Page 25 of Role Play (Off the Books #1)

Forrest

The apartment is quiet when I walk in, which is unusual for a Saturday morning. Normally Taio has music blaring while he makes his protein smoothie, getting ready for his weekend workout routine. I drop my tux jacket on the back of our secondhand couch and head straight for the coffee maker.

Our place isn’t much—a two-bedroom walk-up in the Bronx with temperamental plumbing and neighbors who think three in the morning is an appropriate time to practice their off-key rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” But it’s relatively clean and affordable which is how I can cover my portion of Dakota’s tuition.

That last part makes it worth the occasional cockroach sighting.

I’ve just pressed the start button on the coffee maker when Taio’s bedroom door swings open. He emerges in basketball shorts and nothing else, his six-foot-four frame filling the doorway.

“Well, well, well,” he drawls, eyes dancing with amusement. “Someone didn’t make it home last night.”

“I’m home now,” I reply, reaching for a mug from the cabinet.

“In last night’s pants and no shirt.” He leans against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. “Did Celeste finally cave and decide to wear your dick out?”

“I wasn’t with Celeste.” The coffee maker sputters and hisses, filling the kitchen with the rich aroma of dark roast.

Taio’s eyebrows shoot up. “New client? Do tell.” He reaches across me to grab his own mug, the one with “World’s Okayest Roommate” printed on it. Dakota and I got it for him last Christmas, and he treats it like it’s made of solid gold.

“Not exactly.” I pour coffee for both of us, stalling.

Usually I don’t mind Taio’s interrogations after a night out.

We’ve been best friends and roommates for the last four years.

We also have the same job, so there’s nothing to hide.

He knows nearly everything about me. But something about last night with Sora feels private.

Like sharing it would diminish it somehow.

“Dude.” Taio snaps his fingers in front of my face. “You’re being weird. Spill.”

I take a long sip of black coffee before answering. “I met someone at the wedding. A woman. She was high as a kite on edibles and propositioned me.”

Taio’s face splits into a grin. “My man, coming in with the double play. Booking jobs while on a job.” He pretends to bow to me. “How was she?”

“She paid me ten grand, and we didn’t even have sex.” I shake my head, remembering Sora’s sleepy smile as I tucked her in. “She passed out, and I just…stayed.”

“You cuddled?” Taio’s voice climbs an octave in disbelief. “For free?”

“The ten grand wasn’t exactly free.”

“Still.” He studies me, his expression shifting from teasing to concerned. “You like this girl?”

I shrug, not trusting myself to answer honestly.

Because the truth is, I do like her. I like the way her mind works, how she can be both vulnerable and sharp-tongued in the same breath.

I like that she writes romance novels but couldn’t recognize an obvious advance if it wore a name tag.

I even like her ridiculous stubbornness.

What I don’t like is how quickly she tried to hustle me out of her place this morning, like I was dirty laundry she didn’t want her best friend to see. Like what I do for a living makes me unworthy of being acknowledged.

“She’s interesting,” I say finally. “But it doesn’t matter. She’s embarrassed by what I do.”

“Ah.” Taio nods sagely. “The escort shame spiral. Classic. She must’ve been a first-timer.”

“Definitely. She practically shoved me out the door this morning,” I grumble. “Didn’t want her friend to know she’d slept with—or rather, not slept with—someone like me.”

“Someone like you?” Taio repeats, his tone hardening slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I run a hand through my hair, frustrated. “You know what I mean.”

“I know you’ve got a serious complex about this job.”

“It’s not a complex. It’s reality. People judge.”

“People like your fancy ex?” Taio raises an eyebrow.

“Hannah doesn’t know what I do,” I remind him. “And she never will, if I can help it.”

“Well, maybe this new girl just needs time to adjust to the idea. Not everyone’s as sex-positive as your boy Taio.” He strikes a pose, flexing his biceps, and despite myself, I laugh.

“Yeah, well, I’ve got bigger problems than Sora’s hang-ups.” I take another sip of coffee. “I promised to show up at her book signing next week, pretending to be her boyfriend.”

Taio snorts. “Sucker.”

“She doesn’t want me there.” I run my thumb over the rim of my mug, remembering the soft press of my lips against the top of Sora’s head this morning.

“Then why go?”

“To annoy her.” That’s not entirely true. Based on the way Sora was talking about her industry last night, it kind of sounds like she’s heading right into the lion’s den dressed like a ribeye. I have an unrelenting urge to protect her.

