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Joanna's POV

“WHAT THE!” I HEARD Tony exclaim in shock from somewhere far back.

“Hey!” Ifeanyi shouted. “That’s rude you know!”

Giggling in reply, I added more speed to my legs so they wouldn’t be able to reach us even if they decided to run too.

“Race you to the suya spot,” Frank beamed as he sprinted past me.

My only retort was to scoff and speed up right behind him while I thought about how he could be a baby sometimes.

When I arrived a few seconds after him at the suya spot I noticed him holding a suya paper filled with pieces of suya that he was vigorously munching on as if his life depended on it.

I rolled my eyes and joined him, “you couldn’t even wait for your buddy?”

“Who says you’re my buddy?” he asked, his mouth full as he kept throwing suya pieces in it at every given chance.

“Ain’t you my buddy?” I polled a bit curious as to what we were.

“Nope.” He laughed, and I suddenly felt my heart stop, my breathing getting shallow, my eyes burning as my throat went dry.

“What?” I whimpered while I tried to stop the aching feeling in my chest.

“I said you’re not my buddy,” he spoke, breaking the remaining amount of resolve I had left. “You’re my best friend. My crush. My future girlfriend. And my future wife.”

“Awn!” I squealed suddenly as my heart swelled and a smile broke out on my face the same instant he stood slightly nervous like he felt I would reject his words. “Get in here.” I motioned, my arms wide open ready for an embrace.

A sense of warmth and safety settled in my being when his arms encircled me in a bear hug, squeezing me affectionately. I was so engrossed in the hug that I forgot where we were until we heard a throat clear beside us and made us pull apart.

“Your suya,” the old man grumbled as he handed me my suya after Frank paid for it.

“Let's go,” Frank spoke before he placed his palm on my back and led the way.

“Where to?” I blurted while I chewed and enjoyed the peppery meaty goodness called suya.

“Up there.” He gestured to the empty sitting area that had a rail ladder for someone to climb.

“I’m not hiking up there!” I yelled in panic as I imagined how stressful and draining that climb would be. Plus, I’m pretty lazy.

“Why?” he smirked. “Anyway, I bet it’s because you are not woman enough to--”

“Ohh,” I interrupted him as I heard a familiar song playing.

“Wha-”

“Ohh,” I stopped him again as I made out the song playing before I joined in, singing along.

“Wrote some books about T. Now I’m reading them. Even though we almost got married. It would have been too painful. Wish I could say thank you to A. Cus he was an angel. One taught me, love. One taught me patience. One taught me pain ... ”

I sang as I absently gyrated my hips and chewed on my suya.

“Is that not Thank You Next by Ariana Grande?”

“Yep.” I smiled as I continued dancing.

“Then why are you singing it that way?” he snickered and ran his hand through his dreadlocks.

“That’s my own version,” I replied when the song came to an end.

“Okay, let’s keep going.” He laughed, with a shake of his head.

“Nooo , I’m too lazy,” I whined like a three year old.

“How about I carry you?”

“Nah.” I shrugged and began mounting the steps. “Not that I won’t enYoy it but I would enjoy it too much I might forget myself and not let go.”

“Wow! You are really free spoken,” he voiced out, dumbfounded.

“You said it, free, speaking is free.” I winked as I huffed my way up the steps.

“We are here,” he spoke while gaLing down at me.

“Wooh! Finally!” I exclaimed when I reached the top. “Next time- you- are- carrying- me- even if I say no,” I blurted out of breath.

“It would surely be my pleasure,” he whispered in my ear, his husky breath leaving goosebumps on my skin.

I scoffed in response, not wanting to utter something intelligible, and made my way to the first available seat.

“Oo, what are we doing up here with no food?” I queried, a bit dramatically.

He rolled his eyes at my question before replying, “Because I wanted to talk to you.”

“And you couldn’t do it down there?” I polled, feigning annoyance.

“Hey! I needed a quiet place to talk to you,” He clamored, slightly scared.

“How am I sure you don’t want to kill me?” I inquired and folded my arms while I enjoyed the nervous expression on his face.

“You could tie me down if you want to,” Frank pronounced and raised his hands in mock surrender.

“I might just take you up on that.” I chuckled.

“Oo, can I talk now?” he implored staring straight at me.

“Talk all you want,” I replied in a sigh.

“Okay, Ana, I, I-” he stuttered.

“Keep going,” I urged. “But first let me make this easier for you.

What you said down there about me being your crush and your future girlfriend and wife did you mean all that?” I quizzed and blushed to which he nodded in reply.

