Page 78 of Friend Zoned

I decided to take a couple of days off to prepare for Miami. It’s a good thing I did because Quintin managed to piss me off earlier this week, and Layla texted me today to tell me that he came back.

A few days ago.

With the flurries coming down, I’ve never been more grateful for my driver and the warmth of Aiden’s car. Even though he corrected me yesterday and said it’s my car. Whoever the car belongs to, I’m happy to use it. The driver opens the door for me and tips his hat.

“Call me if you want lunch,” he says. He’s more than just a driver. He runs errands for me too, even though I don’t have many errands for him to do. He’s never far away. I noticed him walking around the hotel lobby yesterday and when I asked Aiden about it, he said it was just to be cautious considering my new fame. I reminded him that he’s the famous one, not me.

But I did get noticed by a few people, and I’ve gotten thousands of follow requests on social media. There was even a late-night sports talk show that showed the video a few nights ago.

I don’t make it two steps inside the lobby before Quintin intercepts me. It’s barely seven in the morning, and he’s here, almost colliding with me. I sidestep him and continue to my office.

“Jeanine,” he says, and I ignore him.

I unlock my office, but he pushes his way in before I can close the door in his face. “I’m calling security,” I say as I pick up my office phone, but he takes it from me. He steps away, raising both hands as if he comes in peace. “It’s too early for me to beat your ass, Quintin. What is it?” I sigh and sit.

“Look, I still care about you.”

“Uh-huh. I can see that by your actions.” I don’t think he appreciates my sarcasm. “Okay, sure. You care. You care so much you’d rather destroy the apartment that I got fair and square in our divorce.”

He takes a step closer and closes his eyes as if he’s pained. “How could you think I would do that?”

“Are you kidding me? I didn’t think you’d fuck my friend either, but you did. I don’t put anything past you. You’re the worst sort of human being, but luckily you found someone who is just as repulsive as you.”

He looks away and rubs his creased forehead. He sighs and then runs both hands over his face.

“I didn’t destroy the apartment. Yes, I was angry about the divorce, but I never cared about the things, Jeanine. I didn’t want to lose my wife. I fought for that apartment because I was really fighting for you,” he says. “I messed up. I know it, but it was Camille who vandalized the place, not me. She got hold of the keys and said it was payback for assaulting her the day you found out, especially since I wouldn’t let her report you to the police. I took the blame because I didn’t know what else to do at that point. Let me pay for—”

“Oh, stop. The only thing I want from you is for you to leave me the hell alone. You’ve done enough.”

He sits across from me, and the previous burst of remorse disappears right before my eyes.

“Despite everything that happened between us, I don’t want you to make a fool of yourself, Jeanine.” I stare at him, not saying a word. I take a long sip of the coffee I made at Aiden’s house. It was less than an hour ago that we were in his kitchen, getting ready to face the day, and now I’m subjected to this. “Aiden Walsh is way out of your league, and so is Victoria Chastain. I don’t just mean that she’s married to a basketball player, but her family is well off themselves. You don’t come from that.”

I lean back, stare at the ceiling, and let out a breath. There it is. Always reminding me of where I come from and what limitations that has.

“Why do you care? Why do you always find the need to try and put me in my place? I get it now. That’s your own insecurity talking. Maybe you’re not enough, but I am. I’m enough for a man who’s one hundred times the man you are.”

His body jerks back as if I’ve struck a blow, but he’s not deterred for long. He comes forward and stands tall as if he’s about to deliver a sermon.

“The fancy car, dancing at a wedding, going out to dinners.” So, he’s seen the video. Aiden and I went out to dinner last night, and I guess someone tweeted a video of us. There are also videos of me at the one game I went to sitting next to Vickie. “Look, I know I hurt you, but just because that happened doesn’t mean you just give up on black men.”

I chuckle at the absurdity of that statement. That chuckle turns into a laugh. “The black men that aren’t above my station, right? So, let me get this straight. Just because you are a lying, cheating sack of shit.” He bristles. “Let’s face it. That’s what you are. Just because you’re a shit bag, you think that I’ve given up on an entire race of men. Because of you?” I point at him and laugh. “What you lack in morals and human decency, you make up for in audacity. Your ego certainly hasn’t changed. My relationship with Aiden is none of your damn business. Focus on your relationship with the mother of your son. Why aren’t you with her right now instead of here harassing me about things that have nothing to do with you?” I stand, walk to my door and open it.

“Well, that relationship is none of your business either.” He stands but makes no move to leave.

“Great. Go.”

“Your problem is you never acknowledged your role in the demise of our marriage. You were working and at school. I was home alone. You don’t ignore your husband.”

“Yeah, so it’s my fault you fucked Camille?” He swallows and his Adam’s Apple bobs. “Is it?” I ask again. “Because I dared to go back to school?” When he remains quiet, I say, “Answer me, Quintin.”

He holds both hands up again and says, “I could have handled that better, but I felt neglected. It wasn’t supposed to get that far, but Camille kept—"

I shake my head in disbelief. “Just shut up, Quintin. Please, just shut your mouth. We’re divorced. We’ve said it all. We’ve both moved on to bigger and better things.” I eye him up and down, doing my best to channel my mother’s judgmental looks. “At least I have.”

“We’ve said it all? We’ve said nothing! You wouldn’t talk to me. You didn’t give me a chance to explain. There was never a path to forgiveness with you. You just made up your mind that our marriage was over, shut me out and that was it. I asked you to go to therapy with me and you—”

I slam the door behind me and take a few menacing steps toward him and point my finger in his face.

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