Page 44 of Role Play
“What about it?”
“I need it back,” I say, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I was high on gummies, and I wasn’t thinking straight. That money was everything I have in savings. I was going to use it for a new marketing guy to run ads for me.” I omit the part where I’m fifty thousand dollars shy of his fee, but I was going to beg for his help with a hefty down payment in cash.
His expression softens slightly, but then he shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t do refunds.” He glances back at the brownstone. “I’m going to assume I need the money more than you.”
I narrow my eyes. “You know what they say about assuming.”
“So Daddy gives you a house, but won’t give you the money to help with book marketing?”
Now I’m irritated at his casual pokes to my open wounds. “That’s really not your business. And I’m sorry, Forrest, but ten thousand dollars for a night of cuddling is ridiculous. You know that, I know that. You have to give me my money back.Please?”
“No.” He steps closer, his voice low. “But you’re right. You were too messed up last night to fully appreciate what you paid for. So how about we make a deal? Ten grand is enough for two nights. I’ll make them more than worth your while. You already have my number from the money transfer. Whenever you’re ready, just let me know. And I’ll even throw in the book signing for free. I’ll show up and be the world’s most supportive, doting boyfriend in front of all your colleagues and readers.”
My heart sinks. “Please, I just need the money back. We can forget any of this happened. I don’t need you to pretend to be my boyfriend.”
“Too late,” he says with a grin. “Plus, Daphne’s already expecting me there.”
“Forrest—”
“Stop. The answer is no. Deals aren’t reneged just because you’re having morning-after regret. If I ran my business that way, I’d be broke, living on the street.” He leans down and presses a soft kiss to the top of my head, the gesture so unexpected and tender that I forget what I was going to say next.
“No refund. I’ll see you soon, cookie girl,” he murmurs against my hair before pulling away.
Unable to form a coherent response, I watch him walk down the steps. Only when he’s halfway down the block do I realize I’m standing outside in nothing but his dress shirt, giving the entire neighborhood a morning show.
Rushing back inside, I catch Daphne looking out the bay window, watching Forrest disappear down the street.
“Don’t say it,” I warn, when she joins me back in the kitchen.
“I didn’t say anything,” she replies innocently. “But if I were going to say something, it would be that I’ve never seen you look at a man the way you just looked at him.”
I gawk at her, thinking,looked at him with what? Panic? Agitation? A confusing cocktail of lust and fury?
“It doesn’t matter,” I mutter, grabbing another pastry to stress-eat my feelings. “It’s not what you think.”
“What I think,” Daphne says, pouring us both cups of coffee from the pot she apparently made while I was outside, “is that maybe this is exactly what your career needs right now.”
“A man? Really? Because that’s the opposite of focusing.” I sink onto a barstool, suddenly exhausted as I ruminate on my dwindling career hope. The marketing guy I can’t afford was my last resort.What now?
“Exactly. You need a distraction. Someone to take your mind off of obsessing about ratings, reviews, and sales numbers.” She sits beside me, her expression unexpectedly gentle. “I know you don’t see it, babe, but every day I watch you lose a little moreof your spark. You are consumed by your perceived failure. But maybe having a life outside of your job will help you put things into perspective. You know it’s odd…”
“What is?” I ask, staring into my coffee cup, watching the swirls of cream dissipate.
“You write about love,really well,I might add. But I’ve known you for a long time and I don’t think you’ve ever beeninlove. It’s funny that you can write about something that you’ve never experienced before.”
“I’ve been in love… I think.”
I’ve dated a little here and there through college. I’ve had a few short-term boyfriends. The love didn’t last, but it was there.
“Honey, if youthinkyou’ve been in love, you never have. You’ll know when it happens.” She pokes my shoulder. “Or, is happening,” she whispers maniacally, tapping the tips of her fingers together like a witch over a cauldron who’s particularly proud of the potion she brewed.
“Let’s just get to talking shop, yeah?” I don’t even want to entertain the idea of something legitimate between me and Forrest. It’s a ridiculous notion. He had me swooning last night. He’ll have a different woman weak in the knees tonight. That’s not real romance, nor is it a game I’m interested in playing.
“Nah, I want to talk some more about your new piece of man candy.”
I set my coffee cup down and exhale. “Or, we could talk about how you tricked me into eating weed gummies?”
“Tricked you?” she balks. “I specifically told you they were to help you relax. The package clearly had a marijuana leaf symbol on it. Anyone with eyes could’ve seen that.”
