Chapter 79 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

Bryan hissed angrily as he waited for her to get back while wondering where Matt had gone to, and why he hadn’t come over to find out why Sonia had been trying to break down his door.. What sort of crazy lady was she? Bryan wondered, feeling sorry for himself and the bad luck that had made him propose to someone like her.

Benne lay on the couch as he thought about what Bryan had told him earlier. Sonia’s brother had committed suicide because of Celsie? What sort of relationship did they have for him to have done that? Was that why she wasn’t interested in guys? Was she still mourning him? He couldn’t help feeling very concerned and curious. He really wanted to know more about her.

He picked up his phone when it started ringing, and sighed when he saw Harry’s name displayed on the screen, “Don’t you have something better to do with your time?” Benne asked dryly once he received the call.

Harry scoffed at that, “You hurt my feelings,” he said in a mocking tone as he paced around his living room aimlessly, “What are you doing right now? Let’s hand out,” Harry suggested, since he was very bored and in need of company.

“I know you don’t know much about ladies, but that is a line you reserve for ladies, not me. You need to go out more and…”

“I learnt something new about Miss Miller today,” Harry said, interrupting Benne whose ears perked up immediately at the mention of Celsie.

“What is that?” Benne asked eagerly, unable to hide his curiosity.

Gotcha! Harry thought with a smirk, “If you come over to my place within the next thirty minutes, I will tell you,” Harry offered, making a scowl appear on Benne’s face.

“Why can’t you just say it over the phone?”

“Because I’m bored and I’d rather tell it to you over a game of Soccer or Mortal Kombat. It’s been long we did that,” Harry suggested with a grin.

“I’m not in the mood for games.”

“Then let’s have a nightcap and maybe you can sleepover. How about that?” Harry asked making Benne narrow his eyes suspiciously.

“Why do I feel like you have nothing important to say to me and I’m just going to waste my time by visiting you?”

“You will never know if you don’t come, will you?” Harry asked, hoping Benne would bite the bait and come keep him company, “Plus we need to talk about some other important work stuff as well,” Harry added, knowing that was the extra motivation Benne would need to be on his way.

“Work? What work stuff?”

“Don’t you think you are asking me too many questions? Do I even need to give you reasons to come over to my house when I want to see you? You know what? If you’re going to come, then be on your way. If not, then goodnight!” Harry snapped at him impatiently and hung up before Benne could say anything else.

Benne glanced at his phone in surprise wondering why Harry was acting up all of a sudden. He contemplated Harry’s invitation for only a minute before ordering for a taxi ride. He walked into the bedroom and picked up a t-shirt and three-quarter shorts from his luggage which he was yet to unpack. Once he changed into the clothes he walked out of the house.

He stopped in front of Celsie’s door and briefly contemplated checking on her before leaving. He raised his hand to the door, and dropped it at the last minute, deciding it was best to let her be for the evening. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe she would think about him more if he didn’t bother her for some time. He wouldn’t text, call, nor show up in front of her until it was time for their dinner date. With that thought in mind, he walked away.

“Hey!”

Benne turned around when he heard Jasmine’s voice, and saw her smiling and waving at him as she walked up to him with Alicia beside her, “Hey!” He greeted back awkwardly.

“Looks like you’re going out,” Alicia observed as she looked at him with gleaming eyes.

“Yeah. Need to meet up with a friend,” Benne said, not knowing what else to say to the ladies. It seemed like he never really had much to say to ladies unless it was Celsie. He had realized that he seemed to always have something to say only to her.

“Cool. Alicia and I were planning to bring some pies over to your house to welcome you to the neighborhood officially. I’m so glad the other couple moved out. They were never really friendly and always looked down on us,” Jasmine said, wrinkling her nose distastefully as she thought about the previous occupants of Benne’s apartment who were homophobic.

Benne’s heart skipped a beat when he realized that they could blow his cover if Celsie so much as found out that she had even moved into the neighborhood before him.

How was he going to explain to her that it was mere coincidence that he had moved into not just the same neighborhood, but the same building with her the next day after their one-night stand? Or how he had also gotten a job as her driver two days later? Celsie seemed to be a very deep thinker, and he wasn’t sure she would buy whatever story he would give her.

“There won’t be any need for that. And I will appreciate it if you don’t let Celsie… I mean my boss. Don’t let her know I recently moved into the neighborhood,” Benne said with a pleading smile, and both ladies exchanged a look.

“Why not?” Alicia asked curiously, and Jasmine giggled in embarrassment as she jabbed Alicia’s side with her elbow to stop her from asking him such a personal question.

“Sure. We won’t say a word to her,” Jasmine said much to Benne’s relief, as he wasn’t sure what excuse he would have given.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. So how about we invite you over for dinner?” Jasmine asked hopefully.

Benne scratched the back of his ear, “Sorry. I’m not sure I will be coming back tonight,” Benne said with an apologetic smile.

“No. Definitely not tonight. We are asking about tomorrow. Will you be available?” Alicia asked hopefully.

“I already have dinner arrangements for tomorrow,” Benne said with a wince.

“Oh-oh!” Alicia exclaimed sadly and her face fell in disappointment, thinking Benne didn’t want to have dinner with them.

“What about Sunday night?” Jasmine asked, looking at him with hopeful eyes as she didn’t want Alicia who was looking forward to the dinner to be disappointed.

“Sunday? Can I think about it?” Benne asked thoughtfully.

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