Page 59 of Accidentally Wed to My Enemy

“First, an apology.” I gulped from my drink. “I’ve been a dick lately. Messed with your head. I haven’t been honest, and I know how that’s hurt you, and I guess what I’m saying is, I want to make that right.”

Sam’s eyes narrowed. “Make it right how?”

I set my drink on the nightstand and took a deep breath. “I want to be honest. To tell you who I am. I don’t know if you know this, but you’re my best friend. I haven’t treated you that way, or acted likeyourbest friend, but I need you to know you matter to me. Your friendship matters, uh… Shit. This is hard.”

“Take your time,” said Sam.

“What about your flight?”

“It’s not for three hours. And if I miss it, whatever. This isn’t business. This is you and me.”

I sat down, feeling grateful, and finished my drink. It made my head spin, and I blinked to clear it.

“It’s a long story,” I said. “I’d have told you a long time ago, but I’ve been running away. Like if I buried my past deep enough, it wouldn’t exist. I didn’t ever want to go through that again, and I thought if I never let anyone get too close…” I realized I was getting ahead of myself and took a breath to calm down. “Sorry. This is hard.”

“I’m here,” said Sam, and it hit me hewas. Whatever I said next, he wouldn’t be going anywhere. He’d still be my manager, and my best friend. The only way he wouldn’t be was if I didn’t let him.

I started from the beginning and told him everything, from losing my parents to running from Lacey. When I was done, he poured me a fresh drink.

“I guessed some of that,” he said, as I drank. “You’ve never mentioned your parents, or gone home to visit. And don’t forget who handles your insurance. You have my name down as your next of kin.”

“You never said anything.”

“It wasn’t my business. You were always so private.” He sipped his own drink. “You must’ve been lonely.”

I nodded slowly. “I guess I was. I guess that was part of why I married Lacey. I mean, yeah, I was drunk, but I’d been on my own so long. I think maybe the idea of having someone… I think maybe that pushed me over the edge.”

“Speaking of Lacey…” Sam cleared his throat. “I’m glad you finally felt comfortable sharing all this with me, but don’t you think she’s the one who really needs to hear it?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m flying out to see her. Don’t worry, I’ll be back for my call time tomorrow.”

Sam snorted. “You’d better be. That wasn’t easy, setting you right with Gruber.” He stood up and clapped me hard on my shoulder. “Good luck, man. I mean it. I think you and Lacey deserve a real chance.”

CHAPTER 24

LACEY

Isat in my dressing room, bleary and drained. The morning show aired at nine, so they shot it at four, and I’d rolled up at two for hair and makeup. I’d tried to doze earlier so I’d be fresh, but a call from my publicist had put paid to that. The show had sent over my interview questions, and most of them weren’t aboutLost Warat all, or about my new project, or about work at all. They were all about Eric, and our married life.

What’s your morning routine like?

What’s the worst thing he does that drives you crazy?

How do you deal when you can’t be together?

How was I supposed to answer questions like these? We’d never had time to establish a morning routine, or for Eric to do much to drive me crazy. As for how I dealt with us not being together… how could I answer that without falling apart? It still hurt just as much as the day he’d walked out. I still woke up from dreams of us with tears on my lashes, still fell asleep wondering where we went wrong. What could I have done to break through his shell? What could I have said to him, to show he could trust me?

I shut my tired eyes. I could still cancel. I could sneak out the back and hop in my limo, and have my publicist call in and say I got sick. They always had backups for shows like these. Alternate guests to come on in a pinch. If I sneaked out right now, they’d have plenty of time.

I buried my face in my hands. I couldn’t sneak out. Mom loved her talk shows, and she would be watching. If I wasn’t on, she’d be disappointed. Worse, she’d guess why. She knew me too well. For her sake, at least, I had to go on.

The door opened behind me. I didn’t look up. I knew who it was, one of the stage crew, come to drop off the coffee I’d asked for.

“Thank you,” I said. “Just leave it on the table.”

I heard shuffling behind me, then a soft sigh. The next thing I knew, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I shrieked like a parrot and shot out of my seat, scattering makeup all over the floor. A man’s shape jumped back, dark in the mirror, and I drew breath to scream again, louder.

“Lacey, wait, it’s okay!”

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