Page 48 of The Friend Zone
“Hi, can I help you?” Athena’s eyes dipped to the box in Dana’s arms.
“Hi, I-I’m a friend of Omar’s. Is he here?”
Prince squeezed past his mother and grinned up at Dana. “Hi, Miss Dana. Are we having another sleep over?” he asked excitedly.
Dana’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Hi, sweetie,” she said. “No sleep over tonight.”
Athena looked at her funny. “Dana, I’ve heard Omar talk about you before. I’m Athena, Prince’s mother. Nice to meet you.”
Extending one hand and balancing the box in the other, Dana shook hands with her.
“Come in, and I’ll let Omar know you’re here. He’s in the back exercising, and you know how he gets when he’s exercising. He’s so focused, he has headphones on and is listening to music. Give me a second, and I’ll get him.”
Athena headed out of the room with Prince skipping along behind her. Dana watched her wide, swaying hips and tried her best not to be jealous, yet she was. Seeing Athena here was a slap in the face. She wanted to believe nothing was going on, but the woman was walking around his condo as if she lived there permanently, not to mention she was attractive and the mother of his child.
When Athena broke his heart, he turned into a lover man branded with the moniker Mr. Casanova. How easy would it be for him to fall back into the same old feelings while staying under the same roof as the woman he used to love?
The thought made her physically ill and brought to light her worst fear—her relationship with Omar could be fleeting.
He came into the living room, shirtless and wearing shorts, sweat glistening on his skin like a thin coat of Vaseline. Noise-canceling headphones hung around his neck, and as he came closer, she noted concern in his eyes. At least he recognized how his ex-fiancée traipsing through his apartment looked to her.
“I didn’t know you were coming.”
Dana tried to smile but couldn’t quite get there. “I left you a voice mail but you must have already started working out. I thought I’d surprise you by bringing your Father’s Day gift a little early. Happy Father’s Day.” She thrust the box at him and when he took it, she spun around and headed for the door.
She reached as far as a hand on the doorknob before Omar slammed his left hand above her head to block her from leaving.
“I know what you’re thinking, and you’re wrong.”
She turned to face him, nose filling with the musky scent of masculine sweat. If she weren’t upset, she probably would have jumped him.
“You have no idea what I’m thinking.”
“Athena told me a while back shemightcome to town. She flew in last night, and I was going to tell you, but we haven’t talked.”
“Your ex-fiancé is staying at your condo and walking around naked in your face,” Dana whispered fiercely. “Should I be worried?”
“Athena and I have been finished for three years,” Omar said in a steely, low voice.
“Doesn’t mean old feelings can’t come back.”
“That’s exactly what it means, at least in this instance.”
“I’m happy to hear your feelings for her are completely dead. Can I go now?”
Omar didn’t answer, staring down at her in the silence. Then he said, “We’ll finish talking outside.”
He opened the door and ushered her into the hallway.
“Quick question, there aren’t any vacancies in the hotels in Atlanta?” Dana asked.
“She’s the mother of my kid and needed a place to stay.”
“And I’m your… what? Girlfriend? I didn’t know what to tell her. The whole situation was awkward, especially since we haven’t made our new relationship status known to many people.”
“Of course you’re my girlfriend, and you could have told her. I couldn’t leave her out in the cold when I have an extra bedroom where she can stay, and of course she wanted to be with Prince, and Prince is with me. Do you really want me to stick her in a hotel?”
“I don’twantyou to do anything, but I’m allowed to feel how I do. I’m allowed to be uncomfortable with this whole set up.” Dana flicked her hand in the direction of the doorway and then marched down the hall.
