Page 15 of Enemies Off Camera
And God help me, Ineverwrote that I was in love with Jaxon.
“This is too much,” Jaxon says, finally pushing back. “You’re laying a lot on us. Why not cancel the reunion? Say I’m in training camp. Or just send one of us.”
I slap my chest. “Me? You wantmein front of the firing squad?”
“No,” he says, quieter now. “But you can handle them. You’re strong.”
I pause, surprised.
That’s twice now he’s said something almost… complimentary.
“Youbothwill be there,” Roger snaps, commanding. “And speaking of next season—you,” he points at me, “will attend every home game. But don’t worry. They’ll never make the playoffs.”
He winks at Jaxon.
Jaxon flips him off.
“Ooh, fire in the belly. Maybe they will,” Roger taunts.
“Okay, boys,” Anne says, standing abruptly. “This is not a locker room. Or whatever man-space you all hype each other up in.”
She checks her smartwatch. “It’s set. Sadie will send your schedules. You both have my direct line—use it only if you must. Now…” She gestures toward the couch.
“Stand.”
We rise.
“Show up on time for whatever’s on your schedules,” she finishes. “Don’t be late. Don’t be absent. And for God’s sake—look in love.”
TEN
For some reason, I feel like I just ran five miles and then spent two hours weight training in preparation for the biggest role of my life.
That’s what that meeting did to me.
I barely notice that Jaxon and I are alone in the private elevator, gliding nonstop to the parking garage.
He’s quiet, too. I think we’re both wrung out from what just happened upstairs.
I can hardly believe this is my life right now.
This isnotwhat I signed up for.
And now, in just two days, I have to face all those women from the show—women I’mprohibitedfrom telling the truth. But they’ll see through the lies. Theyhaveto. The editing was obvious. They were there. They saw how I felt—or didn’t feel—about Jaxon. They’ll know the producers, Anne, and Jaxon’s PR guy had their hands all over every "choice." Even that final, ridiculous scene where he picked me.
Sure, the viewers bought the fairytale. But the cast?
They lived the backstage chaos.
They’ll know.
“Hey.”
Jaxon’s voice breaks our silence, and my body tenses like I’ve been zapped.
Why couldn’t he just stay quiet?
“Did you really look at the camera before you took… whatever you took?”
