Page 73 of Mic Drop

But not fast enough.

Bennett grabs my arm and physically turns me to him. “Jenna, I know you didn’t mean what you just said. I love you. You love me. We can get through this together.” His mouth crashes against mine.

Like always, he molds his lips over mine in what I used to think was the most sensuous manner. A moment of passion overtakes me and I lean into him.

Bennett’s arms encircle my waist and he drags my limp form against his hardening body. He still has the same physique that causes women to drop their panties and throw them onstage. Muscles to die for—or drool over. Like I used to, but see where it got me? Burying Ma.

As his embrace continues, he trails kisses down my neck. At my sides, my fingers on my left hand play with the rings there. My wits assemble. I know what I have to do.

Taking a step backward, I manage to free myself from his overwhelming outpouring of misguided sexual desire. I grab the rings, take them off my left finger, and place them on my palm. Hand outstretched, I say, “These are yours. I don’t need them anymore.” When he doesn’t make a move to take them, I stuff them into his pocket.

At the curb, the car arrives.

My gaze scans his form a final time. This beautiful man will find another woman at the drop of a hat. He’ll remember me as I think of him, as a brief interlude—a nice way to pass the time while he washealing from a groin pull. I’ll always be grateful for the money I earned working with him to open clinic number four.

Without another word between us, I spin on my heel, open the car door, and am driven away from all that represents Bennett Hardy.

Soon, we pull up in front of my house, the place I haven’t spent much time in since learning of Ma’s cancer. While by no means anywhere remotely in the vicinity of Secluded Rest in terms of size or waterfront views or amenities, it’s what I can afford. It’s comfortable. I glance at the curtains Ma helped me pick out. At the knickknacks we scored at a craft fair. I enter the kitchen and see the kettle she gifted me for my birthday. This is what matters, this is love. Not throwing around money and fame to get what you want. Like a petulant child.

In my mind, Ma’s voice about how she was wrong about Bennett and how much she loved him rings loud. Our vows from our wedding echo. Such sentimentality becomes covered in a black shroud, and I go about getting ready to go to the clinic and taking on Michelle once and for all.

“You’re here?” Court greets me with much less enthusiasm than I expected.

“Of course I am,” I counter, walking into Court’s office. “This is my business, after all.”

“I just thought you’d be doing things for your mother’s, um, clearing up her estate.” She has the grace to look away.

I wave my hand. “That stuff will be there until Kara and I deal with it. My business, however, needs my attention. Have you heard anything more from Michelle?” While I know I need to go on social media again soon, I simply didn’t have the balls to face it yet. Better to get a distilled version from Court.

My manager adjusts her glasses. “Well, she kicked up about the Black Widow stuff when your mother passed, but there was a bigclapback at her about it, so she stopped. No more graffiti or anything.” She pauses. “Michelle’s been pretty quiet, which sort of scares me more.”

This. Strategy I can dive into headfirst. Sink my teeth into. “Bennett mentioned that she and Lissa might be teaming up, so I think we should consider this more of a regrouping than her giving up.”

“Oh.” We sit at the table in her office. “So now we’re going to take down two women rather than only one? We can do it.”

“We sure can. I won’t wait for them to come forward, though.”

Court asks, “What does Bennett think is going to happen? Can Hayden help us again?”

“I’m thinking we should do this on our own.”

Her head bounces backward. “Why? Hayden was a huge help before. I’m sure she will come up with something even better this time. Plus, if Lissa’s in the mix, we’re going to need UC’s help.”

Everything Court says is true. However, she’s missing one essential ingredient. I shrug. “Bennett and I are getting a divorce. Oh, which attorney do you think I should use?” I search for a piece of paper, finally locating one. Gripping a pen, I scribble some names down and read them to Court. “Think any of these would be good?”

When she doesn’t respond, my gaze leaves the paper with five names on it to focus on her face. Which looks like I ruined her favorite medicine ball. “Court,” I begin.

“Jenna,” she counters. “What do you mean you’re getting a divorce?”

I rub my arm. “Exactly what I said. The reason for our rushed wedding is no longer in play.”

She shakes her head. “I don’t understand. Speak to me as if I were five.”

I place the paper onto the table with a sigh. “You and I both know we rushed into marriage in order to make Ma happy. We did it. She was happy. She’s gone. No need to keep on pretending.”

“Pretending to be happy? Pretending he didn’t rock your world?Pretending you weren’t in love with the biggest rock star on the planet?”

I wave my hand. “It was only an act to warm the heart of my dying mother. Now it’s over.”

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