Page 63 of Enemies Off Camera
Her question is vague enough to be polite but clear enough to say she’s interested. I can appreciate the finesse.
“Things are humming along nicely,” I reply, keeping it short and sweet.
“And you’re staying in San Diego while working in L.A.? You’re still acting, right?” Tati adds.
“I’m between projects,” I say, giving them another neat, non-revealing answer.
But they’re still watching me—nodding, smiling. I can feel it. They’re wondering why I’m so guarded. What’s my deal? They’re not even digging deep, just asking the basics. Surface-level stuff.
So I open the door a little.
“However,” I say, watching their eyes spark with curiosity. “I start a new TV show in about three months, so I’ll be back and forth prepping for that.”
“Oh, how exciting,” Tati beams. Then she leans forward, placing both hands on my knee. “You know, I used to watch you onEmergency. You were my favorite character. I wassohappy when Jaxon chose you.”
My jaw drops a little. I didn’t expect that.
“Oh—well, thank you.”
“But…” Her face shifts, and I already know what’s coming. “You know. The stealing…”
“Don’t,” Onetra cuts in, shooting her a look.
Tati winces. “Too far?”
I think about that. She asked the question, but under the surface, she’s asking something else:Are you safe to be real with?
So I give her real.
“No,” I say easily. “Yes, I stole the face cream. And I’m just now starting to understand why.”
“Did they make you go to rehab?” she asks, softer now.
“Actually, yeah. For two weeks.”
“Did it work?”
Onetra groans. “Don’t ask her that! Zara, you don’t have to answer her nosy-ass questions.”
“I wasn’t being nosy,” Tati protests. “I’m just curious. I want us to be friends. She’s… real. Like, not a dainty eater. She throws down.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh, I’ll be hitting Pilates hard next week,” I joke, holding up a half-eaten lobster corn dog.
Our laughter shifts the energy, and the conversation moves on to Onetra ranting about how Chris Liles still hasn’t proposed.
“If Jaxon marries you first, I’m going to kill Chris,” she says dramatically.
“Well…” I stand, dusting off my lap. “Jaxon and I are just beginning, so I don’t see Chris in an early grave quite yet.” I wink.
Onetra offers a pensive smile and launches back into her rant with Tati as I slip away toward the bar, where I order a tonic with lemon.
“Onetra and Tati cornered you?” Genesis appears at my side.
I flinch slightly—didn’t hear her coming—but keep it cool. “Yeah. But it wasn’t that bad.”
She raises a skeptical brow. “Wait… Are you drinking soda?”
I raise my glass. “I like my calories to be funner than alcohol. Like this.” I take a bite of the lobster dog.
