bennett. Can it wait?”

It’s as if she slapped me. I can’t form a thought until the driver stops at the front door, and I get out of the SUV. I reach out to help her onto the pavement, and am relieved when she accepts my assistance. At least there’s that.

Together, we walk into our new house and she makes a beeline for the stairs. My emotions are running so high that I don’t think I should be alone with her right now. Despite wanting to offer her solace, my own needs demand attention.

“Go on up, Sweetheart. I’m going to take a quick walk on the beach and will join you shortly.”

“Okay.”

I watch her trudge up the steps for a moment, then I turn in theopposite direction and leave the house through the bifold doors, kicking off my shoes in the process. Dumping my blazer and tie onto the outdoor sofa, I roll up my sleeves on my way to the ocean.

When I get to the breakers, I stand facing the horizon, not seeing the waves nor caring that the bottoms of my trousers are getting wet. What can I do to get through to Jenna? In the past, my solutions always involved sex. Yeah, not going to happen.

Shaking my head at its emptiness, I take off down the beach, my mind awhirl with yearning to comfort my wife. I’ve walked I don’t know how long before I turn around, my house not even a speck in the distance.

When my house is on the horizon again, someone yells my name. Great. Just what I need today—to deal with fans. I put on the mask I wear for the public before turning toward the sound.

Michelle marches toward me.

Oh hell no. I go to turn, but decide against it. This bitch needs to be put in her place. My hands land on my hips and I wait.

“I thought that was you!”

“Michelle, you should know I’m in no mood to deal with your shit today. My guess is you know why. I only waited for you because I wanted to tell you to stay away from my wife. Do not have any interactions with her from now on, or you’ll be sorry. Do I make myself clear?”

She pulls herself to her full height, which is taller than Jenna’s. Makes no difference to me, though, she could be a fucking Amazon and I wouldn’t care. My ire needs an outlet and she’s made herself pretty damn accessible. Her shit stops now.

“Bennett.” She reaches out and touches my sleeve, causing the tendons on my forearm to ripple. “Jenna’s been bad luck for as long as I’ve known her. Hell, you know that, considering what happened to Darren. You’re swept up in her, but she doesn’t deserve you. Plus, you know she’s not a good physical therapist, which is why my doctor doesn’t refer patients to her. Her business is failing.”

---