Always Yours (Lagos Romance Series) by Somi Ekhasomhi Page A

muddy water as another one sped by. I almost screamed with impatience and annoyance, I had an article to write, I didn’t want to be stuck in traffic.
    My phone was lying on the passenger seat. I sighed tiredly as it started to ring then smiled in delight when I saw that it was Michael. I pressed the button on my headset still smiling idiotically “Hello, runaway Nigerian” I said teasingly. “Are you back in your motherland yet?”
    He chuckled deeply. “I can’t be a runaway Nigerian if I’m already back. Can I?”
    “So you’re back!” I said.
    “Yes.” He replied. “I’m stuck at the airport waiting for my driver; he says he’s stuck in traffic, still around Obalende .”
    “That’s far” I said, as I drove forward a car length, then stopped again. “If the traffic on the bridge is anything like it is on the mainland, you’ll be waiting till 9.pm.”
    “ Arghhh .” He said. “I know. I already checked on Gidi_Traffic . It seems the rain has brought Lagos to a standstill.” He paused. “Where are you anyway?”
    “I’m approaching Allen Roundabout” I said. “I’ve been in Ikeja all day doing interviews.”
    “ Hmmn .” He said. “Allen roundabout” I could almost hear his smile. “That’s not far from here at all.” He paused. “So anyway, how did your interviews go?”
    “Fine” I replied. “Really great.” I laughed inwardly. Just ask me already! I exclaimed silently.
    “That’s good” he said. “You know Allen is really not that far from the international airport.” He continued seriously.
    “Really” I said straight-faced. “Imagine that”
    “Actually, it’s kind of close, it probably wouldn’t take up to thirty minutes for someone on Allen to get to the airport, especially to help a friend in need. The friend would feel extremely lucky”
    “Hah!” I said laughing. “You’re wasting time. Beat the bush”
    He burst out laughing. “Beat the …. What? You’re unbelievable” he paused. “OK please can you branch at the airport and pick me up? Thank you.”
    “Already on my way” I told him, still laughing. “Be there as soon as I can.”
     
    It took a while. It was already close to 7 pm when I finally drove up the ramp, luckily he didn’t have any luggage, just a suitcase that he threw in the back seat before he jumped into the passenger seat.
    “Hey.” He said, smiling broadly. “Thanks for coming.”
    I batted my eyelashes at him. “We aim to please.”
    “We?” He turned to look at the back-seat. “I’m only strong enough for one.”
    I narrowed my eyes and tried to look stern. “You have a bad mind Mr. Ade-Cole. Please do not corrupt me.”
    “Noted.” He smiled mischievously. “But seriously, thanks. I know how tired you must be.”
    I shook my head. “It was no problem, but you’re welcome”
    He nodded and leaned back on the seat, sighing. “ Meeeeen ! I’m tired.” He exclaimed. “And hungry.”
    “ Sowee ” I said. “If we pass by any hawkers I’ll buy you Gala and a Coke.”
    “Or La Casera .” He laughed as I gave him a look. “What!” He protested. “It’s been a while since I had it.”
    “Na you know” I said. I concentrated on the road, while he busied himself with trying to find music he liked among my CD’s.
    “So how was the trip?” I asked when we hit another patch of traffic at Oshodi .
    He shrugged. “It was good.” He said. “A lot of work, but it was fine.”
    I nodded. So it was a work trip after all, not a getaway for him and his fiancée. I was relieved, a little guilty, but relieved all the same.
    “So how is Folake?” I asked. I knew I was fishing for information, information with the potential to hurt me, but I couldn’t stop myself.
    “She’s fine.” He said slowly, dragging out the words. I turned to look at his face, but there was nothing in his expression that I could read. I turned back to the road.
    We were both silent for a few minutes. I wondered what he was thinking. Why had