Chapter 5 Five

I held the mug of tea in my hand as I stood still and watched the eggs fry on low heat. A few seconds in, I laid the mug down on the countertop and flipped the frying egg over. When it had fried for five seconds tops, I turned off the cooker and took the pan out.

I took a frying spoon and scooped the fried egg into a plate then added four slices of bread I'd toasted earlier. Finishing up, I took the plate of food to the couch.

Just as I was about to have a bite of my sweet delicious breakfast, my phone rang. Slightly annoyed, I took the phone and answered the call without checking who it was.

"Kambili on the line" I stated with annoyance the moment the phone made contact with my ear.

"Bili!" I heard my mom's voice call out from the other end. She must have thought the way I greeted her was weird. Matter of fact, I didn't know she was the one calling.

"Mom!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Morning mom, how are you?" I asked immediately, trying to push the conversation forward.

"I heard that someone attacked you. Are you okay?" Even though she sounded nonchalant, she also sounded worried.

Attacked me? I thought. How did that happen?

"I don't understand," I uttered, because I didn't understand. Who attacked me, without me knowing who?

"Your sister told me. I just haven't had any chance to call you" she narrated.

"Gigi said that? Wait, mom. Did she really tell you I was attacked?" I asked my mom. I doubted Gigi would make up a story I didn't tell her since I never told her I was attacked because I was never attacked. I couldn't remember telling her anything of such.

"Ehhh. She said someone broke in...but, broke in, attacked, are they not the same?" She asked in her defense.

The thing is, my mom sometimes forgets that she was a mother to a practicing lawyer. I was ready to lecture her on one thousand and one differences between attacked and broke in–and with examples of course.

"Mom, they mean two different things," I replied.

"But are you fine? Did he hurt you? Do you need me to come?" She had even moved on with her wrong exaggeration.

"Mom. I'm fine. I'm thirty five which means I'm a grown adult." I rolled my eyes.

"It was just someone who brought me the food that I ordered online okay? I'm fine. Don't I sound fine?" I mean I had to ask. I'd already started doubting my own self.

"You don't listen. You just want to order everything online. Can't you cook for yourself? I taught you how to cook didn't I?" My mom battered on.

My mom was African. There was always something with African mothers and how fast they escalate things. So, I didn't blame her. I'd lived with that character for a good few years of my life.

"Mom, I'd just moved in then so I couldn't cook. But I'm fine now" I assured. Though a few days in and I still hadn't cooked.

"How's that place? Are the men there fine? Have you seen anyone you like?" She asked, magically switching from the initial topic at hand.

"The place is fine mom" I affirmed, ignoring the other questions that followed.

It was like my mom and my sister thought I was dying of loneliness. Because how did they think I'd be interested in looking at men everywhere I went. As a matter of fact, I didn't care about men at all. I did everything I should need a man to do for me all by myself. I'd done that for years even with Fred in the picture.

"But is there another reason you called? My toast is getting cold." I said. Well, for what it was worth, my mom wasn't a fan of cold meals and she in turn hated that for her children too.

"Just call me when you are done" she said. I think I heard her groan in terror before ending the call. I planned to call her back for real but I wasn't sure when that would be. I tossed the phone aside.

