Page 42 of Friend Zoned

“I’m a horrible friend, aren’t I?” I ask him. “All I do is talk about me. What about you? Are you looking for someone special?” He should be. He deserves that and more, but where will I fit in when he finds her and she doesn’t want me around? My stomach drops to my feet. It’s not just the thought of the woman not wanting me around that bothers me. Let’s be honest. She’ll take up all his precious free time. The very idea of her is unsettling.

“I wasn’t looking,” he says. He wasn’t, so is he now? Is he on some dating app? Maybe hooking up with a tall, long-legged raven-haired temptress. Or does he prefer blondes? Maybe a redhead. “Work has always kept me pretty busy.”

“You weren’t looking before, so does that mean you’re looking now?” I stop breathing while I wait for his answer. I shouldn’t have asked, but it’s out there now.

“Uncle Aid! Come on. Why are you still on the phone? Grandma’s waiting for us. She wants to teach Eduardo how to sled, and grandpa wants to come too.”

“Great,” he says. “I’m coming, Shan.”

“That’s what you said about ten million zillion hours ago. Come on!” the little girl whines. I can practically see her now, bouncing up and down, waiting for her uncle. “I’m waiting,” she says, elongating the word. Giggles soon follow.

“Okay, Uncle Aid. Go have fun,” I tell him. Part of me is relieved at not having to hear his answer to my last question.

He tells me a quick goodbye, promising to call me later tonight.

After tossing my phone on the couch, I look out the window. My loud sigh is the only sound in the quiet room. I eye my Christmas tree and the present from Aiden underneath. My fingers ache to open it, but we promised we’d wait.

Instead of focusing on Aiden’s gift, I walk to my coat closet and pull out the gift bag from Leah’s mother. I dig around and lift out something heavy. Once I remove the tissue paper, I realize this gift isn’t from Leah’s mother. It’s a photo album of us from our years at college and until two years ago.

I look through it and remember the good times we had. There are pictures of us in Florida for spring break. I didn’t tell my parents I was going. I told them I’d be staying on campus to catch up on studying. The three of us shared an overpriced room at Holiday Inn. This was only a few months before I met Quintin. There’s a snapshot of me with a big head of hair mainly due to the southern Florida humidity. That was a constant complaint of mine, and my two friends would make fun of my growing afro.

Camille must have taken this picture because Leah is behind me pretending to be scared of my hair. She has both hands up as if she’s trying to ward it off, and her mouth is open as if she’s screaming. I’m shrugging and pointing at my hair as if I’ve lost all control of it. There are several more pictures of that trip, taking me right back there when three nineteen-year-old women enjoyed their first spring break. There are pictures of us throughout college and after. All of them are me and Leah or each of us alone. At least until I get to the last picture. It’s one of the three of us at graduation. Each of us in our cap and gown, sporting wide, happy smiles.

I remember that day. It was a perfect spring day full of family and laughter. I crumple the picture, toss it across the room to the garbage can, and miss. Aiden’s face flashes through my mind, and with it, the memory of us tossing balled-up wrapping paper in the trash.

I shake my head clear of all thoughts of Aiden. He’s a friend, and there’s no reason to try to paint him as anything but. Friend. I can handle that. I would hate to risk that only for us to fail at a romantic relationship. What I can’t handle is this so-called gift that Leah gave me. I also can’t figure out why she included a picture of Camille. Does she think there’s a chance in hell that I would forgive Camille and become her friend again? Is Leah stupid or just stuck in the past? Does she think she can continue to straddle this fence between the two of us? Well, the choice is not hers to make. It’s mine, and I severed all ties the instant I learned of her betrayal.

I shove the album back in the bag, but my hand hits something else. I pull it out, and from the smell, I know it’s her mother’s signature banana bread. I put that in the bag too, pick it up and walk out of my apartment to the trash room. I throw it down the chute and walk away, leaving behind Leah and anyone associated with her.

If not for the snow, I’d go visit my parents since they leave for Canada tomorrow, but the best I’ll be able to do is a phone call. I drop myself on the couch and grab my remote. This life is lonely, and I know I’ve made the right decision in trying to find a significant other in a couple of months. As much as I try and picture the face of a handsome black man, I can’t see it. Aiden’s face keeps haunting my thoughts.

Chapter 21

Aiden

“I know we’d rather be home. I know I would.” Jeannie’s face flashes through my mind. The team stares at me, probably unsure of where I’m going with this speech. Hell if I know, but it’s my job to motivate them. “Let’s win this series of away games. Let’s make being away from home worth it. Minnesota has a good defense, so let’s stay on top of them. Harris, Jones, I’m counting on you.” We all huddle in the locker room. “On three!” Everyone yells Mischiefs.

It doesn’t help that it’s about twenty degrees below zero in this city. Or that our flight yesterday was delayed due to the weather, and my team’s not as rested as I would like. The meetings I’ve had all day with my assistant coaches and staff keeping me too damn busy to text or call the only person I want to talk to certainly didn’t help. My mood is shit right now, and I need to rein it in.

While we wait to be called out, I take Wakowski’s elbow and pull him into a private corner.“Have you been able to persuade the third woman to take a paternity test now? Our team doctor says it’s safe, and all she has to do is provide a blood sample.”

He swallows, and for a moment in time, I see a scared kid. As immature and annoying as he is, he’s still very much a boy. A boy who didn’t have any good male role models growing up.

“No. I even offered her money, and she hung up the phone on me.” He lets out a breath. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t want a baby,” he says.

“Well, you should have wrapped up your dick,” I snap.

“I did!”

I count to five before I say, “Well, there’s nothing for you to do other than wait. There are worse things in life than a baby, Seth. And you can afford it.” I soften my voice. “It will be okay either way.”

He nods, still looking solemn.

“Thanks, Coach.” He walks away with his head hanging down.

Once he’s away, and I have a moment to myself, I pull my phone out of my pocket and press Jeannie’s name. She picks up on the second ring and I find myself relaxed for the first time since I woke up yesterday morning to prepare for this trip.

“How’s Minnesota?” she asks. She sounds happy, and I hear music and chatter in the background. My alarm bells go off, and I picture her at a bar trying to hook up with a random man.

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