Page 77 of Extended Bridge

After we finished our therapy session, Bennett took a shower and headed to sound check. I stayed behind to work on a press release about the graffiti. In my heart, I know Michelle did it—but how to prove it?

Sitting back from my tablet, I reread my work. I’m no marketing expert, but I think this will do the trick. It addresses the situation head-on as well as makes an oblique reference to my nemesis. She’ll get the subtle references, even if no one else does. Yes. Gets my point across without stating it for all to see. I email it to Court.

My phone rings ten minutes later. “Hey, Court. What did you think?”

“That you missed your calling. You should be in PR! I love it.”

Her words put a smile on my face. “Think it will do the trick?”

“I can’t go that far, Jenna. She’ll definitely know you’re on to her. I hope this ends now, but we shouldn’t be too certain of ourselves.”

I sigh. “I know you’re right. Do you think I should come home? Call it a day with UC and chalk this whole experience up to wild days?” Even as the words fall from my mouth, I know—in my heart—Idon’t want to play into Bennett’s insecurities. Nor do I want to leave him.

“Don’t go jumping to conclusions here. I didn’t say that. Excuse me.” She obviously pulls the phone away as I overhear her talking with someone, I think another therapist, about a course of treatment. “Sorry about that. Austin asked me a question.”

Austin. A person I haven’t thought about since I left. Time for me to get my head back into the business. “How’s he doing?”

“Austin? Oh, he’s doing well. Still needs some guidance with his patients, but he’s a go-getter. Sometimes a bit too much for his own good.”

“Yeah. I hear you.” I giggle. “Bennett can’t stand him.”

“Can’t imagine why not.” Court full on laughs. I bet she and Nese would be good buds. “It’s not like he’s trying to get in your panties or anything.”

“Hey! He might be into cougars, you never know.” Despite what I told Bennett, I suspect he may be onto something.

“More like he’s trying to seduce you into giving him his own clinic.”

Court’s probably on the money about him. I tap the table. “You’re definitely right there. He told me flat out he wants to manage a new clinic. I keep putting him off.”

“He’ll get there. Just not today. Or tomorrow.”

“So,” I bring us back to the issue at hand. “Think I should come home now that Bennett’s down to one therapy session a day?”

“No, I don’t. You’re handling most of the fallout from the tour. This press release is brilliant. Twisting it around and starting a contest for slogans for T-shirts involving our eight-legged friends is next level.”

I blow on my fingers. “I wanted to turn this nightmare into something positive.” My positivity deflates. “Still, it feels wrong to be gallivanting with UC while everything’s spinning out of control.”

“I know Michelle’s not the only piece of this puzzle. Lissa’s article sparked a lot of media attention.”

“Yeah. I guess I should be happy it pulled attention away from the graffiti incident. That didn’t even make the national media.” I glance around the empty hotel suite and my heart rate spikes. “Court, Bennett’s been gone for hours. The band had a sound check, and he was going to talk with them. About the speech tonight about Lissa. And me.”

“Everything will work out. I believe that.”

“I wish I had your confidence. You know I never meant to put any strain between the band members, but I am. Pierce can barely stand to look at me.”

“He was Darren’s best friend, right?”

“Yes.”

“Give him more time to come around. Bennett has. Tristan, Darren’s replacement has. Seems to me the others, Coop and Río, have as well. Pierce will too.”

“That’s what Bennett said. It’s so hard for me. I want to press a button and have everything normal, you know?”

“You mean, you want to control the situation? Nah. I wouldn’t have imagined!” She adds a snort-laugh to punctuate her sentence.

“What’s so bad about liking control?”

“Nothing, in small doses. Not the oversized helpings that you thrive on.” She pulls the phone away to talk with someone else. “Listen, I have to run. Send out the press release as is. I’ve got it from here.”

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