“Use your words, bro,” I taunted.

“Firstly, don’t call me bro,” he gagged, “and secondly, yes I meant all that. I’ve always liked you from that first night.”

“What do you mean by you’ve always liked me?” You couldn’t just have started liking me,” I interrogated, a tad curious.

“That’s a story for another day,” he said, a faraway smile on his lips. “When I saw you at that party with your crazy friend what’s her name again?”

“Tenda.” I chuckled.

“Okay, yeah that’s it, when I saw you with her I knew who you were. When you walked up to me, I saw that you were slightly drunk. I couldn’t tell if I should laugh or just stare at you all night long. But we all knew which one I chose.” He smirked.

“When you ground on me, damn! It took all energy in me not to come right there and when we kissed? I saw stars. I wanted to take you right there but I knew it would be wrong.

But that decision was tempted when you twerked on me, that was why I had to drive you home immediately before I changed my mind.

“Even when I saw you sitting alone at that eaterie, I just knew I had to sit with you. And when we had our first real conversation, if you get what I mean, I couldn’t help but tell you it was me that night because I didn’t want to just be a one night adventure to you.

I actually expected you to give me a hot slap and storm out of there, but you surprised me. That was when I knew you were not like the others.” He shook his head.

I felt myself blush as he gave me an intense stare. My throat not able to form words.

“What I’m trying to say is, I felt an instant connection, not Yust physically but emotionally too.” He sighed. “I don’t know where this is leading, but I know I want to laugh with you. I want to dance with you. I want to fuck you.” He smirked, and I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, I really do,” he continued. “I also want to cuddle you, eat with you, play with you, and many more. It’s all left to you, babe. I’m down if you are.” He trailed a finger down my arm.

I giggled and blushed in reaction to what he had Yust said. The fact that I was speechless didn’t help my situation either.

“After that night, I wanted to see you again, because I’m not those people who forget what they did when drunk,” I announced, feeling a bit shy all of a sudden.

“When you came up to me at the eaterie, I knew you were familiar. And when you admitted it was you, I was angry and happy at the same time,” I murmured, laughing at my mixed emotions back then.

“Even though you annoy me, I feel that connection too. And I really want to explore it more and see where this leads,” I told, my teeth shining through my smile.

“Oo, more than a friend?” he asked, hope shining in his eyes.

“More than a friend,” I beamed and leaned in for a kiss.

When his lips touched mine, I felt at peace and excited at the same time. I couldn’t believe what I missed and how I survived this long without his lips.

I thought it wouldn’t get better, but it so damn did as he pulled my head closer and added more pressure, kissing me with so much intensity and fire that I could literally see stars and the freaking Milky Way behind my closed lids.

I moaned as his hands moved down and stroked my spine. This made me intertwine my hands with his dreadlocks as I bit his lips.

I felt goosebumps as he nibbled on my lower one and sucked on it hard that it caused a whimper to rip through my throat.

I slid my eyes open when he pulled away, ending the kiss.

“That was ... wow!” he sighed, a contented look in his eyes as he smiled at me. I was so dumbstruck by the turn of events that I just nodded and placed my head on his wide comfortable chest and reveled in the mind blowing kiss we just had.

Firstly, Frank was Ifeanyi’s cousin. I didn’t know why I didn’t notice the slight resemblance and the same surname.

Secondly, Frank was the Famous Francis James. The well-known bad boy according to the rumors I’d heard.

I should’ve been scared that I was more than a friend to the famous bad boy, but surprisingly, I felt secure around him.

I believed by not judging people by rumors. The little time I’d spent with him, I sensed a bad vibe, but I also knew he wouldn’t do things without reason.

The day was full of events and revelations. I liked how it turned out. I then sighed contentedly when I felt his lips brush my hair.

*******

Frank’s POV

May I have permission to do a happy dance? Yeah, I did. I couldn’t believe we were more than friends. When I planned this day, I had no idea it would end so perfectly.

I expected her to press me for answers when I slipped by saying I’d always liked her. But like always, she proved me wrong once more by respecting my privacy.

When she found out I was the Francis James, she didn’t freak out like I had anticipated.

I had many things to tell her. I also had many secrets to share with her, but the little scaredyBcat inside of me was pushing time.

I needed to take things slow, and that was why I was treading cautiously.

I thought I was in love with her at the time. However, I felt it was not the time to tell her yet as she was just beginning to like me more. Like I said I had to tread cautiously.

It was a real series of events, but I was happy with the last event. I smiled in contentment as I kissed her hair.