The Friend Zone Page 5

  Hugging the trophy to her chest, she said, “You played well tonight, partner. I’m three hundred dollars richer than when I left the house earlier.” Her eyes were glowing.

  “How about we go out to celebrate tomorrow night? My treat.” Whenever he spent time with Dana, he never wanted the night to end, and dinner tomorrow night was one way to extend their time together.

  “I can’t. I have plans. Raincheck?”

  “Sure. What are you and your girls getting into tomorrow night?”

  “Actually, I don’t have plans with them. Remember the guy I told you I met at the bookstore? We’re going out tomorrow night.”

  The night immediately lost some of its shine.

  “Oh. This is what, your second date?”

  “First. I don’t count the bookstore since that’s where we met.”

  “He’s from New York, right?”

  “Mhmm.”

  “What kind of work does he do?”

  “He’s in between jobs right now. I like him because he has diverse interests,” she continued, “and we talk about everything. We read the same types of books too, but I don’t want to say too much.”

  Something in her voice made him pay closer attention. Over the years, he’d heard Dana talk about her various boyfriends or men she slept with, but the conversations were always in passing, and she never seemed to get too attached to the men. In fact, she barely tolerated them most of the time. She spoke about this guy in a different way. Not flippantly but with genuine interest, which made his gut tighten.

  Omar stuffed his hands in his pants pockets. Dana was smart as hell, and most of her exes were smart—professors, doctors, scientist types. This man sounded like he was more of the same. Someone she met in a bookstore and struck up a conversation with about old novels and history books. Nothing like Omar’s dumb ass, a jock who spent most of his academic life doing the bare minimum to get by.

  “Why don’t you want to talk about him?” he asked.

  “I know this sounds silly, but he’s the first man in a long time who’s made me feel… something. I don’t want to jinx it, but I’m kind of… ecstatic.”

  Ecstatic. Huh. She’d never used that word before in reference to a man. A ball of dread settled in his belly.

  “I thought you were going to take a break from men for a while,” he said.

  “I was, but he made me reconsider. Anyway, this is completely brand new. We might go out tomorrow and have a horrible time and hate each other and decide to never see each other again. For now, I’m excited to see what happens.” She lifted her right shoulder in a negligent shrug.

  He should say something—share encouraging words, wish her the best. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to do it, though Dana deserved a good man.

  “I’m going to head home. I’ll catch up with you later,” he said.

  “G’night. Drive carefully.”

  Omar went back to his SUV but sat in the lot, unable to leave. He needed to be near Dana for a little bit longer, and he needed to think. How many more times would he have to stand on the sidelines and watch her get involved with other men? It was getting to the point where the mere mention of another man made him ragey. And who the hell was this new guy, and what made him so special?

  The light downstairs went off and a minute later one upstairs went on, and his imagination went haywire. He imagined her disrobing, taking her time to release each of the buttons on her dress, one by one. Would she change into night clothes or sleep naked, like he did?

  Omar swore and started the vehicle.

  “Go home,” he muttered and pulled out of the lot.

  9

  “I can’t believe I went on a nighttime tour of a cemetery,” Sheldon said, shaking his head.

  Laughing, Dana sat across from him at their table, on the patio bar of Six Feet Under Restaurant Pub and Fish House, giving them a good view of Oakland Cemetery across the street.

  “Tell the truth, did you like it? Did you learn a lot?”

  He nodded, smiling across at her. “Yes to both.”

  “Then my job is done.”

  At the bookstore, Sheldon gave her his number and encouraged her to call. When she finally did and agreed to meet up, he asked for a restaurant recommendation, and she suggested Six Feet Under. They served popular seafood options like fish tacos, fish and chips, and oysters and offered a good beer selection. But the food wasn’t the only reason she suggested they come here.

  Across the street from the restaurant was Oakland Cemetery, a 42-acre Atlanta landmark built in 1850. Famous Georgians buried there included Maynard Jackson, the first Black mayor of the city, Carrie Steele Logan, a former enslaved woman who established the first African-American orphanage, and Margaret Mitchell, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Gone With the Wind. Since Sheldon was a history buff, she figured he’d enjoy the tour.

  “I have a feeling whenever I’m with you, I’m going to learn something,” he said.

  Minutes later, a mug of beer sat in front of each of them.

  “To a great night,” Sheldon said, holding up his glass.

  Dana touched her glass to his.

  “I have to admit, I didn’t think you’d call,” he said, after taking a sip of beer.

  “Why?” she asked, surprised.

  “Don’t know. I kind of got the feeling you might not be into me.”

  “Well, let me assure you, I am definitely into you, and that’s why I called.”

  “Good. Because I’d like to see more of you. I feel like we have a lot in common.”

  “We do,” she agreed.

  “What are your thoughts about marriage?” he asked, leaning closer. His eyes locked on her as he awaited an answer.

  “Whoa, going for the big questions right away,” Dana said with a laugh, rearranging her long skirt under the table.

