Page 42 of Role Play
I freeze.No, no, no.He doesn’t need any more details about my life. Lines blurred and crossed. The messy pile of this situation is growing to Mount Everest proportions.
Forrest, of course, doesn’t join in on my mental panic. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Where is it again?”
‘‘It’s nothing—” I start, but am swiftly cut off by my way-too-eager best friend.
“City Nights and Novels in Brooklyn,” Daphne answers, looking pleased. “It’s going to be her breakout moment. All the big romance authors will be there. We’re a last-minute addition, so any support we can wrangle…”
“I’ll be front row, center,” Forrest promises, giving me another squeeze. “With bells on.”
“Perfect!” Daphne claps her hands together. “Now, let’s have some breakfast and talk tropes. Forrest, I got plenty for all of us. Do you like pastries?”
“Forrest has a meeting,” I blurt out. “Right…um…babe?” I could not sound more awkward if I tried. “You have to get going?”
Ignoring me, Forrest flashes Daphne a toothy smile. “I happen to love pastries.”
Daphne begins unpacking the box, and Forrest finally releases me to grab plates from the cabinet. How he knows where they are is beyond me—I’ve barely opened a drawer in this kitchen.
“So, what are tropes?” Forrest asks, setting the plates down.
“Romance novel conventions,” Daphne explains, slicing a chocolate croissant in half. “The reader catnip that makes a book sell. Enemies to lovers, forced proximity, only one bed—that kind of thing. We’re trying to beef up Sora’s next book to give her sales a fighting chance.”
“Your books aren’t selling?” Forrest asks me. His tone changes, lined more with concern than his playfulness over the past few minutes.
“Not well,” I admit.
“You know what I think we need for virality?Shock factor,” Daphne says. “So, we take what’s tried and true and up the ante. For example, dark romance authors, we’ll see your masked tattooed stalker chasing a woman through the woods with a knife, andraise youa masked stalker with tattoosanda Prince Albert chasing a woman throughhauntedwoods with a katana.” Daphne nods at me with eyes wide like she’s possessed. “You see where I’m going with this?”
“I do. But I’m not following you down the unhinged path you’re on.” I turn to Forrest who has busied himself with a cherry tart. “I don’t write dark stuff.”
“What do you write?” Forrest asks.
“Don’t you already know?” Suspicion lines Daphne’s face.
“We’renew, Daph. I haven’t really gone into all that yet,” I add.
“She’s way too humble about her career. She thinks it’s going nowhere but she’s an incredible writer. This girl is going to be on billboards one day,” Daphne proudly declares.
I catch Forrest’s eye and subtly shake my head.
“So, Daphne, what kind of men does Sora put in her love stories?” Judging by the smirk on his face, his question is layered.
“Billionaires who are allergic to shirts,” Daphne says, raising her eyebrows at Forrest’s bare chest. “Art imitating life, perhaps?”
Forrest laughs, after helping himself to another bite of pastry. “I’m afraid I fall short of the billionaire mark. And I’m usually wearing a shirt,” he adds, briefly glancing at me like after the cherry tart, I’m his next meal. “But even if sales aresluggish now, Sora seems to do pretty well for herself. This place is incredible.” He rotates his finger, gesturing to the luxurious kitchen.
“The brownstone is my dad’s.”
Forrest blinks at me. His jaw twitches ever so slightly. “Great. If I’m also meeting your dad this morning, I’m going to need my shirt back, sweetheart.”
“He’s not here. He lives in LA right now. He doesn’t need this house anymore, so he gave it to me for my birthday. I’m not even sure if I’m going to move in yet.”
“Her father is J.P. Cooper,” Daphne supplies helpfully.
Recognition flashes in Forrest’s eyes. “Hell & Heroes? That J.P. Cooper?”
I nod reluctantly. “That’s Dad.”
“Wow. I feel like there was a prime opportunity for you to mention that last night, Sora.” Forrest looks a little peeved, like I got caught in a lie. But this entire morning is a blatant web of bullshit, so what’s he annoyed about? “So, you’re a romance author who comes from literary royalty. Quite the charmed career.”
