Page 143 of Role Play
She eyes me suspiciously but allows the subject change. “Edits forLegendary.”
“Legendary? New book?”
“The new title for the reworked version ofLonely.” A small, genuine smile lights up her face. “My dad stopped by unannounced tonight.”
“Your dad?” I straighten up, surprised. “J.P. Cooper himself descended from his literary throne to visit the peasants?”
She swats at my arm. “Be nice. It was good.Incredible, actually. We talked—like, really talked—for the first time in…maybe ever. He read my book.”
My heart shudders. But she’s smiling, so it can’t have been that bad. “And?”
“And he liked it.” Her voice is soft with wonder. “So much so, he’s going to help me with book two, just so I get it exactly right.”
“You trust his opinion when it comes to a romance story like this?”
She smiles at me, secrets safeguarded behind her closed lips. “More than you know.”
“Then that’s wonderful. I’m very happy for you. I know how much your parents mean to you.” There’s too much distance between us, an entire queen-sized bed’s worth, so I blow her a kiss. I bet she doesn’t want me to touch her right now.
“It feels like a new beginning for me and Dad.” Her eyes are bright with unshed tears. “We finally broke through a wall I thought would keep us separated forever. So liberating. I never thought we’d get here.”
The perfect opening. I take a deep breath.
“Speaking of new beginnings,” I say, shifting to face her fully. “I was wondering if we could have one too.”
Her eyebrows draw together in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“First, I need to address the elephant in the room,” I say. “About tonight.”
Her expression shutters slightly. “Right. How was your evening?”
“Nonexistent.” I hold her gaze, wanting her to see the truth in my eyes. “I didn’t go through with it, Sora. I didn’t meet with the client. I couldn’t.”
Her lips part in surprise. “You…what?”
“I stood outside her building for twenty minutes, then I just walked away. Spent two hours wandering around the city before I ended up at Rina’s.” I comb a hand through my hair. “I stood her up.”
“Was Rina angry? She said she wasn’t going to give you any more work if you bailed again.” Her voice rises an octave. “Forrest, what are you going to do about?—”
“That’s tomorrow’s problem,” I cut her off gently. “Tonight, I just need you to know something.”
She waits, her dark eyes wide and uncertain.
“Do you know what makes me so attracted to you?” I ask.
A mischievous glint replaces the uncertainty. She cups her breasts through her oversized T-shirt and pushes them up slightly. “Obviously these double-Ds,” she jokes. Though to me her breasts are the definition of perfect; we both know she can barely fill a C-cup.
I laugh, the tension breaking. “Yes, obviously your massive rack. But know what else?” I crawl across the bed and plant myself right next to her. I take her hands in mine, growing serious again. “It’s how vulnerable you make yourself. How you show the world your bleeding heart with every book you write. Even when it hurts, even when you struggle, you wear your heart on your sleeve. It’s so brave.”
She looks down at our joined hands. “That’s not bravery. That’s just me not knowing how to be any other way.”
“That’s exactly what makes it brave.” I squeeze her fingers. “You’re genuine. Kind. Tender. Sweet. Despite the garbage the world throws at you, you’re still powerless but to be yourself. It inspires me. It makes me want to be honest too.”
“Honest about what?”
“About how I feel. About what I want.” I take a deep breath. “I want to start over, Sora. From the very beginning of our story.”
She tilts her head, curious but still wary. “What do you mean?”
