Page 20 of Extended Bridge

Leave it to Court to pick up on that gem. “Lucky me. They’ll be at the tour stop in Philly in a couple of days.”

“Shit.”

“About sums it up.” I delve into the recent article inThe Gossip. “I can’t face them. They hated me when I was with Darren. Now they think I’m some sort of groupie who only wants to spend time with the band.”

“We both know that couldn’t be further from the truth. I think you need to say it to their faces. Flat out.”

“Oh, I forgot about Lissa and Michelle, too. No, Court, this was a bad idea. If you’re not willing to take my place, I’ll call Felipe. I bet he’d do it.”

“His boyfriend might have something to say about it.”

Rats. I forgot about his partner. “Then that leaves you. Start packing.”

“I won’t do it. You need this, Jenna. You need to explore whatever it is between you and Bennett.”

“There’s nothing?—”

She continues as if I didn’t object. “Plus, tell those reporters where they can shove it. This is your life, Jenna. Do you really want someone else telling you how to run it?”

“Well, no. But it’s too much.”

“It’s a lot, I agree. How did the sound check go?”

I shrug. “Bennett didn’t do anything stupid and the band sounded great.” When don’t they? “I met this roadie, Jeb. He’s huge! Seriously, a giant built like a Mack Truck.” I pause. “Anyway, he works setting up and breaking down the staging. He confided about back issues, and I promised him I’d send him some exercises to do.” Which I have to do as soon as I get off the phone.

“That’s pretty cool. Think you could give him PT while you’re on the road?”

“I never considered that. Maybe?” Could others in the band and its entourage need therapy? I should explore this avenue.

“I think you need to stick it out, Jenna. Yes, meeting up with Darren’s family could suck, but maybe you could clear the air? No matter what, you’ll only have to deal with them for one concert, right?”

I sigh. “It’s going to be bad.”

She repeats. “For one day.”

“I guess so. But the reporters are forever. They were relentless when I was with Darren, remember? He wasn’t as in demand as Bennett is. Plus, I wasn’t branded the Black Widow back then.” Guilt summoned by the phrase still makes my stomach clench.

“I get it, Jenna. Try to turn things around on them. That’ll make them back off.”

I remember Angie’s suggestion for me to fight the media from within. “You’re not the first person to suggest this to me.” I slump onto the bed. “Guess I’m stuck here. I’ll try.”

“That’s all anyone can ask of you. Now go and send Jeb his exercises and get Bennett ready to hit the stage.”

I stare at my phone. It’s not Jeb I’m worried about.

Chapter Six

Later, I join UC and what seems to be a million crew members in a conference room that’s been labelled “The Closet” in Madison Square Garden. The sheer amount of people doing their jobs in this chaos is astounding.

Absorbing the controlled disorder, I approach Bennett, who sits with an ice pack on this thigh. “Are you looking forward to tonight’s concert?”

I clear my jumble of thoughts about the hubbub going on around me. “It’ll be nice to see you guys performing again. To see how things have changed with Tristan.” Before a gig, Darren used to hold his own comedy session for the band and crew. Come to think of it, I remember Bennett standing apart yet laughing at his jokes.

“We’re a different band now. Our vibe has shifted but we’re still all about the music.”

On what I consider to be safe territory, I sit across from him. “What’s Tristan like?”

My question brings Bennett up short. He taps the ice pack. “He’s pretty laid-back. He doesn’t like to rock the boat, which I guess makessense, considering why he joined UC. He’s a good guy, though. Damn fine keyboardist, too.”

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