Page 13 of Mic Drop

My mind drifts to the days when it was only Ma and me. Kara already was out of the house and starting her career, so Ma and I would come here and walk on the boardwalk. Stop for some ice cream shakes. Try on silly hats. How can we never make these memories again?

“It’s gorgeous here,” a masculine voice says from behind me.

“Yeah,” I reply, without much enthusiasm.

The guy walks in front of me and I instantly recognize the youthful dimple on his cheek. “I thought it was you,” Austin says as he sits.

“I wasn’t hiding. I’m in town for a bunch of things, including cleaning up after the graffiti.”

He bumps my shoulder with his own. “The spiders were drawn poorly. At first, I thought they were squashed beetles.”

I can’t help myself, and I giggle. The first time since I can remember when. “Thanks. I needed that.”

“Sorry you had to come back from your big tour.”

“It wasn’t my tour or anything,” I correct him. “I was giving Bennett physical therapy, and he’s in a good place now.” At least as it relates to his injury.

Austin nods. “We were handling things out here, you know. You didn’t have to come back.”

I sigh. Should I tell him the truth? Why not? Bennett thought Iwas being a child, so screw him. “This isn’t my main reason for coming home. My mother’s sick.”

“Oh no.” He touches my hand. “Anything I can do?”

Unless he has a miracle cure for pancreatic cancer, the answer has to be no. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m here now. I got her an appointment with a specialist.”

“That’s good. I’m sure things will be fine in no time.”

I wish I could don his boyish optimism. All such positivity died with my grandmother ages ago. Leaning into his orbit, I reply, “I hope so.”

We watch the waves, enjoying the ocean air and quiet. Which is shattered when Michelle screams, “I thought it was you. Pretty brave of you to show your face around here, given all the negative publicity.”

I stand. Austin leaps up next to me. For once, I appreciate his height and good looks. See, Michelle. I always have handsome men around me, while you’re alone. I set my chin. “Seems like someone has a graffiti fetish.”

Her right shoulder lifts, then lowers. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was referencing the number of patients running out of your doors.”

My lips purse. If she has something to do with our cancellation rate as well, I’m going to murder her in her sleep. A picture of Ma asleep in her recliner surfaces, so I settle for outing her to the public.

“Michelle, this isn’t high school anymore. You’re playing with real people’s lives. Stop it.”

“What?” Her threaded brows rise. “I’m only doing my job. When my doctors recommend therapy, I give out recommendations. If patients call back, concerned about negative publicity, I steer them to inconspicuous clinics. I think you’re the one who needs to stop living in the past.”

Austin wraps his arm around me. “Jenna and I were about to take a walk.” He dips his head toward Michelle. “Ma’am.”

I tamp down a full-blown laugh at his treatment of my highschool tormentor-turned-adult nemesis. We walk away from her. Under my breath, I mutter, “Ma’am?”

“It’s the best I could do on short notice. She’s a bitch.”

No arguing there. “Thank you. I appreciate the assist.” We walk past an antique clock on the sidewalk and the time seeps into my brain. “I have to go. Ma has an appointment and I need to take her.”

“I wish you all the best.” He hugs me.

Despite my best efforts, I can’t help comparing him to Bennett. While Austin is cute, Bennett’s all man. Austin’s arms are cuddly, while Bennett’s convey love and protectiveness. Until they didn’t. I step back. “See you at the clinic.”

“I look forward to it.”

I rush to my car and return to Ma’s house, all the while banishing any thoughts of Bennett. Austin too. I don’t need a man to fix my problems.

Inside the house, Ma greets me wearing a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved blouse. If I didn’t know anything different, I would think she’s getting ready to go to the women’s club instead of an oncologist.

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