Page 7 of Extended Bridge

“A vacation might not be the worst thing.”

“It wouldn’t be a vacation, not by a long shot. For one, I’d be working with a patient. Two, I’d be away from home and would miss you like crazy. Also, I’d be back on the UC bus, dealing with lack of sleep and laundry, fending off the paparazzi, and awful groupies, At Your Service PT would only be on autopilot, and not growing.” I finish my almost top ten list—ignoring the big fact of facing the other members of the band.

“What does your gut tell you?”

I close my eyes. “To complete what I started.” My eyelids rise.

She tips her teacup upward. “I loved Darren. I loved his jokes and his great sense of humor. Most of all, I loved how he loved you.”

Memories of our time together wash over me. “He was amazing.”

Darren was the definition of fun. Always with a ready prank. When I was around him, I was the center of all his attention, which was heady. Our happy memories are replaced with more recent ones of me with Bennett, who is less engaging with the world while being more real. Grounded and guarded. He’s hiding more than he’s shared with me, I’m sure of it. Instead of being repelled, though, I want to peel back his layers. Even in such a short time, our relationship ismuch deeper than what I had with Darren. I’m impelled to find out why.

“Darren was one of a kind.” Her eyes turn soft for a brief moment. “However, it sounds to me like Bennett needs your physical therapy expertise and you need a break. Three months isn’t all that long in the overall scheme of things.”

A yearning to uncover more about Bennett compels me to reply, “That’s true.”

“If you go, I do have one word of caution for you. There’s something off about this Bennett. He’s concealing some truths. Plus, you said it yourself during dinner, he’s reckless. I mean, he pulled his groin doing a crazy jump onstage. Darren never would’ve done anything bonkers like that.”

No. He only overdosed.

Ma continues, “The things he said about not being close with his mother worry me. Every son needs his momma.”

"I have no idea what went on between the two of them," I reply truthfully. “I’ve been working on him about her. I’m sure he blew a situation way out of proportion.”

“How deep are you in with him?”

He told me he loves me. He stirs something up in me I’ve never felt before. He’s played my body unlike anyone else, including Darren. I whisper, “I’m not sure.”

“I was afraid you’d say that. Darren was an amazing man, and you both were so in love. Like Kara and her husband.” She beams at how far her family has risen—from the ashes to a PT owner of soon-to-be four clinics and a husband-and-wife cosmetic surgeon and anesthesiologist power duo with two kids. “Be careful with Bennett. He looks as if he could rip your heart out and eat it as pâté.”

“Ma!” Her analogy shocks me.

“What? I’m telling you how I see it. He has danger written all over him. He doesn’t get along with his mother. Seems to be a loner in the band. My daughter doesn’t need to be mixed up with someone like that. Not after what you had with Darren.”

“But, but . . . you were so nice to Bennett at dinner.”

“Because I’m a lady. I don’t think he’s right for you, so if you think by going off on tour you’re going to coax him into marrying you, I don’t want you going.”

I rub my left arm while her words soak into my heart. Is he as bad for me as she’s portraying? “I’m not looking to marry the guy. My goal is to help him heal properly.”

“So long as that’s all it is, fine.”

“Fine.” We stare at each other for a minute. “I have to admit the idea of taking a step away from all these responsibilities is alluring.”

“A break you deserve,” she concedes. “I don’t want to see you end up the way you did before, though. The media’s all over you already. Are you sure this is the best decision for you?”

“I hate the reporters for contacting Darren’s family and stirring the whole mess up again. Seems like their job is only to create headlines and get clicks. I’m trying to ignore them.”

Ma stands and walks to me, placing her palm on my cheek. “I know you’ll do the right thing, Sweet Pea.” She gathers our empty cups and disappears into the kitchen.

But what if the right thing means giving in to my feelings for Bennett?

Chapter Three

After kissing Ma on her cheek, I leave her car outside Angie’s real estate office and walk to mine. At least those damn reporters haven’t returned. I place my hand on the front door handle, but the ocean’s roaring waves call to me.

Ma’s car has long since turned the corner, confirming I’m alone. Fixing my scarf and wrapping my coat around me, I walk toward the boardwalk. I need to clear my head.

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