I nodded, arranging my features carefully so she wouldn’t see how worried I was.
What was Abel thinking showing up at my house? And how had he found me? I had no idea he was still in the country!
‘He was a colleague…at work.’ I replied standing and dusting my dress.
‘You never mentioned a white man as a colleague,’ she said, eyeing me.
‘It never came up,’ I snapped, brushing past her to avoid her probing.
As I stepped into living room, I felt a wave of nausea hit me. My party was turning out to be more than I had bargained for what with old crushes showing up from nowhere and childhood husbands showing up with ex-prospective in-laws.
I spotted him immediately because of his colour even though he was flanked by two dark-skinned girls who seemed to be vying for his attention. Shaking my head, I approached him.
He still looked as attractive as he had two years ago, with his wavy brown hair and brown eyes. He looked fitter, wearing a t-shirt that showed off his abs.
‘Darling,’ he winked at me, reaching out to envelope me in a hug.
I couldn’t help the smile that touched my lips as I hugged him. I relaxed in his embrace, enjoying the warmth emanating from him.
‘What are you doing here?’ I mumbled against his chest.
‘Shhh. Let’s go somewhere and talk,’ he released me slightly then turned to wave at the girls he’d been talking to earlier, before taking me by the hand and leading me outside.
‘Why didn’t you call me when you didn’t get married?’ was the first question he asked as soon as we were settled outside.
‘Are you kidding me? Why would I do that?’ I jerked my hand away from his.
‘Because I’d have wanted to know. Did that occur to you?’
‘So you could gloat, right?’ I glared at him, my hands on my waist. ‘And what are you even doing here? Why aren’t you back in your country?’
‘I went back for a while then I got called for another program here. What? You ain’t happy to see me?’ he squinted.
‘I…it’s just…weird. I never expected to see you again.’
‘Did you get my gift?’ his eyes twinkled in that mischievous way I liked.
‘The jewellery. I can’t believe you remembered.’
‘Which one? Your birthday or the earrings you fell in love with?’
I looked up at him. ‘Both. You’re crazy Abe. Tell me…what are you really doing here?’
He was looking at me in a way that made me shiver. He reached out and touched my face, stroking it. His hand felt so good against my skin and I closed my eyes. He brushed his thumb against my lips and I opened my eyes.
‘I missed you terribly,’ his voice was husky now. ‘I just had to find you when I came back.’
I opened my mouth to say something but the words didn’t come, instead I moistened my lips.
We were standing so close and I knew that even though this was dangerous territory, I wanted it. I wanted whatever was going to happen to happen. It was my birthday after all, the dawn of a new era.
So I leaned forward, on my toes and pressed my lips to his.
Photo-Credit: https://www.macskasjatekok.net/