Page 29 of Mic Drop

This is bad. Really bad. Lissa’s painted Bennett as some sort of monster who threw over his high school girlfriend for the promise of fame and groupies. Bennett has to make a statement. Does he have proof he’s not the father?

A text arrives on my phone, and I check it.

COURT

A reporter by the name of Jeremy Davis of the Record News just called. He wants an interview with you about all the Black Widow stuff. I told him I’d pass his request along. What do you want to do?

He’s the reporter who wrote a glowing review about Bennett beforeUntamed Coaster Unleashedwas released. Maybe I can use this article to combat Lissa? After all, part of my horrible nickname references my dating Darren, and now Bennett. If I play my cards right, I can use this opportunity to my advantage. Even though I can’t control Ma’s decision, maybe I can make a difference here?

Tell him I’m game.

This has to work. I deserve a win.

Chapter 9

Bennett

Iwatch my avatar die, yet again, in Asteroids Deluxe. Paying less than half attention to the game, everything whizzes by me. Another kill shot. Game over. I play another. And another. “Benjamin Howell” isn’t in danger of setting new records today.

Jenna took a cheap shot at my relationship with my mother. Yes, it does suck. Her lashing out at me stung. Rather than calling her out—because she’s hurting over her own mother’s situation—I left. More heated words between us aren’t the answer.

Faith’s words about not rushing to judgment with her daughter ring true. Jenna’s angry, but that doesn’t mean malicious. She only wants her mother to be healthy. Frustrated she can’t make this come true.

How am I going to make her see reason? No matter how much she wants to, Jenna can’t control everything. Like how the graffiti artist is going unchecked around here—like how Michelle hasn’t been caught. If we could bend the world to our whims, things would be...utter chaos. I need to make Jenna see this.

I have no idea how much time has passed, but footsteps comingdown the stairs catch my attention. In the game, loser music plays. Whatever. Not my focus.

The object of my true focus stops next to me.

I want to reach out and pull her to my body, but I resist. We need to talk about what she said. And why she said it.

Old me would’ve tossed her words into her face and found a replacement bed warmer in under five seconds. But I’m not that guy anymore. Not when I have someone as precious as Jenna in my life. If only I could make her see things the way I do. The way her mother does.

My mouth clamps shut. Her words cut, yet she came down here. She has to be the one to make the first move. I don’t have long to wait.

“How’d you do?” Her chin motions toward the arcade game.

Might as well be truthful. “Sucked ass.”

She clasps her hands in front of her waist. “Sorry.”

“Are you really?”

“I am if I was the cause of your poor performance.” Her hands squeeze together.

We’re getting closer. I need to let her know how much she hurt me. I’ve never gotten close enough to another living being to allow their comments to make a dent in my armor. Goes to show how deep Jenna is under my skin. All the way to my soul.

“Not going to lie, your zinger hit its mark.” I rake my fingers through my hair. “But I know you slammed me because you’re mad at yourself for not being able to dictate your mother’s health.”

Silence.

She doesn’t try to argue with me.

She doesn’t defend herself.

She doesn’t say anything.

Was I too harsh? She needs to understand this truth so she can move forward. Coddling her isn’t the answer, no matter how much I want to pull her into my body and absorb all her pain.

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