Page 57 of Role Play
“I couldn’t wait, so I took her to dinner that night,” I continue, the fantasy unfolding in my mind. This is how it should have been—how it would have been if I were just a normal guy who could approach a woman I found interesting. “I asked her to pick her favorite restaurant.”
“Let me guess. Galbi Grill?” Daphne adds casually. “Korean BBQ.”
I snap my fingers and point at her, as if she’s hit the jackpot. “That’s the one. She ordered for both of us—I couldn’t pronounce any of the dishes, but they were incredible.”
The lie feels good, like trying on a life that fits better than my own. In this version of events, I’m not an escort. I’m just a single dad who met a beautiful woman and was brave enough to ask her out. In this version, there’s no money changing hands, no pretending, no complications.
Daphne smiles. “Prepare yourself. Sora always takes charge with the food. She gets it from her mom.”
“I like that about her,” I say, and this part, at least, is completely honest. “I like a lot of things about her.”
“That’s sweet.” Daphne ducks her head in what seems like approval. I guess I’m passing the new-boyfriend test. “So, how long have you been in financial consulting?”
“Just a couple years.”
“Oh. And does that line of work require a fancy degree?”
I assume so, but since I’m not actually a financial consultant, I don’t know. I think up an excuse to satiate Daphne’s curiosity. “I pivoted careers after my doctorate. I actually attended law school—Columbia.”
Daphne’s eyes widen. “You’re shitting me. As in Columbia Law? That was my dream school.”
“You’re a lawyer?”
She shakes her head, a wisp of hurt crossing her face. “No, I wish. I applied after undergrad but didn’t get in. Completely destroyed me at the time.”
“It’s competitive,” I acknowledge. “But there are other good schools.”
“Yeah, I know that now. But Columbia Law was on my vision board, you know?” She fiddles with a bookmark, turning it over in her hands. “But actually, I just got accepted to a program in Lincoln, Nebraska. Starting next semester.”
“That’s great,” I say, genuinely pleased for her. “You excited?”
A shadow passes over her face. “I don’t know if I’m going. I’m worried about leaving Sora. She depends on me. She asked me to move into the brownstone with her on her birthday, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her I might not be here in a few months.” She groans in frustration. “Or I don’t know. Maybe I will be. I just can’t decide.”
“You can’t put your life on hold forever,” I say gently. “Even for the people you love.”
“Easy to say. Harder to do.” Her expression grows serious as she looks toward the exit door. “Sora’s been through so much. Her parents’ divorce, her dad’s bullshit, this industry tearing her down at every turn. She puts on a brave face, but each rejection cuts deeper than she lets on.” Daphne’s voice cracks slightly. “I’ve been her rock for so long. I can’t ditch her when she needs me most.”
After a pause, I brush off my better judgment and reach across the table to pat her hand. “Go to law school, Daphne. I’m here now. I’ll take care of Sora.”
“You’ve been her boyfriend for exactly two minutes. I’ve been her best friend for more than a decade.” Her voice is tinged with uncertainty.
“Whatever’s happening between us is new, but…” I trail off, searching for words that won’t sound hollow. “There’s something about her. Something I can’t walk away from. So, I’ll be here. A shoulder to cry on, an ear to vent to—whatever she needs.”
Daphne studies me, her gaze piercing. “You sure I can trust you with my friend’s heart?”
It’s a fair question. One I’m not sure I deserve to answer affirmatively, given my complicated life. But I think about how Sora looked when she talked about her books, the vulnerability in her eyes when she shared her insecurities. I think about the way my chest tightened when I saw her crying.
“I’m loyal,” I say finally. “Above everything else. Ask anyone who knows me. When I care about someone, I don’t bail when things get tough.” I think of Dakota, of the battle I’m willing to fight for her. “If there’s one thing you can trust, it’s that.”
Something in my tone must convince her, because Daphne nods slowly. “Okay then. I guess Lincoln it is.”
“Lincoln it is,” I echo, squeezing her hand before releasing it.
A slow smile spreads across her face. “Hey, I have an idea to turn this shitshow around for Sora. Are you game to help?”
“What do you have in mind?”
Her eyes scan the ballroom, calculating. “Wait here.”
