Page 170 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Madi, we don’t really have any boundaries,” Dante stated as if I were dense. “I’m cool with it, we’ve always been freakishly close; but for a woman coming into our little circle…it’s daunting. We work together, spend most of our time together,” Here he rolled his eyes. “Before you went to the other side, that is.” Then he got serious again. “And from the moment they begin questioning our friendship,” Dante used air quotations. “I always let them know, if they start trying to force me to make a choice, they won’t be happy with the results.”

I closed my mouth, it had fallen open when he spoke. A moment later I asked tentatively, “So us being close friends has messed up your past relationships? Is that why you don’t usually do long-term?”

Dante saw the horrified expression on my face and grabbed my knee, before giving it a small squeeze. “Don’t be silly.”

He turned his attention back to the movie but I couldn’t let it go. What did this mean? His past girlfriends saw me as a threat? Or maybe a pest? Christine no doubt had. She used to make subtle barbed comments all the time. Oh no. How blind was I? Had my closeness to Dante wrecked his chances of love? What sort of best friend was that? My mere presence was fucking with his ‘love’ chi! No wonder karma liked dumping on me.

“Why didn’t you say something?”

Dante flexed his sock-clad feet and winced in pain. “What for? It’s not going to change how we are, besides, if I’m seeing someone and she can’t accept our friendship then she’s not worth it.”

He was so calm about it, so blasé, and I felt horrible.

“I’ll be better,” I mumbled, ashamed over my selfishness. How could I have not realized our closeness was a potential problem with any of his love interests? Or maybe I had sub-consciously known and was elated over it, I had been crushing on him foryears. But my childhood crush on him was gone now. I had fallen in love with someone who didn’t deserve it. If I had a time machine-

Dante groaned out aloud. “This is exactly why I never said anything before. Now you’re going to blame yourself and see a problem where there is none.”

“But it is a problem,” I countered. “I don’t want you to become an angry black man. Old, bitter and eventually banging basic bitches because-”

Dante’s roar of laughter made me pause. He laughed so hard, tears leaked out his eyes. “Aw man! I love you, but you are so full of shit it’s unbelievable. Forget dance, you should be a comedian.”

Watching Dante roll about on the sofa then sliding to the floor made me think that maybe he was alright with the whole break-up thing. He was certainly in a better mood than when we started watching the movie.

“Laugh it up,” I prodded him with my left foot. “Your good looks won’t last forever and I want you to be happy.”

Wheezing for breath, he rose halfway off the floor and grinned at me while rubbing his eyes. “Don’t worry about me. If all else fails and I’m still single by the time I hit forty; you, me, Sol and Bret can all have a committed polyamorous relationship.”

“Ewww,” That was gross. Not the poly lifestyle, everyone should have a chance at happiness, whatever worked for them; but the thought of the four of us…no, just no. High ick factor.

Dante chuckled again. “Yeah, that’s how I felt when you propositioned me.”

This time it wasn’t a prod from my foot but a full-fledged kick, which he easily avoided.

“Kiss my black ass,” I shot back. “I wasn’t referring to you then.”

Dante winked before drawling out. “Uh huh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? And I’m locking my bedroom door tonight. No telling what you’ll do now I know you’ve got the itch.”

Another failed kick in his direction and I was done for the night. Rising off the sofa, I stretched the kinks out my body.

“I’m going to bed,” I said. “Lock up, ok?”

Dante nodded before climbing back onto the sofa and promptly laying across it. I chewed my lower lip, silently observing him.

“What?” he asked without looking at me.

“Nothing,” I hedged, still feeling guilty. “Do you think we’ll ever findthe one?”

Dante turned to look at me then. He really had a face that could grace magazines. “I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll tell you one thing though, after seeing what you’re going through right now…I am never getting married.”

“Night, D,” was tossed over my shoulder as I headed for the stairs. Great. Not only had I messed up my best friend’s relationships over the years, I’d now put him off marriage. Tonight I was going to get down on my knees and pray; pray for wisdom, strength, compassion, and for the sex itch to leave me the hell alone.

CHAPTER 20

“I’m glad that’sbeen sorted,” Adam advised as they watched their executives leave the meeting room.

Nathan grunted in agreement while gathering up his files quickly.

Matt snuck a peek at his watch. “It’s five o’ clock, and Friday. How about we knock off early and head out to the country club. I don’t have any pressing matters pending and it’s been ages since the three of us got together.”

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