Page 6 of Mic Drop

Opening my suitcase, another odor bombards me. Like I’m outside in the woods. Bennett. I stare into my luggage, trying to figure out how his scent took it over. One of his T-shirts smiles up at me. The one I wore to bed after he had it on his body. I rip it out of the luggage and ball it up, ready to toss it into the trash.

And freeze. Despite everything, I still love him. I miss him, and the way he held me tight.

After everything that went down, what must he think of me?

The last words he hurled at me make a repeat performance. “Go home to your mommy!” I never was able to bring myself to utter the words that Kara texted me, so he had no idea how hurtful he was being. Ma needs me more than he does. After all, he has the vaunted PR team that will tear Lissa from limb to limb.

Tucking the T-shirt into a drawer, I gather up the assorted bottles of toiletries, which thankfully didn’t break during transit, and enter the bathroom. A half hour later, I emerge a new woman. Now with clean teeth and wearing clean clothes over my showered body, I put on some lip gloss and spritz perfume. There. Ready to fight the demons attacking Ma.

In the kitchen, an enormous breakfast awaits. “Who were you cooking for? The entire army?” I swipe a slice of bacon and crunch on it as I pour some hot water for tea and check out the selections. “Mango Passionfruit?”

“Try it. You’ll like it.”

I do as I’m told and dunk the bag into my mug. “Since when did you start drinking herbal teas?” No sooner are the words out of my mouth than I know the answer. The doctor had to have told her to switch from coffee to tea.

She sighs. “The doctor suggested it. I actually enjoy this one.”

“We need to talk about this.”

She dunks her teabag. “Kara?”

“Yeah. But you should’ve told me, not her. When did you find out?”

She passes me a bowl containing scrambled eggs. A plate of pancakes. Maple syrup. I take each dish from her and add a vast assortment to my plate, considering I didn’t eat yesterday.

When she doesn’t respond, I try again. “Come on, Ma. How long have you known about the cancer?” I nearly choke, but manage to keep it together.

She points her fork toward me, which had been hovering above her eggs. “I had a suspicion that things were off for a while. I finally went to my regular doctor and he referred me.”

I swallow a bite of pancake. No one makes them better. “Which was when?”

“The week before you left with UC.”

“Ma. Why didn’t you tell me then? I could have stayed home with you. It really wasn't necessary for me to go.”

“You were so excited for the tour, there was no way I was going to spoil it for you. I had misgivings about Bennett, as you know. Is he treating you right?”

I shovel the scrambled eggs into my mouth. After washing them down with tea—which is delicious, by the way—I decide to tell her the truth. Maybe my honesty will spur hers?

“Bennett is a nice guy, Ma. He was wonderful, looking after me. He’s going through a lot now, though. Have you seen any of the tabloids or entertainment shows?”

She blows on her own tea. “Can’t say I have.”

I launch into an abbreviated version of Lissa’s story about thesupposed baby. “Then there’s the media calling me ‘Black Widow,’ saying I’m determined to break up the band.”

She shrugs. “Well, all that sounds like total rubbish.”

Her unwavering belief in me warms me from the inside. “It is. However, plenty of fans believe the media hype, so the PR team for UC has been in overdrive addressing both prongs.”

“I can only imagine.” She breaks a piece of bacon and deposits one half on my plate while chewing on the other.

I swallow my eggs. “There’s more. Apparently, the clinics have gained a graffiti artist, who spray-paints spiders on the walls and sidewalks. Court’s been taking care of them, and we even put out a press release, but they keep returning. We think it’s Michelle.”

She rolls her eyes. “That girl needs to get a life. What are you going to do about her?”

“I’m not sure yet.” I replace my mug on the table. “But that’s not the reason I flew home, Ma. Kara told me. What doctors are you seeing? What medicines are you on? When is your surgery?”

“Jenna, I’m in good hands. Kara’s taken me to her friends out here who all interned in the City, so it’s like I’m going all the way out there for treatment. They’ve fast-tracked me.”

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