Page 55 of Enemies Off Camera
Smiling like she’s been kissed by today’s sunshine, walking toward us.
What the hell is she doing here?
THIRTY-NINE
JAXON WILDE
Alot’s going through my head as she bops over, light on her feet. Ashley is the very definition of “bubbly.”
The only time I’ve seen her deviate from that bubbly self was on the reunion stage—when she tried to topple Zara and take her place.
My eyes lock on her tight, shiny pants—second skin. She’s also wearing a tight tank top. I bet if she were in Zara’s shoes, she’d wear stuff like that around me every day.
We’d have definitely had sex by now. Day one.
“All hail camel toe,” Barber murmurs under his breath. “It’s all for you.”
“Jaxon,” Ashley sings, weaving her way through tables.
She initiates the hug we share.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, pulling back.
“I saw you through the window and thought,Oh my God, it’s Jaxon!I should come say hi. So here I am.” She pinches her shoulders up and gives me a little wave, like I’m a puppy.
I grunt. “Hmph.”
Force a smile.
Funny thing is—her being here kind of makes megladAnne checkmated us into sticking it out with Zara.
“You wanna sit?” Barber asks, already pulling out a chair.
“Yes,” she says, way too brightly.
“So what brings you to San Diego?” I ask.
“Just visiting family.”
That smile of hers barely wavers.
“Ah,” I say. “You never mentioned having family in San Diego.”
“Yes, I did,” she says with a soft chuckle, patting my shoulder. Her palm’s damp—I can feel it through my T-shirt.
I search my memory for a time she said that. Nothing.
But that doesn’t mean she’s lying. One of the worst parts of being the show’sPrince Charmingwas keeping track of what I said to each woman—and what they said to me.
That show was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The women wanted every single ounce of me. But I got it. There was only one of me and, what, nineteen of them?
Zaracouldn’t care less about being in my company.
And yeah, that bothered me.
Sure, I acted like an ass when I first saw her step out of the limo, but that’s because it was weird. She’s a well-known actress, for God’s sake. I’d even seen her once at a party in West Hollywood.
I don’t know why she was there. She looked bored. So I tried to liven things up—said hello.
