Page 70 of Role Play
“I see.” Her smile widens, and she steps closer—too close for casual customer service. “Well, dark romance has been huge this year. Morally gray heroes, dubious consent scenarios.”
“Dubious consent?” I repeat, alarmed.
“It’s a fiction fantasy,” she assures me quickly. “A safe way to explore power dynamics. Very popular with women who are tired of making decisions all day.”
“What about paranormal?” Taio asks, picking up a book with what appears to be a shirtless werewolf on the cover. “Is that still poppin’?”
“Always steady,” she says, turning toward him but keeping closer to me than strictly necessary. “Shifters, vampires, fated mates—those never go out of style.”
“Fated mates?” I echo.
“Soulmates, essentially,” she explains. “The idea that there’s one perfect person for you, destined from birth. The characters often have an instant, overwhelming connection.”
I nod, thinking of how Sora had described her own duet—a woman who thinks she’s unlovable meeting a man determined to prove otherwise. Not fated mates exactly, but the reassurance of love finding you despite your flaws.
“What about these?” I gesture to a display of historical romances.
“Bridgertoneffect,” she says with a knowing smile. “Regency is massive again. But the modern historicals have more agency for the heroines, more explicit content.”
Her hand brushes mine as she reaches for a book, the contact clearly deliberate. “This one’s my personal favorite—rake reformed by the wallflower. I’m a sucker for a bad boy who changes his ways for the right woman.”
She looks up at me through her lashes, the invitation unmistakable. “I can give you more detailed recommendations, if you’d like. My break’s in fifteen minutes.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Taio and Saylor exchange amused glances. The clerk—Anna, according to her name tag—is pretty, confident, and clearly interested. Six months ago, I might have taken her up on the offer. Hell, two weeks ago I might have been interested.
But all I can think about is Sora, her dark eyes wide and vulnerable as she talked about her fears, her dreams, her father’s rejection.
“That’s very kind,” I say, taking a small step back. “But I should stick with my friends. We’re actually doing this research for my girlfriend. Sheisan author. A really good one,” I say proudly.
Taio makes a choking sound somewhere behind me. Anna’s smile dims, but doesn’t disappear entirely.
“Lucky girl,” she says, recovering gracefully. “Well, if you need anything else, I’ll be circulating the floor.”
As she walks away, I brace myself for the inevitable onslaught.
“Girlfriend?” Taio hisses, appearing at my elbow. “Since when?”
“It’s just easier than explaining,” I mutter, turning back to the shelves.
“Easier than ‘I’m only pretending to be her boyfriend so I can live in her mansion while role-playing romantic fantasies that definitely won’t lead to actual sex’?” Saylor asks, his tone dripping with mocking skepticism.
“It’s not a mansion,” I correct automatically. “It’s a brownstone.”
“Not the relevant part of that sentence, mate.”
I ignore him, pulling a book with an illustrated cover from the shelf. It looks more sophisticated than the bare-chested models on the historical romances—a silhouette of a woman against a city skyline, the title in elegant gold script.
“Looks like chick lit,” Taio says, peering over my shoulder.
“Women’s fiction,” corrects a female voice from the next aisle.
I turn to find a middle-aged woman with a stack of books in her arms giving Taio a stern look over her reading glasses.
“Contemporary romance with more emphasis on the heroine’s journey,” she continues, “including but not limited to her romantic relationships.”
Taio, to his credit, looks suitably chastened. “My apologies, ma’am. Meant no disrespect.”
“Hang on,” Saylor says, moving to a display near the register. “What’s all this ‘BookTok Made Me Buy It’ business?”
