Page 4 of Extended Bridge

“Let me think about him.” I consider her suggestions. “I don’t know what to do here.” Should I leave these huge details in Court’s hands? How will my other manager, Felipe, react? Then there’s Austin, Sylvia, Greyson, and my other therapists. This is wrong. I sit up. I need to be here directing everything.

Court ignores my posture. “You’re allowed to have a life of your own. Whether it means you travel with Bennett or settle down here with the head librarian, it’ll be okay. You deserve love and happiness.”

Her words sink into my overcluttered mind, and I bring her in for a hug. Court’s always stuck by me—one of the many reasons I made her the manager of my first clinic. Not to mention she’s amazing at what she does. “Thanks. But I don’t know. All this has happened so fast. I probably should stay here.”

She crosses her legs. “So I guess you’d be fine if this Lissa takes up where she left off with Bennett?”

“What? No way. She’s terrible.” I wiggle in disgust.

She laughs. “That’s what I thought. You’ve got it bad for the lead singer.”

“But it’s not only him, Court. The press would lose their minds if I joined UC on tour. Especially since Bennett’s kept his injury on the down low.” I shudder. “They’ll make up awful stories about how I’m going to kill each one of the band members.”

“They wouldn’t do that, would they?”

I nod. “Worse.” I find it hard to imagine what they’ll concoct, but it was terrible after Darren died. This would be degrees worse. “I can’t see how this is a good idea.”

“Except for the fact you’re half in love with the guy.”

Am I? He did say he loves me, but I’m so confused. Yes, his soul speaks to me. I want to help him conquer the world again, in his own style. I want to see him heal the wounds of his past. I want to revel in his happiness. Plus he’s made me come like no one else,including Darren. But is thislove? I swipe another tissue. “I’m such a mess.”

Court lets me cry for a few more minutes, lightly tapping my back. “You’ll figure it out, you always do. How much longer is Bennett in town?”

I pull back. “He’s leaving at noon today.” I glance at the clock. “In an hour.” This realization sets me off again. My world could return to its controlled way, which should make me feel better than I have since Bennett burst into it. But it doesn’t. The desire to spend more time with this challenging rock star tweaks my heart.

I want to insert order into his chaos. Introduce him to love and friendship, the latter of which I’m sure he already has in spades but doesn’t know it. The way his mind works intrigues me.

The whole man intrigues me.

Can I do this again?

How can I not?

My shoulders slump. “Court, I want to go with him.”

“Then let’s see what I can do to make this your reality.”

Chapter Two

Buoyed by the plan Court and I put together, I return to my car with the intention of stopping by Ma’s house. As soon as I turn the corner, paparazzi follow me.

Instead of giving up, I do the opposite. They arenotgoing to get the better of me this time! As if Bennett were sitting next to me, I make quick turns into small streets. These reporters are, after all, in my playground.

One thing’s for sure, I can’t bring them to Ma’s house. I press a button on the screen and we’re connected. “Hey, Ma. I want to come see you but the media’s being a pain and following me. Think you can pick me up in town at Russo Real Estate?”

“No problem. I’m in the middle of something, though. Is it all right if I meet you there in about an hour?”

“Sounds good.”

Using some fancy evasive maneuvers, I dash to Angie and King’s agency and park. Fisting the steering wheel, I exhale all the air in my lungs. What am I going to do for an hour? Property listings line the window in front of me. Might as well use this time to my business’s advantage.

I scoot out of my car and zip into the nicely appointed real estate office, ignoring the tenacious reporters. A sweet lady greets me and I ask to see Angie, whom I felt a camaraderie with while touring the mansions. I’m led to a seat directly across from a messy desk, and Angie appears two minutes later. She takes one look at me and gives me a hug.

“I hate those horrible tabloids.”

As I thought, a kindred spirit. “No argument here.”

“Try to do what King and I do. Ignore them.”

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