Chapter twenty four

Chapter 24

"Hey. I'm outside your building. What's your room number again?" I asked Tife on the phone, when I got to his house.

His voice sounded groggy. "Nara?"

"Yes it's me. Stop sounding so disappointed." I rolled my eyes. He sounded sleepy and it made me wonder if I was intruding.

"I'm not. I'm just pretty tired. I had a big case today, so it drained a lot in me."

"Oh. Well I'll just—"

He responded almost immediately. "2nd floor. Room 32. That's where I live."

"I'll be there in a minute. So don't try to disappear."

He chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."

I took the elevator and looked through the door number, till I finally stopped at it, and rang the door bell.

It didn't take up to a second for him to respond, and there he was, leaning against the door and looking so damn handsome. I fought the urge to lean over and kiss him, so instead I looked round his apartment. "Nice house."

"Nice" was just me putting it mildly considering how lavish the apartment looked. I guess being rich did give you the upper edge.

He shrugged. "It's just my little place. How did you get my address?"

I said plainly. "Your sister."

"Guessed as much. What would you like to drink. Water? Beer? Fresh juice?"

"I'm actually good. I don't think I'm staying for long. I have some stuff to do at home afterwards."

He nodded, but I noticed he was trying to avoid making eye contact with me, and it made me wonder. "We need to talk."

He locked his eyes with mine. He offered a small nod. "That we do."

"It's pretty childish of you to ghost me, after what happened between us that other day. I didn't even know when you left, and that hurts, especially since we are supposed to be friends. I know it might mean nothing to you, but I'd like to feel acknowledged, rather than being treated like a tool."

He shifted in his weight. His face turned wary. "I sincerely apologize. I should have. I just really didn't want to complicate the friendship we have. You have no idea how many times I wanted to call you, but I was worried that I'd end up sounding like an idiot."

"You want things to be platonic? I thought there was some form of chemistry between us, and it'd be crazy not to try to explore it."

With a frustrated sigh, he said. "You're my sister's best friend. I just can't do that with you. I always tend to mess things up. God knows I do. If things go bad between us, I wouldn't want to hurt you. I've played everything in my head, and I'm not good with long term relationships, and I know you, Nara. You're all about longevity. I'd hate to put you through anything, especially since our lives are entwined."

"So you're scared that you'd break my heart, because you're a screw up? Well, news flash, you already did that many years ago, but I got over it, just like I got over all my painful break ups. I'm old enough to worry about myself."

He sighed again. "Nara, I just can't. I won't forgive myself if I did."

"Why would you think that you'd screw us up? It's not like you are already planning to." My nose scrunched up.

"Some people don't do well with long term relationship. I'm part of that. I just want to be honest, before it gets too late."

I narrowed my eyes. "I feel like you're hiding something from me."

He raked his hand down his hair. "Stop it, will you? I just need you to understand my point. Let's be friends. It's what we are, so why should we make it any more uncomfortable?"

I hesitated. I placed a simple kiss on his cheek, then said. "If that's what you want."

His eyes lingered on my face, before closing and opening it in a split second. He gave me the quickest smile I've probably ever seen in my entire life. "Ready for Friday?"

Despite not being happy with him changing the subject, my excitement at thought of Friday took over. "I miss going to your family's beach house, so it's kind of a relief going there."

"Victor's coming. What are you going to do about it? Don't tell me you're going to keep him hanging around. I need to tell her. He needs to be stopped."

"Did he do something?"

"My dad got him a job at a law firm after feeling guilty about the whole Mrs. Simbiat fiasco." He added wryly. "Your plan ended up getting him a job at a top firm in Lagos. Congratulations."

I gaped. "What? I thought he was self employed and all that shit. Now he wants a job?"

Tife shrugged. "I don't know what he told Imade, but she told mom, and mom told dad, and now, he has a freaking job."

"He really is a sneaky bastard."

Tife frowned slightly. "What do you want to do now?"

"Give me a couple of days. I'll think of something. I just need a little time, and if it doesn't work, then we'd tell her, whatever the risk. We can't let her make a deeper mistake with him any longer."

Tife heaved in relief. "Good. I'm glad you agree. It's getting harder and harder not to want to punch his damn face."

I grumbled. "Tell me about it. He's a piece of shit."

Tife's face softened. "It's going to be fine."

"I'm upset Imade didn't even tell me about helping to get him a job. We had gotten so many steps forward, and it hurts that it's going some steps backward because of it."

"Maybe she knows that you'd disapprove."

"Still. She owed me that much of the truth."

He cocked his head. "Maybe you ought to tell her in person."

"Maybe I ought to."

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