eat from her neck as she stared at her kitchen. What possessed me to invite him over? she

agreed on "around 2 pm." It was now quarter past. Ada fiddled with her hair, then her earrings,

ped. She opened it, and there he was - Tolu, wearing a white

t, so..." he sai

teased, stepping

on the table. "A woman refused to pay exact fare. D

ion easing. "Welc

-

tiny balcony overlooking other people's balconies. Tol

you mean,"

ou actually live here. Pho

so she motioned to the kitc

andled the tomatoes. She stole glances at him: focused brow, quiet hum under his br

often?"

it into me early. 'A woman must not star

y survive on noodles, bread,

d. "You're

-

him about a failed dance performance in secondary school - ho

y to see that vid

" she shot ba

eep in church and snoring loud enough to wake

rich with pepper and small chunks of beef. To

-

ughter &

t first, then Ada broke it: "So, ph

s twelve. Took blurry photos of everything: goats, plants, my

aid softly. "To love

s. "What about you? A

stly, I just wanted to tell storie

red a qu

, Tolu teased, "Spaghett

Ada shot back, r

e admitted

m lightly. "You're

-

e. "I'm not a child," she protested, but let him anyway. Chocolate smeared at the corner

hammering. Tolu's hand dropped quickly, and

a whispered, vo

-

tor &

kwardness when Ada's phone buzz

ained. "She was suppo

through: "Babe, I'm around your side o!

argue, Zara had

ergency?"

nergetic,"

g in with bright lipstick, a loud la

et fine guest?" she teased imm

olu. Tolu, meet

e smile fixed. "N

Nice to meet you too! Ada, you didn't

riend a glare,

-

bing & Tol

egan firing questions. "So, Tolu

Ada. "Just... friends. F

hat did that mean? She fe

ws, smirking. "For

half-died inside.

tiny spark that danced in

-

o "buy airtime," leaving Ada and Tolu alon

able with her finger. "Sorry

u chuckled. "She

mitted softly. "So

studying her. "She's no

meeting his gaz

s," he said

-

Are

r throat ti

y. "I know it's fast. But... I like talkin

er heart, traitorous thing, beat

g around you to

it wasn't awkward.

s eyes. "Good. We can fig

, breathle

-

l Je

returned, dropping onto the sof

Ada said,

d y

hen whispered, "

Then don't over

ys the girl who almost f

" Zara protested, h

. They both laughed, laug

-

ing

back over her shoulders, staring at

bout lunch. And the hoo

gain. And sorr

. She's loyal.

"Sh

leep wel

ou too,

arly. Maybe they'd crash and burn. But for now,