Page 14 of The Friend Zone
For years, she toyed with the idea of attending a writing retreat but didn’t know if she was good enough. Maybe she didn’t need to be so worried after all.
“I’ve done research on writing retreats, and I’m thinking about attending one in Colorado. For two weeks, I and other aspiring writers would get to work with one of the best writing coaches in the business.”
“You sound like you’re not sure you want to go,” Omar said.
“I do want to go.”
“Then do it.”
With airfare, lodging, food, and the training, the trip cost thousands of dollars. She didn’t want to admit her concerns about spending so much money. What if an emergency came up?
“I’ll think about it,” she said.
Omar studied her for a minute, then he said, “You have to do things for yourself too, Dana.”
“Yes, I know. You’ve told me a thousand times.”
“Then why don’t you? In all the years we’ve known each other, I’ve never seen you take a real vacation. Every year, you go back to Chicago and spend time with your parents, and you take a short trip here and there, like the time you went to DC with Layla. But that’s it.”
“Can we skip the lecture tonight?” Dana stood, ready to go.
He remained seated. “Dana—”
“I know you don’t understand, but not everyone has a bunch of cash lying around, and you know I don’t have only myself to think about. Tommy or Theresa might need help, and if I splurge on the trip, they’ll have to do without.”
“Splurge? The retreat isn’t a splurge, Dana. You want to be a writer, and it takes work. You should be able to take the necessary steps if you want or need to.” Omar looked steadily at her. “You’re not their mother,” he said quietly.
She and Omar were alike because neither wanted kids. Though he already had a son whom he loved, he didn’t want any more children and got a vasectomy soon after. Meanwhile, she made the decision a long time ago to be child-free but still felt responsible for her younger siblings.
“No, I’m not their mother, but I don’t want them to go through what I did. I want them to see the world and have amazing life experiences, and if I can help, I want to. They shouldn’t be stuck the way I was, having to live vicariously through characters in a book!”
She became emotional when she thought about her upbringing. No, Tommy and Theresa weren’t her kids, but there was nothing wrong with helping them financially, and no real difference between what she did for them and Omar taking care of his parents, buying them a house, or investing in his brother’s failed businesses.
The only difference was, his bank account was larger than hers.
Omar pushed up off the sofa. “Let me pay for your trip.”
She suspected he’d say that. “No.”
“Dana, we’re friends, and I can afford it.”
“I can afford it too. When the time is right.”
“Would you let me—”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore! Can we go have fun? Please?”
Omar rubbed a palm over his bald head as if exhausted from the conversation. “Fine. The conversation is over.For now.” He looked pointedly at her.
Dana gladly accepted the temporary reprieve, and they left her townhouse. Omar opened the door for her, and she climbed into the Escalade.
It was her favorite of his vehicles. He loaned it to her for a week once when her car was in the shop, and she’d been spoiled by the roomy interior, the high-end sound system, and the navigation screen. There was even a console refrigerator where she had kept chilled water and juice while running errands around town. Man, she missed this car.
She watched him circle the front and climb in, and they took off. Omar drove with one hand on the wheel and eyes trained on the traffic before him. Because of their brief argument, an awkward silence filled the car.
To ease the tension, Dana asked, “How was dinner at your parents’?”
He glanced at her. “I survived,” he replied.
