Page 61 of Cosplay & Consequences

I frowned before pulling out my phone and searching for the typical salary of a soap opera actor. The number I got back shocked me. “Seriously?”

Danny nodded and removed another part from the engine. “After I pay Stella and Britta, I make more money off the garage than acting.”

I was stunned. Between my influencer income and the freelance editing, I made more than Danny did as an actor. I turned my attention back to my car. “What are you fixing, exactly?”

“Your starter solenoid,” he replied.

I scoffed at him. “You say that like I know what that is.”

“It’s an electromagnetic switch,” he said as he pulled out a part, holding it up for me to see. It was a cylinder made of metal and plastic. There were a few bolts sticking out of one side and some metal pieces on the other. “When you turn the car on, this part connects the battery to the starter motor, which gets your engine running.”

Those words coming out of his mouth caused a cascade of thoughts. None of them had anything to do with a car. Most of them had to do with our fling the night we met. I had to bite my lip from saying something inappropriate.

“What?” he asked, returning a smile.

I considered changing the subject. Only for a moment though.

“Just thinking about how you swept me off my feet and carried me to my room,” I said, my voice dropping a little. “And how that got my engine running.”

He glanced at me before returning his attention to the car. “You mean how Tyrst’an swept you off your feet.”

“I’m not thinking about Tyrst’an right now,” I said, my teasing tone gone.

He stood up from the car, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You mean that?” he asked.

“It might have been the spark for all this, but that’s not why I’m here with you.”

“Your lack of car maintenance is why you’re here with me,” he teased, and I could tell he was trying to make light of the conversation. Avoiding where I was driving it.

It was like in the dressing room earlier. That hesitation to cross the line. However, after all I’ve learned tonight, I was ready to do more than cross it. Just like the night when he carried me to my room, I knew what I wanted.

I walked over to the other side of the car, putting myself in front of him so he couldn’t dismiss me. “I’m not joking, Danny.”

He hesitated, setting the old part on top of the engine. He stayed silent for a moment. When Danny spoke, he did so slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I've been in relationships before, but they never lasted long. People either see me as a professional actor or confuse me with the roles I play, not recognizing the person behind the role. It always leads to disappointment. I don't want that to happen again."

I trembled as I reached out and ran my hand down his arm. “I’m not confused as to who you are. Or who I’m thinking about.”

He didn’t look at me, keeping his focus on the engine, frowning. “It wasn’t me that swept you off your feet the other night or what attracted you to me. It was just someone I was playing.”

“I wasn’t myself that night either,” I reminded him. “I know who you are now. It wasn’t Tyrst’an who gave up a full scholarship to put his family first. He doesn’t make friends wherever he goes. He doesn’t remember the names of fans he met briefly for a few minutes, or a dozen little details about their lives. He doesn’t show up to support his friends or buy them dinner when they are having a rough day.”

He didn’t respond. I reached out with my hand, pulling his chin gently so I could see his face.

“Tyrst’an didn’t introduce me to his closest friends and family. Or showed how vulnerable he could be,” I told him. “He may have played a small part in this, but it’s not Tyrst’an I want.”

“I thought we were trying to be impartial,” he said, gazing into my eyes.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. “Danny, I am so past impartial right now.”

His hands gripped the sides of the car, visibly torn. “I can’t start this with you. You haven’t even seen the finished trailer.”

“I know what I saw the night you caught me from falling to the ground. I saw what you did the next morning when you performed for the crowd. I witnessed what you did tonight. You’ve read four freaking Tyrant books in less than two days. You’ve always been able to play him, and you’ve shown me your respect for the material,” I said, seeing his expression. “I’m not the only one who knows you can do this. Your sister. Your niece. Bray. Bennet. Sebastian wouldn't admit it aloud, but you know he would too.”

He opened his mouth and snapped it shut again, hesitating. So, I pulled out my phone and brought up my social media feed.

“I already posted this.”

I played the video I’d made earlier. He said nothing. The video looped, and he watched it a second time before I paused it. Our hands touched, and it was like an electric current went up my arm.