On a Cold Evening

Part Eight

That weekend Flora, Mandy and Andrea went out to lunch in one of the popular bustling lounges in Lagos, as they sipped on their over-priced cocktails, Flora recounted her mind boggling experience with her boyfriend.

"Girl, you are living the life!" Mandy hailed, wiggling her brows suggestively as Flora blushed. She had left Greg's place nearly floating on clouds as she headed home.

"Thank God that Greg has stepped up his game o! If not, e for bad" Drea added, and they giggled in unison. They had all worn sun dresses, and a bit of make-up to highlight their features. Drea had worn a wig, a short pink sun dress with floral patterns which complimented her petite frame and fair skin to perfection.

Flora wore a white alterneck sundress with white frills at the hem. Her curvy bum lifted the back of the dress making it appear shorter than it was. Mandy, on the other hand stole the show in her orange wrap dress with polka dot patterns. Her voluptuous figure and full breasts were covered but unfortunately difficult to miss as she entered the lounge.

A waiter approached their table with a note, which Mandy paid no mind because she didn't expect it to be for her, but to her surprise, the waiter handed her the note and motioned with his head to a handsome full-bearded, bald older man, sitting on a table far behind them.

Mandy stole a glance and looked away immediately, feeling suddenly shy. The note read, "you are breathtaking". Drea dragged the note from her and smiled suggestively as she passed the note to Flora. Soon, their discussions were entirely forgotten as her friends teased her endlessly.

They ordered another round of cocktails and barbecued fish, and as they waited, Mandy fought hard not to hide under the table. She could feel the strangers gaze burning into the back of her head, and it was making her nervous.

"Let's leave this place," Mandy begged, completely unsettled by the stranger's attention.

"Is this girl mad? No be you wey konji want destroy for here? You don see man dey run," Drea whispered, humbling Mandy immediately. She knew that her friend was being honest, but sometimes her she was too blunt for her own good.

"Don't mind her. Na until your mama catch you with cucumber before you go get sense" Flora added. They were completely tired of Mandy's shenanigans. Always talking about wanting a man, but as soon as a man showers her with atte nation she literally withdraws into her shell.

"Ah, ah! Why una dey enter me like this now? Don't you find it scary that he is just staring at me," Mandy replied.

"Aunty, that is what men who are interested do. Have you forgottyen how I met Greg? At the club! So, stop being stock up and smile at the handsome stranger." Flora retorted.

"Leave am! Konji never kill am, na why" Drea continued with mocking laughter. Mandy just sat in defeat as her friends laughed. She knew they were  being honest, but she had social anxiety, and it was even made worse when people she wasn't comfortable with interacted with her.

They finished their meal, and when they called for the bill, the waiter told them that the stranger had offset the bill.  He handed her a card, and told her that the stranger asked him to give it to her. She looked at the black card with gold prints. His name was James, and he was a business consultant. She turned to look at him again, but he was gone. He had probably left while they ate.

"You see? Only a sensible man would do this, and he is clean o. Better call him before grass grows in your lonely coochie" Drea added with a hoot of laughter. She was having a splendid time at the expense of her friend.

After their date, Mandy went home with thoughts of the handsome stranger in mind. She wondered if she could be bold enough for once in her life and call him. What options did she have? Her ex had cheated, and she never entertained other men while they dated. She also never left the house except on few occasions like this one, so it wasn't like she had a catalog of men to choose from.

Days had passed, and Mandy was still unsure what to say if she were brave enough to call him. Drea had suggested that she just tell him thank you for settling the bill and let him steer the conversation from there. Deciding to take her friends advice, Mandy made the call, and her heart skipped with every single ring.

"Hello?" His raspy voice weakened Mandy at the knees and stole the voice from her throat. Out of panic, she hung up, but after a few minutes he called back, and this time, she spoke.

"Hi, it's the girl from Grey's Lounge. We saw two days ago" She said.

"Oh, I have been expecting your call," His diction was flawless, and his voice made it even more captivating. He didn't seem like he was bred in the country. Although, his surname "Okafor" spoke of his igbo roots.

"Yeah...um, I wanted to thank you for settling our  bill. That was very kind of you" Mandy continued, filling her stomach quake with something akin to desire when he let out a loud bark of laughter, his deep, raspy voice sending shivers down her spine.

"It's not a problem. It wasn't really a kind gesture since I had alterior motives," he continued.

"And what was your motive?" Mandy asked. At this point, she was already twisting her fingers around a strand of hair, and her legs on the wall above the head of her bed. It had been a while since she spoke to a man like this, and she had nearly forgotten how good it felt.

"I wanted to get to know you....uhm..."

"Mandy," She offered when she realized he was asking for her name. They continued to talk, breaking through the introductory phase, and  before she even realized, they had spoken for over an hour.

The next few days continued in the same manner, and they talked for several minutes on each of those days. His calls soon became routine, and she even became bold enough to call at random times in the day to "check on him" when in truth she just wanted to hear his mesmerizing voice.

"Go on a date with me" He said when she called him. That day at school, she couldn't wait to tell her friends. In fact, he was the only person she had been speaking about for the last week, and as much as her friends were happy for her, they were worried. Nigerian men would take you to the moon and send you crashing faster than a faulty plane. The last thing they needed was their friend heartbroken again...the last time was not pleasant.

"Guy, better no go love like mugu o! Na Lagos man you dey deal with o. They have honeyed tongues and black hearts" Drea said, having long since given up on love after her first and last heart break.

"Mandy, listen to Andrea. Some men are chameleons. Once they fuck, the attention will become nearly non-existent" Flora added, but their comments irritated Mandy. For the first time in nearly two years, she felt alive again. She had listened to all their tales of love and whatnot without judgement, why did they suddenly feel the need to spoil her happiness.

"Do you guys think I am dumb or what? I may not be as experienced as the both of you, but I am not a fool, okay? I know what I am doing" Mandy replied, walking out angrily. Her friends stared after her, surprised that quiet Mandy had raised her voice at them, over a man nonetheless.

Mandy rushed home after class, wanting to get ready for her date before James would come and pick her up. They hadn't had any sexual conversation yet, but she could sense the sexual chemistry crackling between them over the phone. If she were lucky, this handsome igbo man would finally e the cobwebs from her cunt.