Page 78 of Driving Beats

Jenna nods. Hayden touches her hand.

“I suggested you might want to select one of the beaches there and put a white rose into the water. That way, her spirit can soak up all the Aussie hospitality.” When I finish speaking, Jenna’s eyes are glassy.

Using his thumb, Bennett wipes beneath his wife’s eyes. He whispers something into her ear. I await her verdict.

She clears her throat. “Coop, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever suggested to me.” She pushes away from the table and gives me a hug. I wrap my arms around her, offering the only comfort I have. Her grey watery eyes snag me. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” I reply. “I hope it brings you some peace.”

“I want you there,” Jenna tells me. Then she addresses everyone. “All of you. And Pierce, Tris, and Luke too. I’d like to share this special moment with the people I love.”

Río raises his glass. “Here, here.” We all toast her mother.

Jenna retakes her seat as Bennett ducks out of the kitchen. A few minutes later, he brings in a tray of marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate bars. “S’mores around the firepit for dessert!”

Everyone leaves the table and follows the lead singer outside. I take my time, stopping in front of the wall of windows, wondering whether Nese will be invited to Jenna’s mother’s ceremony. Maybe I should warn her so it doesn’t trigger her own negative mother issues?

“I love your outfit,” Hayden approaches me. “Very trendy.”

I do a double take. “Thanks.” I look down. “Nese picked it out.”

She smiles. “I can tell. It has a designer flair. She’s pretty good with clothes.”

I nod. “She sure is.”

“If I didn’t mention this before, I’m sorry about your luggage, but it seems you got a great upside. You might even give Tris a run for his money as best dressed off the stage.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. He’s the fashion plate. I only have these clothes because mine were lost.”

She waves. “Result is the same.” I open the sliding glass door, and we exit the rental to the backyard. “So, how was it shopping with Nese? I have personal experience that she can be a taskmaster.”

I chuckle. “You can say that again. She made me take her all over LA and try on a billion articles of clothing. For a while there, I thought my house wouldn’t hold all the stuff she wanted me to buy.” We join the group, huddled around the firepit.

“She’s a good egg,” Hayden says.

Jenna questions, “Who is?”

“Nese,” Hayden replies.

The two women exchange a quick glance. Jenna asks, “Where is Nese, by the way? I was under the impression she was still shopping with you.”

I’m not about to spill the beans that she purchased a ticket back to Georgia and I dropped her off at the airport this morning. Was it only today? Feels like I’ve lived a thousand years since she got out of the Rover.

“No. She finished my wardrobe, so she returned to her home in Georgia for the last week of our break.”

“Too bad. I was hoping to see her tonight. She’s so… lively,” Jenna notes.

“She has to be the most thoughtful person I’ve ever met,” Hayden chimes in. “I think she’s going to make someone an excellent catch.”

“You’re one hundred percent right,” Jenna agrees.

I pull the shirt away from my neck. I need to distance myself from these two before I say something I shouldn’t. Or simply agree with them. “Hey, I see s’mores.” I nudge away from the women, join Bennett and Río, and follow their lead by putting a marshmallow on a stick.

“I thought you didn’t like marshmallows,” Río observes.

Damn. It’s impossible to put anything over on someone you’ve known since elementary school. “Yeah. I mean, no. Still hate them. But I’ve learned to enjoy cooking them.”

His eyebrows wiggle.