Page 45 of The Friend Zone
“Tell me what you think I’m thinking. Apparently, you have something going on in that head of yours because I don’t like your tone.”
“I’m not one of your goddamn students, so don’t talk to me like him a friggin’ child, okay?”
“I don’t talk to my students like they’re kids because they’re adults, and they act like adults,” Dana shot back.
Omar bit his bottom lip, a sure sign he was furious. “Fine, I’ll tell you what you’re thinking. I’m not good enough for you.”
“What! You’re wrong.” She couldn’t believe he said something so ridiculous.
“Am I? I don’t read a lot or get the references to historical facts or authors you’re always talking about like they’re common knowledge. I’m definitely not a professor or scientist or something equally boring.”
“First of all,” Dana said, pointing a finger at him, “I have never talked down to you, and those men are not boring. I take your comment personally because I’m a professor. Second of all, you and me not being compatible has nothing to do with the profession of the men I’ve dated. If we’re being honest, I could say something similar about you. You’re always running around with models and actresses and wannabe models and actresses. The women I’ve seen you mess around with over the years are all the same. Don’t you get tired?”
“This may come as a surprise to you, but those are the only women who approach me. So like a normal human being, I go where I’m wanted.”
His response surprised her. Maybe those were the only woman bold enough to approach him, but if she did a survey of Atlanta women to find out which ones were interested, they’d come from all walks of life and the full range of socio-economic backgrounds.
“So the woman who texted you this morning, are you going there?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“We’ve been sleeping together for a month, Omar. Why is this chick texting you her goddamn vagina?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, as if her very reasonable question drained and irritated him at the same time.
“Let me repeat, I did not ask for her to text me.”
“Who the hell is she?”
“I took her to the restaurant opening and haven’t seen her since then.”
“She clearly wants to keep seeing you.” Making her voice high-pitched and syrupy, Dana added, “You’re so big and strong. I would love for you to tackle me.”
They stared at each other.
Finally, Omar said, “You need to grow the fuck up, Dana.” He walked out of the kitchen.
She followed. “And you need to handle your women, unless there’s something you need to tell me.”
A pulse in his temple throbbed. “The only thing I have to say is you need to check yourself. Don’t come at me talking about other women like you haven’t been wildin’ your damn self, and if anybody should be going through phones, it’s me. I’m the one who had the cheating fiancée. So don’t try to flip this on me like I’m the bad guy, when the only reason you’re behaving like this is because you’re looking for an excuse to run.”
Neither of them spoke, and his words hung in the air, a scalding indictment in the face of all her insecurities about the prudence of their new relationship status. Finally, Dana huffed out an angry breath and marched into the bedroom. She grabbed her purse and overnight bag, and when she came back out, Omar stood in her path, arms crossed over his chest.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Leaving, because I don’t appreciate you flipping this conversation around and turning a very valid concern into an attack against me.”
“Leaving is your resolution?”
“Yes.”
“Way to prove me wrong.”
She dropped her gaze. “Get out of my way.”
He couldn’t blame her for her thoughts. Seeing the way he went through women, being with him meant playing Russian roulette with her heart, hoping she didn’t wind up with a hole the size of a fist. Life was so much easier when they were only friends and the intimacies they shared didn’t exacerbate her already complicated feelings about him.
Omar didn’t move, standing in the way so long she wondered if he ever would. When he finally stepped aside, Dana rushed to the door and fled his condo—head bent uncharacteristically low.