  Sheldon shrugged. “I like to lay my cards on the table. I married young, and it didn’t work out, but I’m not afraid to get married again. I want to get married again.”

  “I’ve never been married, but it’s definitely something I would like to do—when I meet the right person.”

  “Okay.” His sat back.

  “That’s not a jab at you,” Dana said hurriedly, “but we’re in the very early stages of this thing… whatever we’re doing.”

  “Can I be honest with you?”

  “Of course.”

  He tapped a finger on the tabletop. “When I met you in the bookstore, I wasn’t completely sure I wanted to stay in Atlanta. I considered going back to New York.”

  “And now?”

  “I’m definitely going to stay,” he answered, looking at her with meaning, clearly indicating she was a major factor in his decision-making.

  Dana didn’t know what to say. She preferred to be open and direct in most of her interactions, and in the silence, she sipped her beer as she considered how to respond.

  “We’re alike in a lot of ways,” Sheldon said. “Same taste in books, same sense of humor, and I believe if given the opportunity to spend more time in each other’s company, we could have a future together. Is that something you see as a possibility?”

  The answer should be easy, yet Dana hesitated. She did like him. While this was officially their first date, their conversations on the phone and the one at the coffee shop had been easy and fluid. She liked his sense of humor, and he seemed nice enough.

  Yet when he mentioned a future and marriage, her mind immediately went to Omar. What was he doing tonight? Did he have a date? Though she enjoyed her time with Sheldon, she also enjoyed her time with Omar too. He expanded her horizons and exposed her to activities she might not normally try.

  One year, he talked her into zip lining at Lake Lanier. She almost chickened out when her turn came to zoom across the cable, but Omar stood right there, whispering encouraging words in her ear until she mustered the courage to launch. Zip lining had been one of the scariest, most exhilarating experiences, and she’d returned three more times since the
n.

  “I wouldn’t want to take anything off the table,” Dana replied to Sheldon, “but you’re putting a lot of pressure on our new relationship. We hardly know each other, and I don’t want you to base your decision-making on the potential of what we could have.”

  “Fair enough. I accept your answer, but I have one more question for you, if you don’t mind. Then I’ll lay off the serious talk.”

  “Okay,” Dana said, bracing herself.

  “How do you feel about kids?”

  Kids. A touchy subject for sure, and she would have to tread carefully because so many people didn’t understand her decision to remain child-free.

  “I love children…”

  “But?” Sheldon prompted with a furrowed brow.

  “I’ve thought long and hard about this and decided I don’t want to have children of my own. Ever.”

  His eyebrows shot higher in surprise. “I didn’t expect that answer.”

  “Most people don’t. They look at someone like me, who’s only thirty-one years old, and are certain I would want to have kids. Everyone wants them, right? The thing is, I feel like I’ve already raised some kids, and I don’t want any more.”

  He sat forward and leaned on his forearms. “You know you have to explain, right?”

  Dana nodded. “When I was eleven years old, my younger brother and sister—fraternal twins, were born. I have two older brothers, the closest one in age to me is three years older. As the only girl, my parents expected me to take over the responsibility of watching my younger siblings because they worked a lot, and those expectations continued all the way through getting my masters and graduating from college.”

  “And you got your masters at twenty-one, correct?”

  “Correct.” Dana took college classes while in high school, so by the time she graduated, she was essentially a sophomore in college.

  “Why English?”

  “Reading was an escape for me when I was a child, and I fell in love with story-telling, and sentence structure, and words, and how they convey emotions. Once I became responsible for my younger siblings, it became more important. On the weekends, I took them to the library with me. We walked half a mile and caught two buses each way, but I needed my books. I still read everything I can get my hands on,” she added with a laugh.

  “I came late to reading for leisure. I did the necessary reading for school, but sports were the most important thing in my household, and I was never very good at them. My younger brother… well, he was a star athlete and got all the attention.”

  Bitterness crept into his voice. Dana wanted to delve deeper, but he continued talking.

  “Anyway, I sort of stumbled into reading. I was at a friend’s house, and his son left one of the books assigned by his teacher on the table—Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. Changed my life. Ever since then, I’ve been on a bender to get my hands on as many Black lit books from that era I can. But enough about me. Please, continue. What happened after you received your masters?” He lifted the beer mug to his lips.

  “As soon as the diploma was in my hand, I packed up my belongings and moved to Atlanta. It was a drastic decision, and one I didn’t take lightly. But I needed to leave because for ten years, my life wasn’t my own. Even when I was in school and needed to study for exams, my parents expected me to take care of Tommy and Theresa, my younger brother and sister. When I finally left home, my parents were not pleased. To this day I think they resent me for leaving, but I didn’t have a choice.”

  She got away, escaped. Meanwhile, they remained in the same neighborhood and the same apartment complex she lived in as a child, their lives frozen in time.

  Dana took a deep breath and released it. “As far as I’m concerned, I was a mom for ten years. I love my younger brother and sister to death, and we’re very close to this day, but my relationship with my parents is not so great. I will say, being a surrogate mother taught me a lot but also drained me.”

