Page 57 of Enemies Off Camera

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“Wait.”

She grabs my arm—tight, desperate.

Now I’m worried. People are starting to notice us.

“What?” I say, sharper than I mean to.

Her eyes are wide. Almost teary. They dart around my face, searching for something.

I don’t want to frown at her. She’s a nice girl.

So I make a hard effort to look neutral.

“Don’t you miss us?” she asks. “Because I miss you all the time.”

I sigh.

I realize now—I have to break her heart.

Thwart her dream of being with me.

Otherwise, she’ll never let this go.

“Ashley…”

I gently pull my arm free. “It was just a show. You know that. You signed the NDA too.”

I pause.

“I made my choice. And I’m sticking with her.”

A beat.

“Goodbye.”

And on that note, I get the hell out of there.

That was unsettling.

So much so, I can’t wait to see Zara.

FORTY

3 Hours Ago

Earlier, I was relieved when Jaxon’s assistant called to cancel our publicity stunt. After that kiss, we need a break.

I sit at my desk, waiting for the phone to ring. Kat should be calling any minute. I pinch my lower lip. I really liked our kiss. It was so… passionate. But why would I feel all this passion for Jaxon Wilde?

What he said to me after I stepped out of the back of that limousine still bothers me. I said I forgive him, and I do. But I can’t forget how low he made me feel. That feeling sticks to me like meat on ribs.

It’s funny, though. After the table read—which I slayed—I had this impulse to go for a walk. Not just any kind of walk—the dangerous kind. The kind that led me to that drugstore where I committed theft.

I’m trying to understand why the craving is here. Life is good. But life was also good then.

The abrupt chime of my phone makes me jump slightly. It’s Kat. She’s always on time. I slide the answer button and put our call on speaker.

“Hi, Kat,” I say.

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