Page 47 of Opening Strain

“Maybe in Darren’s eyes, that’s how UC was. He was best friends with 007”—I look at Faith and amend—“Our bassist, Pierce DeLuca. They were almost inseparable.” I leave out the part about them sharingeverything, until Jenna came along. “They were the ideal you’re talking about.”

“Darren talked about hanging out with you guys on the bus, going from concert to concert. He had lots of great things to say about you and the rest of the band.” Jenna addresses her mother. “He didn’t lie to me about that, I’m sure.”

“I’m sure he didn’t,” Faith responds. “Maybe Bennett here has a different outlook?”

I don’t want their pity. I don’t want to speak ill of the dead. I don’t want to be thought of as antisocial. I’m not. Simply like to keep things close to my vest, as the saying goes. “Listen, Darren’s version of UC is a nice ideal. Something we should all strive to achieve.”

My response satisfies Faith, who puts her glass down on the table. “Seems to me the band is a great group of friends who are enjoying the high life. Nothing wrong with that.”

A flicker passes between the two women. Something unspoken. Jenna changes the subject to our lunch today. “Then Michelle cameout of nowhere and hip-checked poor Bennett, hitting his injury point-blank.”

“Oh no,” Faith’s grey eyes sear me. “Are you alright? Jenna’s told me all about your progress.”

I rub my thigh. “I’m good now. Rest and icing it helps. Of course, so long as your demon daughter isn’t making me stand on one leg and do tree pose.”

“I do no such thing!” Jenna roars, her fork landing on her nearly empty plate.

I wink at her and direct my attention to her mother. “Did you know your daughter has no sense of compassion? I begged her not to make me hold the yoga pose for longer than thirty seconds, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”

“Jenna!” Faith accuses my physical therapist. “Tell me you do no such thing. Bennett needs to heal, not be sent to the hospital.”

I place my hand over my heart. “I swear.”

Jenna gets a wicked glint in her eyes. “I only told him to do the pose because he said my exercises were too easy for him, considering what good shape he’s in. I didn’t want to disappoint.”

Gauntlet thrown. “I never made such a statement. You were the one who told me to take off my shirt so you could massage my thigh better.” Take that.

“Oh yeah?” Jenna counters. “I’ve seen better six-packs in liquor stores.”

Faith intervenes. “So he has a six pack?”

Busted. I lean back and watch Jenna try to squirm off this hook. One of her own making.

“It’s not too defined,” she starts. “I mean, if you squint real hard, you might see a few dips and divots.”

I cross my arms. This is getting interesting.

She glances at her mother. “Besides, he was sweating after doing squats. I only suggested he take off his shirt—” She stops talking.

“So you could ogle my goods?” I supply.Love that I got her to lie and say she told me to takeoff my shirt.

“No, you pervert.” She tosses her crumpled cocktail napkin toward me. “For you to rest comfortably.”

“I think that clears everything up,” her mother quips. Returning to her daughter, she asks, “I do need you to back up a little. Did you say Michelle was the person who bumped into him during lunch?”

Jenna sighs. “Yes. She showed up at the restaurant.”

“From out of nowhere,” I supply.

Faith nods. “I can only imagine. That girl’s been a thorn in your side since forever.”

I wait for further explanation, but none comes. So I ask the obvious question. “Why?”

The two ladies look at each other. Standing, Jenna excuses herself to go to the bathroom and her mother dives in. “Jenna and Michelle went to school together—from elementary through high school. She always was jealous of my Jenna. When they were seniors, Jenna had this boyfriend. Thad? Theo? Tim? Something like that.” She shakes her head.

When she doesn’t continue, I prompt her. “So Jenna was dating this guy?”

“Oh right. Yes. They were dating a few months when all of a sudden Michelle got a makeover. Highlighted her hair, fake lashes. Changed up her makeup and started wearing tight, tight clothes.”

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