Page 96 of Mic Drop

Court levels me with a hard stare. “Even though I missed the beginning of the interview, I can tell Bennett’s fingerprints were all over this takedown.”

Could he actually have orchestrated this? I simply cannot processeverything right now. Why did Court come in here in the first place? Renovations. I fall back into the comfort of work. “When do I have to meet the construction manager at the building?”

It takes my manager a second to process the topic change. “One hour.”

“Fine.”

“Jenna, what can I do for you? Now that both Michelle and Lissa were exposed on national TV, and the clinics are cleared, you still look miserable.”

Because my husband is in France, yet he cleared my name.His too. Maybe I was collateral “un”damage? My head hurts. “Ma just died.” I snap. “I think I’m entitled.”

My bestie sighs. “Are you still getting flowers with song lyrics from Bennett?”

What is she getting at? “Yes. Although now he’s switched things up and is including lines fromThe Godfather.” A small smile plays around my lips, as I remember his snarky comment about today’s line coming from Part 2, “the second best movie ever made.”

“Do you still want to divorce him?”

I don’t answer, simply show her the text from Suzette.

“Good.” She returns my phone to me. “He’s good for you, Jenna. I’ve never seen a man look at a woman with such love brimming from his entire being. He made Lissa look like a fool on national televisionandprobably got her sent behind bars in the process. If I ever find a man who acts like him, I’m never letting go.”

“You can have Bennett.”

“Really?” She crosses her arms. “You’d be fine if Bennett stopped sending you flowers and started sending them to me? How about if he sang a song to me in front of everyone, would that bother you? I know, what if he kissed me the way he kissed you at your wedding? You’d be okay with that?”

I explode to my feet. “No. You can’t have him.”

“Why not? You just told me I could.”

“Because he’s mine.”

Mine.

I collapse onto the chair. “Mine,” I whisper. I try to catch my breath.

“Then what are you going to do about it?”

“I,” I stutter. “I don’t know.” I reach for my ponytail holder and tighten it to my head.

Court touches my palm. “How about you start by calling off your divorce attack dog?”

“We only got married to make Ma happy.”

Her eyebrow raises. “Really? I was there. Seemed to me you got married to make yourselves happy. Your mother’s happiness was a wonderful by-product.”

My head rolls from one side of the chair to the other.

“Honey, did you also agree to seek out each other for their opinions? Kiss without being prompted? How about those vows? Who wrote them?”

Her every question echoes the sentiments Kara expressed—and those contained in Ma’s last letter to me. Where she almost begged me to relinquish some control in exchange for happiness. With Bennett. The man who barreled into my life and dared me to live again.

Who taught me about joy and happiness.

Also, God help me, love.

Something breaks inside of me.

I swallow. In a small voice, I reply, “We did. Because we were made for each other.”

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