shifted from foot to foot, her wet hair dripping onto her handbag. She'd planned to run for a ke

, two good morning messages, and a meme about Lagos traffic that he'd sent. She liked that he made her laugh, even from

ed behind her. She turned and saw Tolu in a silver Corolla,

called, voice mu

grinned, "Yes, please!" and jogged over, splashing t

he car smelled of soft cologne and faintly o

other rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "

agreed, seatbelt c

-

ers squeaked rhythmically across the windshield, and outside, danfos stil

old," Tolu

ed, hugging her ha

ulling out a small, slightly fray

anks. You saved me twice now-f

e teased, glancing at her with a quick

warm, familiar. It was too big for her, the sleeves hanging over her hands, but s

lready?" he laughed. "Okay... amal

. "I knew it! You look like som

ty," he chuck

jollof, the smoky kind. A

defenses of favorite meals. Outside, rain still poured, but

-

gba, Tolu turned to her, suddenly q

she replie

ur happies

maybe the time my dad took me to Bar Beach when I was little. Just me and him, no siblings, no n

eet," Tolu

rn," she

dance competition. She'd practiced for weeks, almost gave up. When they

s softened at the memory. She liked this sid

-

ime they reached Suruler

id. "I'm meeting a fri

he interrupted,

fore getting out. "Thanks for the

lu offered. "

ing faster than she'd

" he replied

e taillights fading into Lagos evening. She fel

-

ie against her chest. She scolded herself for being so soft, so

e: "Got home safe. Tha

dots appeared: "Any

muffle the sound. Lagos had given her stress, sweat,

-

end: Lagos Ma

hether to rain or shine. Ada had agreed-somewhat impulsively-to meet Tolu at the I

herself glancing at every passerby, searching for him. Re

r, camera bag slung across his ch

" Ada replie

e enough to the window to watch the crowd below. Ada t

erful," he defe

-

Tolu took out his camera. "Mi

overed her face. "N

"before your jollof a

hands, rolling h

her the screen. It wasn't posed; she was mi

iculous," s

al," he corr

cheeks, quickly hiding b

-

lu's amala and ewedu. They teased each other's choices, shared

pologizing between laughs. "You real

lp," she protested, but the wa

-

tle stand selling phone cases.

ecorated with tiny gold stars.

stars remind me that Lagos

he said,

him a keychain-tiny yellow danfo

oice soft, turning the small

ll, side by side, neither

-

Conver

r couch, hoodie still over her

you get

danfo bus is alr

od. It s

ur jollof ski

n't even tast

When do I ge

eart skitteri

weekend. But you'

: "D

ing, smile refusing to fade. She could already picture