Besotted (18+) ✔️ [A Nigerian Romance]

Twenty Five

He'd imagined that after clearing the air between him and Ada, they'd finally talk about them and what happened two years ago. Chike had even imagined that after all the talking, maybe he would get his happy ever after with her, but no. Apart from the one time she'd mentioned it on that night, Ada had never brought it up.

And that was two whole weeks ago. After knowing that she could uproot him from her life as she liked, he'd lost the courage to chase her. He didn't want to be burnt twice, especially when he'd barely survived the last time.

"Guy, focus!" Azu slapped his back and Chike had to blink a few times to get his bearing. "You really have it bad because I managed to beat the ludo king." His friend looked down at the board game on the table between them, drawing Chike's attention to it.

How Azu had killed off all his pieces was a wonder. He blinked at the board and then looked up at his grinning friend. "You cheated."

"I didn't." Azu laughed. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Let's play again. I can't believe you won so easily," Chike replied, easily ignoring the question his friend asked.

"I'm not playing with you. You'll just drift off again."

"What do you mean drift off?" Chike asked and just then Ada came out of the house, a tray of freshly cleaned out fish in her hands. She gave him a small smile then joined Kachi at the grill. The man said something that caused her to laugh before dropping the tray.

"Exactly that." Azu snapped his fingers in front of his face. Apparently he'd been doing that for a while. "Instead of staring at her like a puppy each time you see her, why not talk to her? I'm sure she's as into you as you are."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said with a grumble.

"You almost melted when she smiled at you. Just like a total fan boy."

"Well, get used to it because there's nothing I can do about it. I'm not setting myself up for failure again."

"What's the issue here? She's back and she's hosting this barbeque to apologize to us. She also promised not to disappear like that again. Besides, you said she went through a lot and that you understood her leaving."

"I understand why she left. I don't understand how she could stay away for so long and without contact with me. Obviously, I care about her way more than she does about me."

Azu was silent for a few seconds, then a mischievous smile curved his mouth. "What if there is a way to find out how she feels about you?"

"Really not interested in anything you're trying to cook up, Azu. I'm done with the back and forth with her."

Just then, Ada's laughter rang out and he turned to see Kachi smiling at her. What was even so funny that she kept laughing? If Chike didn't know Kachi didn't see her like that, he'd have hit the man. It took a lot of control for him to remain seated as it was. Ada probably felt his stare and leveled one of her disarming smiles at him, and just like that, everything washed away.

"Man, you're in deep!" Azu patted his knee. "Just one smile and you look like you're ready to lay down at her feet."

"What are you talking about?" he snapped at Azu, eyes still on the female across the yard.

"Are you sure you are not interested in her? My offer to help won't last for so long."

"Fine." He drew his gaze back to his friend. "I hope this shit works."

"What's the fastest way to know if a woman is interested?"

"If I knew, do you think I'd be having this conversation with you?" Chike eyed his friend.