Page 70 of Mic Drop

I grab her by her skinny wrist. “I let you spout your lies. Now listen to my truths.”

She rushes forward as if I didn’t say anything. “The way I see things, you have two choices. One, let Lissa and me wring the precious Jenna Westfield through the mud like she deserves. Or, two, try to counteract what we’ve told the media and find out what two scorned women can do. Your choice.” In a huff, she rushes off the beach.

Great. She and Lissa have combined forces?

What’s next?

Chapter 19

Bennett

Sunlight streams onto my face, urging me to greet the day. One eye cracks open, then the other, and I realize it’s later than I thought. Crap. I swing my arm across the bed only to realize my wife’s side is empty.

I can’t let her slip away from me like Mom and Lissa have done. Jenna’s my fuckingwife. Throwing the blankets off my body, I trudge into the bathroom and get ready for the day.

Clad in workout shorts and nothing else, I enter the kitchen and make a pot of tea. My beverage of choice always calms her down, so maybe this will break the ice between us?Feels like the frozen tundra.

While the water boils, I wander through the house looking for her. She’s not in the basement or family room or dining room. When the kettle whistles, I return to the kitchen and steep bags in two mugs, moving to the sink to rinse out the kettle. That’s when I see her sitting in the outdoor living room. My shoulders lower. At least I know where she is.

Preparing a tray with our mugs and some biscuits I find in the kitchen, I bring them outside. All I want to dois wrap my body around hers, yet the chasm between us looms too large. Depositing the tray on the table, I open with, “Made you some herbal tea. Thought you might like it.”

Her hand reaches for the mug. “Thanks, Bennett. It’s perfect.”

Perfect. She said it’s perfect. Maybe today’s the day I get my wife back?

Picking up my mug, I sit on the sofa next to her. Not touching, but close enough that I can feel her body heat. Well, what little there is of it. “Here, let me.” I pick up a throw blanket and tuck it around her lower limbs.

She blows on her tea, jolting a bit. “I didn’t realize I was chilly until now.” Her head turns toward me. “You must be frozen. You don’t even have a shirt on.”

Thank God she noticed. “I’m good. You know I run hot.”

“That you do.” She sips her tea while her gaze scans the ocean in front of us.

“Listen, Jenna, I’m here for you. If you want to talk, feel free. Scream? Have at it. Cry, I’ll wipe your tears. Whatever you need.” I literally have no idea what else to say to her.

Jenna leans over and puts her mug onto the table. “This has been rougher than I even imagined possible,” she begins. “I’m so mad at everyone. I’m afraid I’m not good company.”

I place my tea next to hers. “Then we’ll be bad company together.”

Her body swivels to face me. “Your media is relentless. The only thing in their favor is they spelled Ma’s name right.”

“Faith Westfield isn’t too difficult to spell.”

“There is that.” She sighs. “Michelle seems to have gone on the offensive again. I thought Dr. Marlow and I had a deal, but I guess not.”

It’s not so much what she’s saying ashow. Like there’s no fight left in her to combat Michelle’s lies. She isn’t even aware that Michelle and Lissa have teamed up.

I’d pull up my big boy pants—if I were wearing pants.

“The UC PR team is on it. However, I had a run-in with Michelle last night on the beach. She spouted a lot of nonsense, but one thing is clear. Somehow, she and Lissa have combined forces. I don’t know what they’re up to, but they’re definitely working together.”

She rubs her thumb and pinky together. “Wonderful. Now the two crazies have become one. Between the two of them, how are we going to get the upper hand? Who are they going to go after first, you or me?”

“We didn’t get that far.”

“Court and I had Michelle on the ropes. I thought my lunch with Dr. Marlow ended all of Michelle’s aspirations against me. I may be wrong about that, but if I’m right it means they’re going to hunt you down.”

Like an animal. Great. “I guess your theory makes sense. I wonder what lies they’ll cook up between the two of them?”

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