e from the back of the truck. Nothing developed his strength better and a sense of freedom than mountain biking. He fl

et and tapped his bike handles. "What's up with you, w

Ismail said tigh

o-mouth prank. After all, he was making progress, and she d

cks asked while looking at Ismail with raised ey

type, moreover it

omen don't stand a chance." Chucks climbed on his bicyc

later on and try to change her mind with more flowers. She'd come around

s and shrubs scattered around. Chucks was several yards ahead of him, whooping and

one rang. He answered it, not being able to look at th

uwa, his twenty-four-year-o

re am I? I'm in Jos, w

think you're too

mped hard up a steep incline and rounded a bend near a clearing. The unbroken view of the majestic rock formations

p at the airport, so

alking about?" Don't

gateman. He won't let me

. It was typical of his family to spring s

will that be Hauwa? "Haba

Ismail braked to join him. "Wh

's at my a

going to interfere with your

nd spoke to his sister

n. The phone was handed back to Hauwa, and he heard he

ave rules,"

mess. How'll you ever get a

ohol. I don't care if you're over twenty-one. No drinking, no smoking, no

ke your bed. Is tha

r thing; you get the guest room." Ism

'm calling Ma to let her know I

ve at least c

ant to talk to her, you call. She's still pi

e news flash.

led his eardrums. "What the heck are you doing? Acting like a fool. Riding bik

His family thought they knew what was best for him: law school, a high-paying

d as much from their parents as he did, maybe mor

keep training," he said

tric division in 2040."

en Jos wasn't far enough from the

times he came for shots, he got Chizzy, the petite Igbo nurse with the heart-shaped f

him. "Mai Haka, Can't you read the sig

iss Shehu. Is sh

les." The nurse guided Ismail across the

ionist spoke Hausa into the phone. She hung up

r nurse to the receptionist

. "I'm Nanlop. These flowers are

a personal note." Ismail set the vase do

scooted her rolling ch

hree displays of dried flowers lay underneath the table with

d ignoring him. Ismail' face heated. He'd been wasting his time. He

ty lips, and a creamy ebony complexion. Maybe his mother was right. He needed to find a respectable woman at a local masjid. She'd alre

appointment?" a nu

oming around the corner. The tray she was carrying dropped

nt to pick them up and bu

ehu. "You made me drop

nded them to her, and she fit

for your shot

a pest, sending her flowers. If his sister ever found out about

als in place. "Will you be by later? You can'

e picked up the tr

I was fine until a certai

owed her through

er I put these in the refrigerator?" She took the tray from him and we

s on his jeans. A twenty-eight-year-old man acting like a starstruck adolescent

time, he wore a short-sleeved button down shirt so he wo

ty or funny, but the words wouldn't come. She hadn't acknowledg

measure his airflow, and he blew the

arely blow three hundred." She stuck a syr

rm. "I don't know why I

a bad day." Her eyebrows cre

d into y

the last nurse you wan

arm, and she rubbed it with alcohol

container. "Don't tell me you're feel

ought you flowers, but ... I

"I'm not sure what y

ulled to get your attention. I

rrassed me. I'm not some kind of

to clot the blood. The adrenaline i

"I worked hard to get my degree and earn a spot

even read

er a

nd beckoned for his attention. "She likes chocola

o you have any Cats or dogs? It's

y training sche

?" She injected him,

rain kids for the Para Olympics and

hing. Do you enjoy working with them? And do y

enthusiastic. When you help them achieve a goal, it's like you're on top of Mt. Evere

." Her gaze lingered on him while she dr

, and when she gave him the last shot, it felt like the needle barely pricked him. His confid

"Bring me the notes with the f

o Nanlop's desk, surprising Nan

e announced. "And s

s. "Trust me, I'm much mor

bly did make good massa and kunun gaida. He picked the card

earing the envelopes off the plastic holders. "Here you go. A

hy

gets. She bent closer and cupped her hand to one side of her mouth. "Rumor has it she's sworn off sex. She and Chi

the allergy clinic. "How long d

roposal, with an engagement ring and a

e opening to the Nanlop's waiting area an

n." Nanlop's voice si

. Not having sex could make anyone prickly, although today,

de as Aminat's mouth twisted i

rting with he

ded her the notes. "You were

. "You want cold? I'll treat

order of dark chocolate truffles to be delivered to the allergy clinic. After