Page 80 of The Enemy: Extended Edition

JUNE: Sounds sexy.

RYAN (MR. DARCY): Do you need me to erase that mental image for you?

A photo comes through next that has my face turning into lava. I immediately (and suspiciously) angle my phone away from the stage crew lady beside me and ogle the ridiculously sexy photo of Ryan’s mirror selfie. He’s wearing black boxer briefs and nothing else. I would like to lick his abs.

And just like that, I’m no longer thinking about going on live TV in a few minutes. My brain is obsessing over my husband and how we’ve both been absurdly busy of late and haven’t had near enough naked time with each other. Between running our two businesses and keeping up with the social life of a three-year-old (which is shockingly vibrant, I might add), we’ve been like ships in the night. Happy ships, but ships nonetheless.

It’s mid ogle that the stage lady looks over at me. “Ready? Almost time to go on.”

I slam my phone against my chest and no one else has ever looked so guilty in all of history. I give a meek smile and tuck my phone back into my pocket. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

She nods, and I listen as Tom announces the commercial break. This is it. I know I have roughly two minutes before I have to walk out onto that stage in front of the cameras and studio audience.

The night before flying out, as I was lying in bed and spiraling about the idea of live television, I whispered to the ceiling,“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

Ryan’s fingers found mine under the comforter and he whispered back, “I can. It’s what you deserve.”

I clutch those words to my heart as I get the final warning nod from Stage Lady and then see Violet and Tom get into position on the part of the stage that’s designated for Darlin’ Donuts. For me.

The green light flashes on the camera and Violet talks me up. “You may know our next guest as the Queen of Donuts. The woman who swept into our lives via social media and stole our hearts with her Just Peachy donuts. She has not only built her donut empire from scratch, but has catered parties for celebrities all over the U.S., and recently launched her nationwide franchising. Please join us in welcoming . . .”

Stage Lady looks back at me with saucer eyes and begins counting down on her fingers while silently miming three, two, one!

“June Henderson, owner of Darlin’ Donuts!”

Annnnnd we’re walking. But then, just as we rehearsed, Stage Lady stops just at the edge of the curtain, and I keep going without her. Please don’t face-plant, June. Better yet, please don’t have toilet paper stuck to the bottom of your shoes!

The bright lights hit as I emerge from backstage. I smile and wave out at a roaring crowd.

“It went okay, right? I think it was okay?” I ask the headset lady the second I step backstage. But she’s doesn’t answer. The woman standing behind her does.

“You were incredible. And after I finish my segment, I plan to stuff my face with your amazing donuts and take any leftovers back to my husband.”

I lock eyes with the woman and my stomach bottoms out. That’s . . . that’s . . .

“Rae Rose,” she says with a smile, extending her hand for me to shake. OMG, the queen of soulful pop is extending her hand for me to shake. This is wild. Surreal. Unbelievable. Is it really happening to me? The day is a dream.

I manage to pick my jaw up off the floor in just enough time to shake her hand. Am I losing it or is her hand the softest hand I’ve ever felt in my life? Just her presence is sweet and comforting in a weird sort of way. Like I’m fairly certain I’m her best friend in the entire world now. She’s wearing an all-black sequined jumpsuit that glitters in a thousand different ways and makes me want to throw my bubblegum pink one in the trash.

“I’m Ryan Henderson,” I say, and then I pause. “No. Sorry. That’s my husband’s name. I’m Rae Rose.” Oh god! “NO! You’re Rae Rose. I am June Henderson.” Someone please knock me out and carry me away on a stretcher. I’ll never recover from this embarrassment.

Rae Rose—who I still cannot believe is standing in front of me in the flesh—just smiles like she thinks I’m adorable. “It’s lovely to meet you, June.” She looks over my shoulder and nods at someone. And then Rae Rose lightly touches my arm and aims an earth-shattering smile at me. “So sorry to cut this short, but I’ve got to get out there. It was really nice meeting you. I’m going to be in touch about having you cater an event for me coming up!”

“I’d love to!” I say as she floats by me and a very stern-looking woman in a suit (her bodyguard most likely) assumes a position right at the edge of the stage. The wild cheer of the audience suddenly cracks through the studio. I thought their cheer for me was loud, but for Rae Rose, it’s breaking sound barriers.

And that’s when I realize how incredible my life is—because even though I’m standing here watching a pop star talk about her upcoming album, I’m thinking about how eager I am to catch my flight home to Ryan and Zoe.

The Uber drops me off outside my house and I take a minute to just stand here and smile at our rainbow Christmas lights. We’re the only house on the block with them still up—and I’m not mad about it. It’s only 5:24 P.M. as I walk in the house, but everything is quiet as if it’s midnight. I’m used to the sound of Zoe talking nonstop and running through the house like a wild boar. But upon closer inspection, I see that the light is off in her room down the hall, and the door is cracked.

I toss my purse on the hook by the door and pad as quietly as possible down the hall. When I peek through the crack, I smile at Zoe in her bed, sound asleep under my beloved Nick Lachey blanket. And she’s not alone. Ryan is passed out on the floor beside her bed with his arm up in the air, holding on to her sweet little hand.

Oh, be still my fragile heart.

I tiptoe into the room, squat down next to Ryan (who I know has to be exhausted to have accidentally fallen asleep like this), and whisper his name. He jolts awake, looking like he’s not sure what century he woke up in. His hair is all disheveled, and he’s wearing sweatpants with a soft dark green T-shirt. Honestly, he’s never looked better.

When he finally realizes I’m the one who whispered his name, a slow smile curls his mouth. I hitch my head for him to follow me out of the room. With the precision of a jewel thief, Ryan slips his hand out from under Zoe’s, and he replaces it with a stuffed animal. This isn’t amateur hour.

He follows me out of the room and softly, softly closes Zoe’s door behind him. Once it clicks shut, I don’t waste a second before wrapping my arms around his middle and squeezing. He hugs me back, laying his cheek against my head, and I swear nothing in my life beats this.

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