Page 50 of The Friend Zone
“I was thinking I could stay here, which should keep me out of the dog house.”
“It might.” Dana gave him a kiss, slipping in tongue and groaning when his hands cupped her bottom.
“It’s late. Let’s go to bed.” Omar kissed her forehead and took her hand, leading the way upstairs.
“Yes, sir,” Dana said with a big grin.
22
Upon the advice of one of the consultants he worked with, Omar decided to do a soft opening of Kitchen Love, which would allow them to get feedback and determine if they had adequate staff and equipment to run the non-profit restaurant on a full-scale. Based on tonight’s results, they could adjust for any deficiencies in time for the grand opening in a few weeks.
Invitations went out to a limited number of people, which included food bloggers, traditional media, and community leaders who could help get the word out to the demographic they wanted to serve. Instead of offering the full menu choices, Omar and his partners opted to spotlight a sampling of the dishes, including fried catfish, meatloaf made using his mother’s recipe, and a few more meat and chicken dishes. Overall, he remained confident the night would go well.
Dressed in a dark gray jacket and green shirt Dana insisted he wear because the color looked good on him and brought out the green in his eyes, Omar walked through the dining room watching volunteers straighten the tables and make final adjustments to ensure a proper presentation to the public. In the back, food preppers chopped and diced to get ready for when the orders started coming in.
Prince was with a babysitter tonight, and Dana was right there beside him as he did his inspections. She looked great, with her dreadlocks hanging down to her waist, her lips a burnt red color, her nose rings, and a hot-looking black pantsuit she paired with gold and black heels. He couldn’t wait to get her home and set those heels on his shoulders, but for now he needed to be patient and simply appreciated having her by his side.
Less than an hour before opening, Dana was in the kitchen and Omar was chatting with the male and female hosts in a corner of the dining room when his parents and Athena arrived, and to his surprise, Cole walked in with them.
Dorothy walked over, and as she gave Omar a hug, she whispered in a strained voice, “He wanted to come. He said he wanted to support you.”
Omar glanced at his brother, standing near the entrance in a white shirt and his hands stuffed into the pockets of his dark trousers. He’d been in Atlanta almost three months now.
“Looking good, bro,” Cole remarked, coming forward.
“Thanks. Glad you came.”
“Of course. I would never miss another one of your great accomplishments.” He flashed a disarming grin.
Omar’s back stiffened. Cole spoke a little too loud, as if he’d been drinking. Wonderful. He didn’t need any drama tonight of all nights.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” Athena asked, rubbing her hands together. She wore a black cocktail dress and let her long hair cascade in loose waves down her back.
“No, but I can show you all around real quick before everyone arrives.”
“Great idea,” his father said, sounding odd.
Something was wrong. Omar’s gaze landed on his mother, and she gave him a faint smile. She appeared downright nervous, and he suspected there must’ve been an argument either before they left the house or on the car ride over.
“Follow me,” he said.
He showed them the dining room and pointed out the little touches like the dark wood tables, which another restaurant group donated to them. Professionals had polished the hardwood floor to a shine, and on either side of the dining room, square tables accommodated two or could be pushed away from the wall and seat four. Longer tables down the middle seated six or more, which they’d use as community tables to encourage conversations among the guests. Seating strangers next to one another encouraged people to get to know each other, and he wanted the restaurant to not only be a place where people came to fill their bellies, but came to fill their social wells with conversation and good vibes.
Hanging on the wall was a photo of the Kitchen Love garden, which for now depended on volunteers. Omar had purchased nearby land to grow vegetables and herbs, which the restaurant used to prepare dishes on the menu.
Omar led the way into the kitchen, and his gaze immediately landed on Dana. Her back faced him as she and the chef chatted.
“This is the kitchen, where the magic happens,” he announced.
Cole was the last one through the door. His gaze swept the room, rolling over Dana and then doubling back, a frown creasing his brow.
Omar kept his eyes on his brother as he said, “Much of the produce you see the staff prepping for the meals came from our garden. Right now, we’re only using a portion of the acreage I bought. Eventually, I want to expand and turn the property into a community garden where people in the surrounding neighborhoods can come and get produce in exchange for helping to maintain it.”
Dana ended her conversation and turned to face them, and shock registered on Cole’s face. A mere second later, the smile on hers died, and her eyes widened.
“Dana, what are you doing here?” Cole asked.
“I… what areyoudoing here?” She appeared perplexed as she moved toward them.