“Just be careful,” Taio warns, suddenly serious. “Our line of work doesn’t mesh well with relationships. Trust me. I’ve tried it.” He makes a mock explosion with his hands with added sound effects. “That shit blew up in my face, hard. ”

Before I can respond, my phone rings. I pull it from my pocket, surprised to see Wesley Prep Academy on the caller ID. Fear spikes through me—calls from school are never good news. Plus, it’s a Saturday. Am I late on tuition? I thought it wasn’t due until next week.

“Hello?” I answer, bracing myself.

“Mr. Hawkins? This is Principal Vaughn from Wesley. I hope you and Dakota are having a wonderful morning.”

“She’s with her mom this weekend.”

“Oh, right,” Vaughn answers awkwardly, like the fact that Hannah and I aren’t together makes her uncomfortable.

I clear my throat, then coax the conversation along. “Is everything okay?”

“Oh, it’s wonderful! I’m calling with good news.

” The principal’s voice turns bright with enthusiasm.

“We’ve received word from Dorimer Academy in California.

They’ve accepted Dakota into their gifted and talented program.

I know it’s mid-semester, but they have an immediate opening, which rarely happens.

They’ve offered the spot to Dakota. Isn’t that exciting? ”

I blink, trying to process her words. Did she say California? “I’m sorry, what program?”

“The gifted and talented program at Dorimer Academy, the boarding school you inquired about?” Her enthusiasm dims slightly. “Dakota’s test scores were exceptional, as we expected.”

“Test scores?” My voice comes out sharper than intended. “What test did my daughter take?”

There’s a pause on the other end. “The comprehensive aptitude evaluation we discussed last month. The paperwork was all in order, signed by both parents.”

“I never signed anything.” The coffee in my stomach turns sour. “I never agreed to have my daughter tested for a special school. We have no plans to move to California.”

“It’s a boarding school, Mr. Hawkins. Only students on campus. You and Ms. Novak wouldn’t need to reside in California for Dakota to attend Dorimer.”

“You’re saying she’d be alone?”

“No, of course not alone. At her age she’d have a full-time nanny whenever she isn’t under the care of her teachers. And of course, you’d be allowed to visit campus for holidays and student exhibits.”

“Ms. Vaughn, all due respect, are you high on paint fumes? On what planet would I be interested in sending my child away to be raised by a stranger?”

Another, longer pause. “Oh dear. Well, we have your signature on the consent forms. Perhaps you forgot? Ms. Novak assured us you were both in agreement.”

Hannah. Of course.

“She forged my signature,” I say flatly. It’s not the first time she’s done it. I just thought we were past that childish bullshit when it comes to Dakota.

“Mr. Hawkins, that’s a serious accusation?—”

“My daughter is four years old,” I cut her off. “She’s not going to any boarding school, especially not one three thousand miles away.”

“Perhaps you should discuss this with Dakota’s mother,” Principal Vaughn suggests, her tone now carefully neutral. “They’ll only hold the spot for the weekend. We’ll need an answer by Monday morning.”

“Here’s your answer: no. She’s not going,” I emphasize, my response full of undeserved anger directed at Principal Vaughn. I hate to shoot the messenger, but Dakota’s still a baby. Who the fuck willingly separates a four-year-old from their parents?

I hang up and stare at the phone for a long moment, rage building inside me like a pressure cooker. Hannah forged my signature. She’s trying to ship our daughter off to California without my knowledge or consent.

“What’s wrong?” Taio asks, watching me warily. “Koda okay?”

“Hannah’s trying to enroll her in boarding school.” My voice sounds strange even to my own ears. “In California.”

“What the fuck?” Taio pulls his mug from his lips. “She can’t do that. I’ve read A Little Princess . Boarding school is gnarly.”

My stare is blank. “What?”

“Sue me,” Taio snarks. “I read.”

“ Playboy , maybe.”

“No, my guy. Classics.” Taio taps his temple. “Sometimes you have to rest the dick, and exercise your mind.”

I don’t have time to unpack that at the moment. I’m already heading for my bedroom, pulling a clean shirt from my dresser.

“Where are you going?” Taio asks as I return to the kitchen, pulling my white T-shirt over my head. “I need to talk to Hannah. Now. Before my brain explodes.”

“Want me to come with? Play bad cop and help put Hannah in her place? Put me in, Coach.” The offer is sincere. Taio might act like the perpetual bachelor, but he loves Dakota as if she were his own niece.

“Thanks, but no,” I say, clenching my fist so my fingers stop shaking from anger. I take a deep breath to calm myself. “I’m sure it’s some kind of misunderstanding. We don’t need to ambush her.”