Chapter 5
Chapter Five
W e enter the hotel and Río’s boisterous voice floats from the lobby bar. Luke taps me on my shoulder with his cell. “You go ahead. I have a phone call to make.”
I lift my hand and enter the bar. “Bennett!” As if on an ancient episode of “Cheers,” the entire clientele greets me. I wave and join the band at a table, where a Manhattan is placed in front of me.
As I swirl the cherry, I remark, “Kinda early to get your drink on, guys.”
Río holds up a Gold Rush, a bourbon whiskey sour, his drink of choice ever since we discovered it a few years ago. “Hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere.” He starts singing the Jimmy Buffet song, getting everyone singing the refrain. I even join his craziness.
Coop moves next to me. “What did the doctor say? Was Jenna right?”
I sip my drink, my stomach starting to churn. Perhaps it’s the fact I missed breakfast and spent the past few hours being poked and prodded. “Sort of.” I point at a menu sitting on the table. “Can you hand me that?”
Distracted for a moment, Coop passes it to me. Río, 007, and Tris crowd in the table. After I place my order for a cheeseburger and fries, sparked by Río’s choice of song, I explain, “Jenna hit it on the head. I do have a groin pull. She was wrong, though, about the grade level. It’s a three and not a two.”
Shit. The doctor said I need to ice it. When the server returns with a bottle of ketchup, I ask for an ice pack. All the while, the guys have been dissecting my proper diagnosis, and have learned about the recovery time, thanks to the internet and their cell phones.
“Yeah, so the doc said I can be on tour with UC as planned, so long as I ice it for a few days and then do these exercises.” I hold up the folder he gave me.
“Dude, there’s some serious exercises in here,” Coop pronounces after flipping through the pages.
Río elbows 007 in the stomach. “We can set up visitation rights to you in the gym.”
I rub two fingers across my nose. “Not exactly.” When I have eight eyes on me, I continue, “He prescribed PT.”
“As in physical therapy?” 007 shifts in his seat.
“Yeah.” I don’t want to share who Luke’s calling right now.
Tris wades forward. “Who are you going to use?”
The weight of their stares breaks me. “Jenna, all right? Jenna is the only physical therapist we know, so of course Luke suggested her.” The server brings my burger, and I busy myself preparing it while avoiding the band. My own recriminations are enough.
After I take a big bite of the greasy goodness, I chance a glance at them. Tris leans against his chair. Coop and even Río study the table. My gaze alights on the one person who I wish I didn’t have to confront: 007, whose eyes bore a hole into my chest.
My hand flips palm side up, motioning for him to speak. He takes another moment, then says, “She is good at her job. If anyone can make this happen for you on our tight schedule, she can.” Relief floods my system. “Just don’t do it in front of me, okay?”
I shake my head. “I’m sure we’ll spend our time in the gym. Let me know your schedule, and we’ll work around it. ”
“Thanks,” 007 blows out a breath. “I never thought I’d have to see her again, so keep her away from the band and we’ll be good. You need to get better.”
“Appreciate it. Besides, who knows if she’ll even take me as a client. She’s an administrator for her company, not a therapist anymore.” This is my last hook to hang my hope she’ll refuse the gig. She stirs too much inside me. Not to mention every time I look at her, I see Darren.
“Do you really think you’ll be up for touring? You only have two weeks.” Tris’s question brings me out of my head.
“I was the one who jumped like a crazy person, landing hard on my leg. I’ll make sure I’m ready to perform, even if it means I need to sit and rest when we’re offstage.”
Tris and Coop appear satisfied with my answer. 007’s lips form a straight line, while Río jokes, “You did leap like you were gonna set a new high jump record.” He laughs and looks around, holding up his glass. “What? Too soon? Bennett did bring this on himself. Gotta have faith he’ll recuperate in time.”
Sick and tired of this topic of conversation, I spout, “The afterparty last night was off the chain.”
Like with interviews, my diversion works. The band starts discussing all the people who attended, the positive buzz over the movie, and the hot chicks in attendance. Laughter rings instead of worried conversation about whether Jenna is going to be my physical therapist. Given the fact Luke has yet to reappear, I guess she turned him down. Good.
I remove the ice pack and toss it onto the table. Especially given where the pull is located. Sex is going to have to be limited too. Guess I’ll have to get more creative .
The remnants of my cheeseburger remain on my plate, given my appetite has disappeared. Who the fuck jumps and lands in physical therapy? “I’m disgusted with you.” My mother’s voice echoes in my head .
