Page 104 of Mic Drop

“You’re not. Anymore,” I address my husband. Despite the appeal of his offer, one truth wins. “However, I don’t do therapyanymore.”

Bennett points to himself. “Excuse me. What am I, chopped liver?”

I shrug. “You were a one-off.”

“Did you hear that?” Bennett addresses Luke. “Sounded to me like I was her pity fuck. Did I hear her right?”

Luke bangs on his ear. “I swear I heard something like that, but I must be mistaken.”

Four eyes glare at me. My husband breaks the silence. “You were a fantastic therapist to me. IknowJeb says the same thing. You even told me when we were working together how much you missed working with patients. This job could give you the best of both worlds. You’ll know your patients and see their healing progress, like you did with me.”

My heart screams for me to take this position, yet my persistent brain tramples my hope. “I have two clinics back home and another two on the way. I can’t leave them.”

Luke replies this time. “If you were back in Aroostook, would you visit both clinics daily while overseeing the renovations of the third and preparing the fourth?”

“What? No way. I can’t do all that.”

“Exactly. You have contractors and employees to do all that for you, right?”

“Well, Court looks out for all my businesses while I’m away.”

“She does,” Bennett agrees. “She’s doing a great job. Seems to me that she handles the day-to-day while you do the bigger things, like dealing with the whole Black Widow bullshit.”

“Hayden helped me out.” UC’s PR team was invaluable. “And Court.”

“It takes a village,” the manager notes. “Like the band. I couldn’t do this without fantastic help.”

If I take this job, I can stay with Bennett on the road. When he has a break from touring, we could go home, allowing me time to handle things in person. Ma’s note flits through my mind,begging me to let go of some control in order to live my best life. Is this what she meant? Would she support this change?

Bennett doesn’t let me stew for too long before sweetening the pot, so to speak. “Imagine it, Sweetheart. We can be together all the time. Visit new cities. Experience places like Graceland.” His eyebrows waggle. “Make love on balconies.”

I swat his broad chest. “Bennett!”

“What? I toned it down for our manager’s virgin ears.”

My forehead rests in my hand. Can I really do this? Leave my life behind and join a world-famous band—one that so happens to have my husband as its front man? Hell yes! Only if Court agrees, though. I stand. “I need to call Court. If she’s on board with your crazy idea, then I am too.”

Before I can take another step, Bennett leaps to his feet and kisses me as if we weren’t surrounded by people. Against my ear, he whispers, “You’ve made me so happy. I love you, Jenna Hardy.”

I kiss him once more. “Love you back.” I rush out of the café and into our room. This call needs my full attention, and whenever I’m around Bennett, that’s not possible.

I organize my scrambled thoughts, FaceTime Court, and explain the situation to her. “I don’t know, Jenna.” Her head tilts. “I can’t figure out why on earth you want to spend all your time with the man of your dreams, traveling the world, and not be here in boring Aroostook fighting tooth and nail to build your physical therapy empire. What could be the draw?”

My smile widens. “Are you sure? Do you really want to become the general manager of all the clinics? Deal with those headaches?” I take a breath. “You’ll get a raise, you know.”

“Honey, I’ve been dealing with a lot of this ever since Bennett swept you off your feet. If I’m honest, I truly enjoy handling the challenges with the clinics and therapists. Besides, it’s not like you’re going to be off the grid, we’ll only have to deal with time zones. Promise me you’ll check in once a week, and I say it’s a done deal.”

I squeal. “Really? You’d be willing to do this for me?”

“And for me. Not to mention I’m not one to deny true love.”

True love. This foreign concept does apply to me and Bennett. I know his flaws and he certainly knows mine, but together we click.

“Court, I owe you everything. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”

She giggles. “How about the hunky contractor doing the renovations on the new clinic?”

My head bobs and I blink. “If I have anything to say about it, he’s yours.”

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