Page 11 of Role Play

"And I'll bet you do it proud. At least with the way your phone is lit up with texts from women."

He spun the phone toward him. "Eve works in the warehouse, but Cindy . . . well, anyhow, I think the eggs are done. What about you? Anyone special? Did you grow up in the city?" He turned back to the stove.

"No one special. At least not anymore and in retrospect he was never actually special. I moved to the city to be close to the movie studios and acting auditions. I grew up in the Midwest, which is where my parents still live. I grew up with shoes on my feet, but they were always second hand from my older cousin. I, unfortunately, haven't found that success highway yet. One day. Hopefully."

"It'll happen." He placed the plate in front of me.

I took the first bite of eggs. "Hmm, these are delicious. You can cook. Never would have guessed it."

"You learn fast when you're growing an inch a week and you're on your own a lot. I don't cook much more than eggs though. There were always chickens in the yard at home, so it was the one food I could count on." There was no edge of sadness or self-pity in his tone. He said it as if growing up without parents giving a darn was a fact of life. I was sure I saw a spark of pride in his eyes as if his self-dependence had been a badge of honor, something that had made him the man he was today.

Aidan looked at his phone again. "I should hurry. I've got a big delivery coming at seven." He hopped up and opened one of the kitchen drawers. He dropped a key on the counter. "Here's a spare key for my apartment. Study here. In fact, just bring over what you need to shower and get ready for work. You'll have the place to yourself. It'll make my workday go a lot easier if I know you're not sitting in that door-less apartment armed with only a book as a shield."

I laughed. "I suppose I should have taken those self-defense classes they were offering at the community center. Thank you. I will do that. And to show my appreciation, I will fix you dinner." My gaze shot toward his phone. "Unless of course you have plans?"

"No plans." He got up and placed his plate in the sink. "Then it's settled. I'll see you tonight."

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