“Don’t be sorry, it was long overdue,” he says, his tone everything but indifferent.
My brother can lie to just about anyone but me. It’s a twin thing.
Despite the fact he never really seemed all that into her, I know the rejection still stings. It always does.
“Are you okay?” I ask cautiously. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Noah lets out another sigh, and I can almost see him shaking his head even though he’s on the other side of town.
“Nah. I was hoping with your evening being cancelled, maybe we could go get a drink or something?” he says wistfully.
It’s my turn to sigh, but he cuts me off before I can speak.
“You know what, it’s fine, Jake. Don’t worry about me. Queue up your Switftie-Thon and relax.”
“Noah…” I try, but his tone shifts.
“Seriously… it’s fine. Primo just texted me that there’s a party on Fifth. I’m going to meet him there.”
“Noah, come on,” I try again, all too aware of how easily my brother shifts gears. But I shouldn’t be surprised, that’s what he does.
He moves like an elephant. Right fucking through without stopping. He’s always been like that. It’s one of the reasons, next to me, he’s one of Foxy’s favorites.
My brother has the ability to make anyone feel like they are on top of the world, which you’d think would make him the best boyfriend ever.
But that’s his problem, too. He doesn’t know how to soak in the little stuff. All my brother knows is how to give a performance. He doesn’t know how to just… be. I guess I can relate, though.
Still, I bet the man hasn’t stayed in and binged a Netflix marathon of anime in his sweatpants since before we graduated high school.
I want to argue with him, but what can I say? Nothing will stop my brother from doing what he wants, that’s for sure.
So instead, I grunt out a half-hearted response and tell him to be safe and call me when he gets home.
After getting off the phone, I pick up my remote and hit play once more.
The sounds of Taylor Swift blare through the speakers as I pick up my phone and add Bella’s date to my calendar, losing myself in the sweet musings of Cruel Summer like it’s an anthem.
Just once, I’d like to trade places with my brother. I’d like to be the one wrapped up in the glow of excitement, dancing on the edge ofsomething.Something more than just a performance. Something magnificent and fizzy andreal.
That I could walk into a party like Noah and set my sights on some gorgeous mark—a man with dark hair and deep, intense eyes who could show me the world, who I could dance with at a Taylor Swift concert.
But that is only a dream. Guys like that don’t exist, and they certainly don’t exist for men like me. That much has been proven by my eternal singleness.
But I can still dream, right?
Chapter Two
Jacob
As I walk through the doors of the Sunrise Cafe, I can’t help but grin. For starters, Taylor Swift’sAnti-Herois playing, and as far as I’m concerned it’s always a good day when there’s some Taylor in my life. The woman is an absolute genius and I am sincerely regretting not getting a damn ticket to the Eras tour last year. Not that I didn’ttry, but it wasn’t in the cards for me, I guess. My girl goes on about midnights becoming her afternoons, and I feel the truth in that.
I’ve been a professional rent-a-date for nearly four years. It’s a lot easier than dancing, and I can set my own schedule pretty much, which is great. Most of the time, anyway. My nights are usually booked solid with dates considering I’m one of the top dates at Foxy’s, being as I’m open for both men and women.
I love my job, truly, not only because the money is good, but because I genuinely like being able to make people happy, even if it’s just because I’m playing a part. It’s a performance, and while I didn’t think acting was my thing—I was a dance major, not a theater geek—I guess I’m not as bad at it as I thought, judging by my massively booked schedule and my lack of a love life.
I kind of approach my dates the way a method actor would, usually meeting up with them ahead of time so I can figure out who I’m supposed to be, or rather who they are paying me to be.
Technically, I’m listed as bisexual on the website, but I rarely get men who want to hire me. Most of the male clients I get are either fighting their sexuality, are hiding their sexuality from their wives while they’re out of town, or they’re trying to get over a breakup or make someone jealous and I’m just a tool. Which is another reason I don’t sleep with male clients anymore—even if they are hot.
