Naya and Vince

66

"You're finally awake." Vincent said to me as I walked into the kitchen. He was chopping cabbages and carrots on the kitchen counter. "I thought you were going to sleep forever."

My eyes moved to the wall clock in the kitchen. It was exactly twelve on the dot.

"My head feels like it would explode," I said heading to the fridge for a bottle of cold water.

Vincent chuckled. "You were drinking that thing like it was water. I was even scared for you."

I gulped down the water like a thirsty fish.

"Here," Vincent handed me a card of paracetamol I didn't know he had. "I knew you'd need it."

"Thanks," I said as I took it from him. I took out two tablets out and swallowed with water.

"Cornflakes or Chocoballs?" He asked me, placing a carton of each on the kitchen island with the stools.

"I can't even remember the last time I tasted these," I said walking back to island.

"Have both then. It tastes divine." He got a bowl and poured a portion of both into it. He opened one of the cabinets and got out a medium box of liquid milk.

"So. . .um. . . Stephen says he wants to come over this afternoon. Are you okay with that?" Vincent asked as he pushed the bowl and milk towards me.

I sat on a stool and poured some milk into the bowl of cornflakes and Chocoballs mix. "It's your house and he's your cousin."

"I was just thinking it would be weird for you."

"We can say we have a tutorial."

It was truly going to be weird for me. What would Stephen think if he saw me here? I was homeless? Or worse there was something between me and his cousin?

"On Sunday?" Vincent asked me.

I shrugged. I had thought of that immediately I suggested saying we had a session today. "I'd probably be gone before he comes."

"Gone?" Vincent sounded genuinely taken aback.

I swallowed a spoon of my meal and shot him a questioning look. "Yeah. Why do you sound disappointed?"

"I just didn't think you'd go today."

Oh, so he is disappointed. I don't know why that made me smile inside.

"Did I give the impression that I was staying for the weekend?" I asked reining in my smile. Then my eyes widened as realization set in. "Don't tell me I said something stupid when I was drinking."

I shook my head.

"I know I said something stupid anyways. What I mean is maybe something I was not aware of."

Vincent smiled. My paranoid mind made it seem like he was mocking me. "You were pretty much yourself, you know, just–"

"Don't remind me!" I pleaded. It was embarrassing enough that it had to be Vincent Adebayo.

Are you going to kiss me now?

Goodness, why on earth did I ask that cringe question?

Someone whooshed into the kitchen and squealed. "Nairobi!"

I jumped and choked on the cereal I was eating.

"Jesus!" Vincent exclaimed. He grabbed a glass, filled it with tap water and rushed over to hand me the water but I was getting myself already.

"I'm good. I'm good," I said beating my chest lightly.

Both of us turned to look at Constance who stood there eyes wide with innocence.