  “And that’s why you don’t want kids of your own.”

  “Exactly.”

  “What if you met a man with children?”

  “Do you have children?”

  “No, but I’m curious to know how you’d handle such a situation.”

  “If I met a man with kids, I would become a stepmother and help him raise his children. As for wanting to start a family of my own or having kids with someone I marry, that’s not going to happen.”

  He fell silent, and she wondered if her choice was a deal breaker for him. She would completely understand because anyone who expected her to have children would learn real quick they were a deal breaker for her.

  When she thought about being with someone with children, she always thought about Omar and his son Prince. Though she didn’t want children of her own, being a stepmother to Prince was not an issue, mostly because he was Omar’s son.

  But why bother thinking in those terms? She and Omar were never going to be a couple.

  “I was never forced to take care of my younger brother, so I don’t know what you went through, but from what you’ve told me, I’m not surprised the experience influenced your decision. Thank you for your honesty,” Sheldon said.

  “Did my answer change how you feel about me? About us?” She became a bit apprehensive because she did like Sheldon. She didn’t know why he was different compared to her most recent relationships. Maybe she needed to believe he was different, and all the others failed because they weren’t right for her. Or maybe, if she looked deeply enough, she’d discover she simply longed to be with someone who finally made her stop pining for Omar.

  He looked thoughtful for a moment and then shook his head. “No. What you said doesn’t change my opinion about you.”

  “And you’re not thinking you can change my mind, are you? I’ve run across men who believe too much in their persuasive powers.”

  “I’m not that kind of man. If not having children of your own is your decision, I understand, and it doesn’t change my opinion of you.”

  Dana relaxed in the chair. Sheldon was definitely different, because when this part of the conversation came up, she was either called selfish, told she would change her mind, or told the right man could change her mind. None of those comments came from his mouth, and she appreciated his open-mindedness.

  After the meal, they skipped dessert and instead stopped for donuts before going back to Dana’s townhouse. She unlocked the door and turned to face him.

  “I enjoyed myself tonight,” she said softly.

  “So did I.”

  Sheldon bent his head and gave her a kiss, starting with a gentle peck. When she didn’t pull back, he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. Groaning, he shifted his hands to her bottom and tugged her closer until his erection hit her lower abdomen.

  Dana pressed her hands against his chest and pulled back.

  “What?” he whispered in a rough voice.

  “I’m not ready yet,” she said.

  “Oh.” Sheldon stepped back, breathing heavily. Running a hand down his face, he let out a shaky laugh. “I understand.”

  “Thank you,” Dana said quietly, though she didn’t know how he could be so understanding because she herself couldn’t comprehend why she couldn’t move forward.

  “I’m an understanding guy,” Sheldon said with a rueful smile. “I better get out of here. I, ah… I’ll be in touch.”

  “Have a good night,” Dana said quietly.

  She closed the door and rested her forehead against the frame. Why couldn’t she freaking go forward? She’d had one-night stands in the past, so there was absolutely no reason for her to hesitate. In fact, she’d had purely sexual relationships in the past.

  But she had stopped him, and deep down she knew why. Her subconscious wouldn’t let her fall for this man yet, though he was darn near perfect.

  Although she’d been kissing Sheldon, all she could think about was Omar.

  10

  Dana relaxed in the
warm sudsy water with her eyes closed and a bath pillow at her back. A caddy secured to either side of the tub stretched across the water and contained a glass of red wine. A lit candle perfumed the air with the scent of lemons and blood orange, and her cell phone played an audiobook—the latest literary treasure bounding up the best-seller list.

  Although she wasn’t teaching classes this summer, she prepared for the fall by browsing bookstores and purchasing books to read before introducing them to her students. The latter part of the day she spent with teacher friends, shooting the breeze and discussing plans for the rest of the year.

  After a filling dinner, this was now her relaxation time, but her phone rang and interrupted the audiobook. The screen displayed Omar’s name, and her heart flipped sideways in her chest.

  She touched the speaker button. “Hey, Omar. What’s up?”

  “I called to give you some important news. Clear your calendar for Friday night. T-Murder is putting on a charity concert at Hot Vinyl Playhouse.”

  Dana wrinkled her nose. “T-Murder? Mr. Cheat On His Wife? I’m not a fan.”

  “Come on, she forgave him and they’re back together. They even had another kid.”

  Dana harrumphed her distaste and wiggled her toes in the water.

  “He doesn’t do major concerts anymore. This is something for his fans. Set aside your reservations and remember they’re raising money for a good cause. Proceeds from food and beverage sales are going to the homeless.”

  The combination of his voice and the warm water licking her skin did something to her. She could listen to him talk for hours.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You need to keep an open mind about hip-hop.”

  “His music and videos are so raunchy.”

  “His most popular songs are, I admit… questionable… but, if you listen to all the tracks on his albums, he covers a wide range of topics, from politics to police brutality. Don’t get caught up in the visuals.”

  In all honesty, Dana knew rap was an underappreciated art form, and rappers were as varied as performers in any other part of the music industry.