Page 40 of Extended Bridge

“No.” They draw together deeper.

“When he’s not performing, do you see him limp?”

He drops the half-eaten pastry onto the plate. “Sometimes.”

I nod. “That’s why I’m here.” I still should address what the media captured last night. “He’s shared some personal things with me, and last night’s”—how should I put this?—“brief kiss was a way for me to encourage his growth. The photographers blew it out of proportion. Like they do.”

He repeats, “Like they do.”

We sit in silence, neither one of us daring to move.

Pierce is the first to break. “Good. Because I wouldn’t think you could move on from Darren so fast. And with his bandmate, no less.”

The bandmate comment I get, but fast? It’s been two years. Pursing my lips to refrain from poking the bear any further, I take another bite of my croissant. Which tastes like sandpaper. Seeing as he needs some sort of validation, I nod in his direction.

Our awkward encounter is broken when Nese and some of the other crew bound into the room. Noise levels rise, silverware clanks against plates, liquids are poured. Nese sits next to me and I exhale. Forcing a smile, I ask, “How was last night?”

“Oh, it was amazing.” She digs into scrambled eggs. “You should’ve been there. We were out dancing until three.”

When I was tossing and turning in my bed. Maybe she’s right. If I had gone, at least I wouldn’t have wallowed all night. I finish my croissant. “Who was out that late?”

She giggles. “All of us. We’re night owls—we’ll make you one too. Touring does that to your circadian rhythm. Give us a few more days and you won’t be seeing single digits on your clock ever again.”

Even when I was with Darren, I always kept my work schedule. To be fair, I was usually only out with him one or two nights in a row. After a show, we were horizontal more than vertical. Although he never made me feel the way Bennett has. Once again, heat rises up my neck.

Nese nudges my torso. “I can see you’re on board with this idea.”

Not about to share my thoughts about Bennett, especially with Pierce at my side, I dig into my fruit salad. Conversation swirls around me, but I don’t partake. When Tristan, Coop, and Río enter, some of the crew members give them their seats so they’re now surrounding Pierce. Grabbing my quiet cell, I point as if someone’s calling and flee the room.

Into the restaurant proper.

Too many eyes track my movements as I force myself to walk at a normal pace toward the exit. I take a deep breath when I leave, only to have my pulse ramp right back up as Bennett and Luke turn the corner.

“Jenna,” Luke greets me. “Just the woman I wanted to see.” The two men approach. Bennett remains unusually quiet. “B and I were talking, and we’d like for you to join us on our field trip to visit Darren’s family.”

“No.”

The manager’s hand lifts. “Now hear me out. It would be good publicity for you. And B. And UC, to be honest. Show some solidarity in light of the, let’s say, challenging headlines from this morning.”

“About them,” I lick my lips. “Can you make them go away?”

“We’ve tried, but there are too many of them. The best way to combat their effectiveness is with a counter punch. Right, B?”

“Seems like it.”

Why is Bennett being so quiet? He’s never quiet. Maybe he hates this idea as much as I do? Holding onto this thought, I reply, “No. I’m not going. Believe me, it would make for a bad scene.”

Bennett adjusts his stance. “I’ll stay behind too.”

Luke looks between us as if we were playing tennis. “No. B, youmustbe there. Jenna, while I can’t control what you do, please reconsider.”

I shake my head. “I won’t. I would only make it uncomfortable for all of you and ruin the visit. Bennett, though, you should go.”

The lead singer crosses his arms across his large chest.

Luke sighs. “Fine. But you will be coming, B. Like we discussed, Tris won’t be going, but the original members of the band need to be there.” The manager glances between us. “I’m going in for breakfast.” Then he disappears.

“I hate leaving you behind.”

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