Page 18 of The Friend Zone
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. Iwantto 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. Shedidlike 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 then.
“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 wecouldhave.”
“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.
