Page 53 of The Friend Zone
Cole slow-clapped. “Awesome job.” He staggered to his feet and moved closer. “Once again, you have exceeded everyone’s expectations. I kept waiting for something terrible to happen, but nothing did. Food came out on time, drinks weregreat, by the way. The bartender deserves a raise. I really have no complaints.”
Fortunately, the mishaps in the kitchen stayed hidden from the front of the house, but Cole’s sneering tone made the night’s success sound like a failure.
“You know what, I’m in a good mood. You can’t spoil my night.”
“I would never dream of spoiling your night the way you spoiled my life the day you were born.”
“Cole, please!” Dorothy said.
He laughed in the face of her dismay and leaned sideways to capture Dana’s attention. “As soon as I saw the two of you together, I knew. You may not want to admit he’s the reason you stopped seeing me, but I have experience on my side.”
“Enough.” Omar stepped halfway between them, partially shielding Dana from his brother’s open hostility.
“All my life, Omar has been the chosen one.”
“Stop it, Cole,” Omar said through gritted teeth, hard pressed to resist charging at his brother.
Cole continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “He’s been the one to get all the preferential treatment. Started as soon as he was born. The family—the world—let him know right away he was special. Gifted. As soon as he came out of the womb, my mother stopped paying attention to me. Probably because she hated my father since he cheated on her and broke her heart. Don’t get me wrong, I believe my mother loves me, but I’m pretty sure when she sees me, she sees his face.
“With Omar it’s a completely different story. He’s her baby boy, the star athlete. And look at the way he takes care of her.” He flung his arms wide. “Bought her a house and gave her a job doing what she loves—helping people. He’s a good son, right? Who wouldn’t love him?”
Dana remained quiet.
“You know what’s upsetting, though? No one ever wants to tell the truth. No one ever wants toadmithe’s the chosen one. Including you, Dana. I thought we understood each other because we both enjoyed history and literature and hell, the same movies. Those deep conversations, you’ll never have those with him. But you know that, don’t you, because you’refriends.”
“Time to go.” Senior placed a restraining hand on Cole’s arm, but he roughly shoved him off.
“Take your damn hands off me. You’re not my father.” He cut his eyes at Senior.
“I’m the man who raised you,” Senior said.
“Barely,” Cole spat.
Omar’s fingers curled into a fist. “Either you leave now, or I carry you out,” he said in a low, menacing voice.
“I’m not afraid of you, Omar. Mr. Casanova. Mr. Ladies’ Man,” Cole taunted with a laugh. “Mr. Casanova, when you can’t even satisfy your own woman.”
“If you’re talking about Athena—”
“Yeah, I’m talking about Athena.”
“What happened between her and me is none of your business.”
“You think so?” Cole smirked. “Did you ever figure out whose boxers were in your bed?”
“Cole, no,” Athena said in a low voice, a stricken expression crossing her face.
Omar’s eyes swung between them, and his heart dropped. “I want all staff out of the dining room, now!” he barked.
The startled servers looked around in confusion.
“Go home. We’ll finish cleaning up later.”
They hustled out of the dining room, two going through the kitchen to exit out the back, leaving behind the family, Dana, and Athena.
Omar stared at his brother. His chest hurt, as if someone stomped him with steel-toed boots. “It was you?”
Cole’s response was a smug, remorseless smile.
