Hopelessly Bound: Book 2 in the Bound series

Chapter 9

 I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is. – The Foreigners                  

Two days later, Zainab found herself clad in a gorgeous lacy turquoise mermaid-style dress that flowed to the ground and pooled around her feet. A blue turban with a gleaning gold brooch was wrapped around her head and a thin veil was pinned on it. Her outfit was complemented by matching accessories. 

She turned away from the mirror and her eyes stopped on Danladi who was on the opposite side of the room. She watched as he donned his navy blue babban Riga and placed the traditional Hausa cap on his head. Her stomach flipped as he looked up and their gazes locked for several minutes. 

He gazed at her with an unreadable expression shimmering in his eyes. 

A sudden knock on the door broke the spell and Zainab whirled to the side. 

"Am I interrupting something?" Rakiah asked with a smile playing on her lips. 

"No, you are not," Zainab mumbled with lowered eyes. 

"It didn't look like it." 

Zainab's face warmed and she shuffled on her feet. 

Rekiah chuckled and stood in front of her.   "That aside; you look exquisite in this outfit." 

"Thank you." Zainab looked at her and smiled. "You look beautiful as well." 

She admired Rekiah's teal one-shoulder dress with a matching shawl wrapped around her shoulders. 

Rekiah grinned and said thank you. She pranced across the room to where Danladi stood wearing his wristwatch. "You look dashing, bro."

"That's nothing new," he remarked with a smirk. 

Rekiah laughed and Zainab rolled her eyes.  

"Don't mind him," Rakiah told Zainab. "He's not as conceited as he tries to portray himself." 

Zainab sent her a slight smile but she wasn't convinced.  

Danladi produced an annoyed sigh and slid his hands into his pockets. "Did you only come to make conversation?"

Rakiah shook her head with twinkling eyes. "I came to call you guys down for your grand entrance. The guests are excited to meet the latest couple in town." She beamed.  

Zainab's shoulders dropped and butterflies danced around in her stomach. Meeting a sea of guests was the last thing she was prepared for.  But a bride couldn't be absent from her wedding reception. 

"We better get it over and done with," he said and sauntered towards the door.  

Zainab pulled up her dress and hurried after him. Rakiah fell into step beside her. Their heels clicked against the marble tiles as they ambled down the stairs to the hall where the guests waited.  

The trio stopped in front of a massive door, made from exquisite materials and radiating grandeur. Danladi did the honours and swung the door open.  

Zainab's breath hitched and a shiver coursed through her.  

"Don't be nervous." Rakiah patted her arm and slipped inside.  

"Please welcome our newlyweds, Mr and Mrs Danladi Yakubu." Danladi's father announced. 

Zainab moved to stand beside Danladi and their arms brushed.  He glanced at her with dark eyes. "Let's go." 

This is it!

Raise your head and straighten your back.  The voice of her communication skills teacher drifted to mind. 

She straightened her back,  raised her head and strutted into the hall, being mindful not to walk faster than Danladi.