Finishing up my breakfast, I quickly went upstairs to get ready for work.

~~~

"Hey there," I heard someone call out behind me as I was shutting my front door to step out. I quickly turned and saw Ellen standing in my front yard. She wore the exact track I saw her on the other day except that it was a different color this time around.

She looked...well, the same as I saw her earlier nothing had changed. She was glowing in sweat and I wondered why she worked out if was that slim. I blinked my eyes and waved off the thought as I forced a smile.

"Hi"

"I see you are off to work. Wow, you look beautiful" she said with a very wide grin. I was going to say thank you but while I still thought about it, she started talking again.

"Well, since you are leaving already, I'll just get to it. Though I was wondering if we could catch up as neighbors" she offered.

I was never planning on accepting even if I didn't go to work. I'd rather stay in my house alone all by myself. But since I was leaving for work, the situation spoke for itself. A gave a knowing nod and stepped down from the front stairs that I was a bit closer to Ellen.

"Anyways, I live over there" she pointed at her apartment "I live with my son and..." she stopped whilst noticing the mood on my face. She just knew she had to get to whatever it was she stopped me for.

"Okay," she breathed out still with a smile "you don't want to hear all of that I suppose. So, the book club is meeting later today since we meet every Friday evening and I'm hosting" her hands flew up in the air. "You can come. I'll introduce you to the rest and you'll get to know everyone" she said

What even gave her a conviction that if she invited me I would be there. I mean wasn't a bookclub supposed to be for single lonely mothers or like divorced women trying to get over their divorce?

What was I?

Neither of them.

Anyways, I smiled at her. This time it was genuine but it wasn't a happy smile or "I'll see you later" kind of smile.

"I'd really loved to be there" I lied. "But, I'll be working late today. I'm so sorry. Maybe some other time" I told her. At least I considered her emotions so I didn't completely decline her offer of joining her club.

"That's alright" she sighed. She didn't look upset or sad "I figured you'd be this busy even on weekends but I'll just be there" she stretched her hand towards her apartment "just in case you need a friend" she exclaimed happily.

"Bye Bili" she said and ran off before I could say anything. I had changed my mind on having anyone else call me Bili and I was going to correct her but like I said, she ran off before I could even reply.

I walked over to my silver Lexus ES, pulled the driver's door and sat inside. I attempted to start the engine but it just purred for a few seconds and stopped. I tried again but it produced the same result. I tried like three more times but the same result.

Since I had to go to work, there was only one solution to my problem which was to start walking down to the bus stop since I didn't know any mechanic around. I let out a frustrating sigh, hoisted my jet black handbag off the passenger's seat and stepped out of the car as I angrily shut the door.

So annoying. I hated sweating so much and now I had to somehow deal with it on a work day. Oh, God. I hoped I wouldn't sweat till I got to the bus stop. I was also running a bit late for my morning meeting.

I'd barely made it halfway to the bus stop when a black SUV pulled up beside me as the car window gently went down to review the driver inside.

"Not in the mood to drive today?" He asked. I ignored him and kept walking. The car kept following beside me.

"And our meeting is like in..." he looked at his wrist watch "in five minutes. I'll probably get there before you do"

I ignored him. The only thing on my mind was how to get to the bus stop without sweating. No matter how handsome James was, he was wrongly becoming unbearable.

"Hop in, I'll give you a ride" he finally said.

I secretly let out a sigh of relief. Thank God I wouldn't have to walk to the bus stop. Then again my pride was always to remind of his presence.

"Don't worry. I'm fine on my own." I protested.

I heard him chuckle "what? The sun is getting hot. And the sun here is not one you want to be friends with. It could peel your skin off" he said.

As much as his words sounded scary, I didn't want to get into his car. I didn't reply. I just kept walking.

"C'mon. Don't be difficult... and wicked to that pretty skin of yours" he said.

I stopped walking and looked at him then at the road ahead of me. "Let me take you please" he grinned "since I'm going your way"

Without any response, I quickly turned to the passenger side. I opened the door and hopped in. The smell of Sandalwood and cinnamon filled my nostrils. The scent of this man is addictive.

"You look beautiful" he said, barely speaking out the last syllable of the word beautiful as if he didn't mean to speak out.

"Thanks" I replied "for giving me a ride" I added. Though that wasn't the reason I thanked him. I was saying thanks to his compliment.

"It's nothing. What happened to your car?" he asked.

"My car broke down this morning.

The atmosphere was quiet for a few seconds when he suddenly cleared his throat and said "are you free tonight?"

I thought about it, am I free?

I was going to say 'no, I'm not why?' but then, I made the mistake of looking at him. His hair looked messy this time just like the first day I'd seen him.

And I loved it.

He wasn't wearing a suit today but a long sleeve white shirt and a black leather watch.

He had his left hand on his lap and his right hand on the steering. He looked so forbiddenly hot. He suddenly licked his lips and my throat immediately dried out seeking help from his already wet pink lips. Then I totally forgot how to talk in that instance.

How was it that a man born of a woman could be that handsome? He was so focused on the road as he drove while waiting for me to respond.

"Babe?" He suddenly called out.

Babe? I looked around the car but was convinced that it was just the two of us.

Babe?

But fuck it.

I loved it.

I loved the way it made me feel. I know I've been called babe multiple times in my life but the way this man said babe made me want to bear that name for life.

"Yes. I'll be" I replied slowly without thinking.

"Great. I'll pick you up by 8" he said and that's when I realized how big of a mistake I'd made. I could take back my words or proceed with the date.