Page 44 of The Friend Zone
“Yes,” Dana answered.
Omar poured three glasses of orange juice and then picked up his phone to check his messages. She watched him surreptitiously and wondered what he must be thinking of such tawdry images on his screen first thing in the morning.
No reaction. No indication lewd photos filled his screen. They were probably so normal for him he was unaffected.
He must have guessed she looked at the messages because they had been read, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he acted as if nothing was amiss while the three of them ate breakfast at the table in the kitchen. With Prince present, Dana held off on asking Omar about the naked woman texts and behaved so normally she was proud of herself. She deserved a freaking Academy Award for her restraint.
After breakfast, Prince went to play in his room, and Dana placed the dirty dishes in the sink. When Omar reached for her, she pulled back.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Your phone was beeping on the counter earlier. I went over to turn it off, and I saw the four texts you received this morning.”
His eyes narrowed a fraction before returning to their normal size. “Okay.”
“That’s all you’re going to say?Okay?”
“What would you like me to say?”
“Is it normal for you to receive those kinds of pictures? How many do you have in your phone?” Dana asked.
“You mean you didn’t check for others? If you’re going to invade my privacy, why do it halfway? Why not check every text I have?”
Her face flamed. “I know I didn’t have any right to go through your phone, but that’s irrelevant.”
“I didn’t ask her to send those pictures, Dana. She sent them unsolicited.”
“I understand, but she’s one of many. Women regularly chase after you.”
“You’re exaggerating,” Omar said irritably.
“I’m not, and I knew this would happen,” Dana muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You knew what would happen?”
“Nothing.” She looked away from him.
“All of a sudden you can’t speak your mind? Tell me what you’re thinking because I already know it’s some bullshit.”
Dana straightened her back. “What I think is not bullshit. You’ve been with alotof women, and I’m supposed to believe you and I are going to work because I’m somehow different?”
He glowered at her. “Of course you’re different. I care about you.”
“Caring about each other does not mean getting romantically involved is a good idea.”
“Well, it certainly doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea,” he said sarcastically.
Dana’s eyes narrowed. “This is real life. There are consequences for our actions. What if this—whatever we’re doing—doesn’t work out?”
“What makes you so sure we won’t work?”
“Honestly? Let’s be real, we’re not compatible.”
“We’re not compatible. I see.” Hands on his hips, he paced the floor and bounced his head up and down as if she’d said something profound.
“Why are you repeating what I said in that tone of voice?”
He scowled at her. “Say what you really think instead of using code words.”