Tossing back my Manhattan, I force her out of my mind. Among other things, I certainly don’t need her riding me.
I reach for the packet of information provided by the doctor and read through the exercises. Some require a partner, but most do not. I don’t need Jenna or anyone to work with me. I can do this alone. Like most things.
A pretty redheaded woman in a short skirt and tight top walks up to me. Perhaps she can help me work through my injury. “Hi,” I greet her.
“Hello. You’re Bennett Hardy, aren’t you?”
Her eyes undress me, indicating she knows the answer. “I am.” I lean forward and cup her cheek. “Who might you be?” Not that I care. Names don’t suck me off.
She replies, but I don’t pay attention. Her pink tongue licks her collagen-enhanced lips, stained red. I bet they’d look nice around my cock. This facet of being a rock star doesn’t get old. I catch the end of her sentence, but it doesn’t make too much sense. What does she need help with?
“Excuse me?”
She approaches my ear. “I said,” she whispers. “I’m feeling naughty right now. Can you help?”
Hell yes. “You have a room here?”
“Sure do.” A room key appears in her hand. “Ready to blow this stand?”
I certainly have a better idea of what she can blow. With a kiss to her cheek, I get to my feet and sling my arm around her. This chick will help clear my head. We take two steps and the pain radiating from my thigh makes me rethink her offer. Shit.
“Hey, darling, change of plans.” Knowing his preference, I stop in front of Tris. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I say, “I think you’ll have a better time with our keyboardist.”
The two look at each other. She turns and puts her hand on my chest. “Are you sure? ”
Miss Naughty doesn’t care which rock star she’s with, which works for me. “Yeah.” I lean over to Tris and say, “You’re welcome.”
A grin spreads across his face. He bites his lower lip, a move that seems to work for him. It does this time as well. The two disappear from the bar.
I retake my chair and play with a French fry, not having the energy to chat with the band. Across the way, Luke enters and strides toward me. A gleam’s in his eye I don’t like.
Our manager makes a pit stop at the bar and sidles up next to me, sipping a beer. He plants his ass in the empty seat next to me. “Talked with Jenna.”
“Figured you had.”
“She said maybe.”
My eyebrows rise. “Can’t imagine why she wouldn’t jump at the chance to be with UC again.”
He chuckles at my sarcasm. “Have to admit, I was surprised she didn’t say yes. She was, however, shocked she got the grade wrong but at least she had the right diagnosis.” He raises his hand to order me another Manhattan, but I decline. Something tells me I’ll need all my wits. “The money seemed to interest her.”
“Money?”
“Yeah. It’s not like I’d expect her to do your therapy for free.”
I hold up the exercise packet. “Whatever. I bet I can do this on my own.”
Luke laughs. “You do you. But if Jenna agrees, promise me you’ll work with her.”
“I’d rather have anyone else.” Taking my time, I get to my feet. “On that note, I’m outta here. Going to put more ice on this in my room and rest my leg.” With careful footsteps, I leave the bar to the strains of “On My Own.”
I don’t need anybody else.
I can’t do this alone .
After watching a movie, icing my thigh, and sleeping ten hours straight, I got up and iced my thigh again. Then I took out a sheet from the packet and tried to do the first exercise. No way can I do these.
I grab the breakfast plate and go to throw it across the room, stopping myself at the last possible moment. It’s not fair to take out my frustrations on eggs and bacon. With a growl, I pick up the compression bandage and roll it up my leg, tugging my shorts over my not-gorgeous new accessory.
Tea. I need some tea to calm the fuck down. I pour the hot water into a mug and dunk a berry fusion bag into it. If I’m going to be able to start the tour on time, I have to do these exercises. If I have to do these exercises, I need help. Full stop.
But does that help have to be in the form of a pretty woman with long, sandy blonde hair, connected to Darren? Only one thing wrong with this thought. She’s not only pretty, she’s insightful and sweet and...fragile. I grunt.
She said maybe .
It will be better for all concerned if we hire a different physical therapist. A dude. One with zero connection with UC. I pick up my phone to text Luke and tell him to end his quest for Jenna when someone knocks on my door.
“Be right there!” If only my hotel room door would stay unlocked so I didn’t have to hobble over and open it, but what choice do I have? From halfway across the room, I yell, “Another minute.”
