Page 68 of The Enemy: Extended Edition

He looks down at me. “That’s not the date I have planned. She’s talking about a restaurant opening of one of my old friends from culinary school.”

“Oh, let’s go, then! If it’s your friend’s restaurant, you should be there to support him.”

Ryan studies my face with furrowed brows, trying to find any hints of a lie. “You sure?”

I poke him in the cheek, ready for him to stop looking so serious. “Why wouldn’t I be? Sounds like a fun night out.”

He looks back up to Nia. “All right, looks like we’ll see you there.”

There’s something about hearing the word we that makes me tingle.

They say their goodbyes, and when Ryan and I are both situated in his truck again, he leans over the console and kisses me. Just as I start to taste the mint in his mouth, he pulls away and smiles. “Are you ready for that date now?”

My heart hammers against my chest. For some reason, I thought the opening tonight would mean postponing the date. I like this option much better.

We get back to Ryan’s place to get ready for this mystery date, and before we part in the hall, he says, “Wear whatever makes you feel most like a sexy woman.”

1) That phrase is majorly ick and doesn’t sound at all like something he’d say.

2) I have no idea what that means. It’s not very helpful and leaves me more confused than before he said it.

“I’m going to pretend you never said that horrific sentence. Should I dress up or dress casual?”

But Ryan doesn’t answer. He buttons his lips with a smirk and disappears into his room. Unfortunately he shuts the door; otherwise, I would absolutely watch him dress for no other reason than to get an idea of what to wear myself. NO OTHER REASON.

I open the top drawer of the dresser, where I unpacked my clothes, and my eye catches on the I ♥ NICK socks my mom bought me. My heart twists. It’s time to tell her the truth. She deserves to know.

Without allowing any time to talk myself out of it, I grab my phone, flop myself back on the bed, and dial Mom. It rings three times before she answers. “Hi, sugar! I was just thinking about—”

“Mom. Ben cheated on me!” I blurt it out in one big rush, like a balloon that’s had its end cut off. “I found out just before the wedding. That’s why I called it off.”

There’s a stunned silence for a minute, and I shut my eyes, worried that she’s upset with me for keeping this from her for so long.

And then I hear the three words I was not expecting. “We know, darlin’.”

I peek my eyes open, my shoulders relaxing against the mattress. “You knew?”

This time, I hear the a cappella choir of my giant family. “Yep!”

I shoot up in bed. “Why am I hearing ten annoying voices?”

“Because we’re all together and I had you on speaker when you called,” says Mom.

“Hi, June!” That’s Jake, and he’s grinning ear to ear; I can hear it in his voice.

“Having fun in Chicago?” Evie adds.

“All right, y’all skedaddle. I don’t think June meant for everyone to hear that declaration.” Thank you, Mom.

“Okay, we’re going. But, June, we all already knew about Ben. So there’s nothing to feel weird about,” says Jake, his voice slipping farther away.

I sigh. Nothing to feel weird about? Nothing other than my family all knowing my giant secret for five years and pretending they didn’t know!

“Okay, baby, we’re alone now. I’m sorry you were on speaker, but I had no idea you were going to blurt your heart out like that.”

“It’s okay,” I say, feeling tired for some reason. Probably because I just dropped the heavy secret I’ve been carrying around for too long. “You all knew? For how long?”

“Since the day you called off the wedding.”

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