Page 13 of Role Play
He chuckles. “I suppose the combination of the two. Bittersweet I guess.”
I rise from my seat. He moves backward, making room for me to step past him. “Don’t read into it. And for your information, your daughter is wearing Golden Goose sneakers. And based on the solid-gold C on her little pink Chanel, that backpack costs more than my rent. If you’re worried about spoiling your child, you have bigger fish to fry than a freaking cookie.”
His smile disappears and I swear I see him blush. For a moment, we say nothing as we study each other. My heart is racing, adrenaline flooding my veins, but I hold the moment as long as I can because I want to remember this forever. Regardless of the fact this is a stranger I’ll never see again, this is a powerful moment for me. I finally said exactly what was on my mind instead of playing nice. It’s dangerously exhilarating.
Recovering from his stunned silence, he asks, “What are Golden Goose shoes?”
I shake my head, deciding I don’t have the patience to explain how people are spending hundreds of dollars to buy custom shoes that look like they are already beat to shit. I point to thecookie on the table. “That was supposed to be a celebration treat. I don’t need it now. There’s nothing to celebrate.”
I take a few steps toward the door, then feel an emotional anchor holding me back. I walk right back up to hot dad. I have to angle my head all the way back to meet his gaze. “I realize that was rude of me,” I admit, pairing it with a sigh. “I’m sorry. It’s just I’m?—”
“Having a bad day.”
My nod is small as my eyes drop to my shoes. When I look up, he’s smiling. This time, with the tilt of his chin, and soft eyes, the smile seems more genuine. “I won’t hold it against you.”
I show him my palm in a half-hearted wave goodbye before retreating for the door. Once my back is turned, I let one tear of frustration loose.
chapter 4
Forrest
Watching the dark-haired woman storm out of Papa Beans, I can count at least three things I should’ve done differently in that conversation. I only approached her again because Dakota begged me to. The woman looked near tears after that guy she was with left. Maybe I caught her in the midst of a breakup?
I was a fool in line earlier. I’m pretty sure I did the adult equivalent of pulling her pigtails to get her attention. I still don’t know what threw me off my game. I know how to be whatever a woman wants. But they usually tell me as part of my employment contract. I might’ve forgotten how to talk to women when I’m not hired to.
Not to mention, I probably should’ve kept my mouth shut about the parenting stuff, but it’s a sore spot for me. If Hannah says no, everybody respects that. When I try to set rules, it’s laughable. I’m Dakota’s parent too. It’d be nice to be treated as such sometimes.
When my parents got divorced, my mom was the “fun” one. She bought me everything I wanted, then would disappear for months. As a kid, it was great. Mom would bust in likeSanta Claus with a sack full of bribes in the form of toys and electronics. She never made me do anything I didn’t want to. My rancher dad, on the other hand, made me do chores to earn an allowance. He taught me to take pride in a day filled with hard work. Dad made sure I got a good education and even set me up with a savings account that he faithfully contributed to for over a decade. I’m twenty-eight now… Guess which parent I respect.
And guess which parent I still talk to.
“She didn’t want to play?” Dakota asks, looking up from my phone as I sit down across from her.
“What’s that?”
“Where did your friend go?”
I shrug. “She left. I think I upset her.”
Dakota frowns as she eyes the bakery treat still in my hand. “You didn’t give her the cookie.”
I nod, then relax into my seat. “I tried. She didn’t want it.”
“Daddy, do you have friends?” Dakota crosses her arms and grabs her elbows. Her smile is weak…almost pitying.
“Of course I do. You’ve met Taio and Saylor.”
She presses her fingers against her temples and groans. “No,girlfriends.”
I laugh at the annoyed expression on her face. “What, you’re exasperated with me now?”
She screws up her face in confusion.
“Yeah, that’s right, smarty pants. Bet you don’t know what that word means.”
Dakota scowls at me. “I do, too.”
“Mhm, sure.” I give her a teasing wink. “Why are you suddenly worried about if I have friends? Or girlfriends?”