When I reach the door, I use the bottom of my T-shirt to wipe the sweat off my forehead before opening it. Luke, holding a cup of coffee, passes by me with a quick hello. I offer him a seat in the living room and make my way there.
Grateful my ass is once again on the plush cushion, I sip my tea and wait. I hope he doesn’t bring news that Jenna agreed. She’s a complication I don’t need in my life.
He sets his coffee onto the table. “Good news. Jenna agreed.”
Of course she did. Because the universe enjoys a good laugh. I blow air through my mouth. “Yippee.”
“C’mon, B. You know she worked wonders on Darren’s wrist. You even remarked about his recovery at the time.”
I reach for my tea but leave it on the table. “Well, that was then and about him. A lot’s happened since. And this is my injury we’re talking about now.”
“I get it.” Luke looks me straight in the eye. “I do. Things are different with you.” When I open my mouth to speak, he holds up his hand. “One, you’re not looking for a girlfriend like Darren was.”
I rear back. “He was on the hunt for his next conquest, never a girlfriend.”
Luke shakes his head. “He always hoped the next woman would be ‘the one.’ Then he met Jenna, and she was the one. Until the fog of drugs fueled his mind. He’s been gone a long time, B. Any hold he had over this woman no longer applies. Besides, you’re not dating her, she’s just going to be your therapist. Nothing more.”
I ponder what our manager said. “She was Darren’s girlfriend.”
Luke’s head moves up and down in slow motion. “She was. Was. Past tense.”
My eyes shut. “She agreed? To help me?”
“She did. Took a long while, I have to admit. Her agreement does come with stipulations, though.”
“She’s dictating to us?”
“I wouldn’t call it ‘dictating.’” He takes a sip of his coffee. “More like she has some conditions.”
I run my fingers through my hair. “Can’t wait to hear them. Isn’t it bad enough I need her services?”
Luke chuckles. “The first stipulation doesn’t matter to you. It was business.”
My head tilts. “Like what?”
“She negotiated a bigger payout for her services. Necessitated by her second stipulation.” He tips his cardboard coffee cup up to the ceiling, making sure to get every drop.
“Can’t wait to hear this.” I count the ceiling tiles as he switches his position in the chair.
“She’s building a business out on Long Island, as you know. She has two locations, both of which require her attention. She can’t afford to be away from them for any length of time.”
Dread washes over me. “What exactly are you saying?”
Luke straightens his shoulders. “She wants to work with you in her clinic out there.”
I swing forward, aggravating my inner thigh. I manage to contain my yelp of pain but not my grimace. For his part, our manager waits for me to get the pain under control. When it’s subsided, I say, “What if I don’t want to go?”
“C’mon, B. She’s out in Aroostook, which is in the Hamptons. Playground of the rich and famous.”
I let this sink into my brain. “I guess the party scene is hot out there.”
“In season it is.”
“Which won’t begin for months.”
We sit in silence until Luke adds, “King and Angie Hunte live out there year-round. I bet they can hook you up with a sweet rental.”
King is Braxton Hunte’s son, the lead singer of the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame band Hunte. I’ve met the band a few times and would loosely call them slight acquaintances. Also have jammed a couple of times with Braxton’s other son, Trent, of The Light Rail fame. Because we had nothing else to do between tour stops, UC watched “Battle of the Real Estate Matchmakers,” which featured both King and Angie. They seem like the real deal although I’m well aware of how the press can manipulate a story.
I shrug. “I’ve never met them.”
“His father and brother are with Apex Hits. I have friends over there who can introduce you to King, I’m sure.”
A slight grin touches my lips. “Imagine what Kenneth Dumont would say to such blasphemy.” Apex and my label Platinum compete for top spots on the regular. We have Cole Manchester, Ozzy Martinez, and Adam Baret, so I think we’re on the winning side. But it’s close.
Luke spreads his hands wide. “Let’s keep this between us.”
Despite the levity, if I agree to this plan, I’m brought back to the fact I’d be working with Jenna. One-on-one. On her home turf. “How long?”
“Right now, we have twelve days until the UC tour starts. So, eleven days. Think you can handle it?”
The gauntlet has been thrown. Eleven days. Less than two weeks. I can do anything for such a short amount of time. Our manager sees my capitulation before I even utter a word. He leaps to his feet—show-off.
Rubbing his hands together, he says, “Pack your bags. You’re going on a short trip.”
I hope this decision doesn’t come back to bite me.