Page 40 of Loyalty, Lust, Love
Fateema ended the call, wondering what Lynx’s motive was. He’d never spoken about Tatiana, so his news came as a surprise. Dismissing her thoughts about it, she connected her phone to the charger and was asleep minutes later.
Chapter 14
Flashback – A Week Later – Prom
“You don’t seem excited about prom. What’s going on with you?” Keno, Lynx’s father, asked him.
“I’m good, Pops.”
“You’re not, but I won't force you to talk about it.”
Lynx had just finished getting dressed, and his father was tying his bowtie for him. Keno was right; Lynx wasn’t excited about prom, but he’d make the best of it.
“I asked someone to prom that I didn’t really want to go with, but I’m a man of my word, so I’ll see it through and make sure she has a good time,” he told his father.
“Why did you ask her?”
“I reacted too quickly to something I found out.”
Lynx hadn’t shared his growing feelings for Fateema with anyone in their circle but thought some may have sensed the recent change. Comments were made occasionally, but no one ever came right out and asked him. Fateema seemed to be clueless about Lynx’s attraction to her.
“Care to share what you found out?”
“Not really.”
“What does Fateema think of the girl you asked?”
Lynx shrugged. He didn’t think they had beef, but they weren’t friends. “I don’t know. She’s going with my date’s ex.”
“Okay. Now we’re getting somewhere. Is that the news that caused you to react too quickly?”
A minute passed with no reply from Lynx as his father finished tying his bowtie. He wasn’t ready to admit his feelings for Fateema out loud… not even to his father.
“Thanks for your help, Pops. We should head over to Fateema’s for pictures,” Lynx said, not acknowledging his father’s question.
Lynx had always been quiet and kept to himself, so Keno didn’t press his son to answer. He figured he would come to him if he needed advice about dating or anything else.
As planned, their group met at Fateema’s house to take pictures. Keno and Frasier noticed how Lynx’s mood changed when Rodney showed up. He inserted himself into the pictures as if he were part of their friend group, and Lynx didn’t hide his annoyance. Rodney’s need to be the center of attention was evident, and it was what Lynx disliked the most about him.
Coincidentally, Lynx and Tatiana arrived at prom at the same time as Fateema and Rodney. When Tatiana saw Rodney with Fateema, her whole mood shifted. Lynx didn’t like seeing them together either but wanted positive memories from prom, so he kept the mood light.
“Fateema is sitting at Rodney’s table so Tati can sit in her seat,” Adam whispered so only Lynx could hear him.
Lynx nodded and looked around the ballroom until he spotted his best friend. She looked beautiful in the dress they’d chosen, and he wanted nothing more than to be in her presence, making her laugh until her eyes watered, and she fussed at him for making her ruin her makeup.
“Let’s grab Fateema and take our group pic with the photographer before the line gets too long,” Octavia suggested.
Lynx leaned toward Tatiana and whispered in her ear. “Do you want to come with me to take a group picture with my friends? You’re welcome to join us.”
“That’s unnecessary, but I don’t want to sit here alone, so I’ll come with you.”
“I’ll go get Fateema, and you can meet me over there if you don’t want to see Rodney.”
She shrugged. “It’s fine.”
While the rest of their group went to get in line for pictures, Lynx and Tatiana headed to the table where Fateema sat with Rodney and his friends.
When they arrived at their table, Lynx asked Fateema, “Are you taking the group picture with us?”
