Chapter 7

            Cushane's pov

  I couldn't do anything without thinking about Lamais, not wanting to be pushy and a bother I have replaced my phone back to the table over five times. Why was it so easy for me to like her, I wasn't even this smitten with Jeneil.

"Oh Jesus, please help me," I said feeling bitter at my thoughts.

  For what must be the hundredth time I promise myself not to compare my past with my present, I took up the pan of honey roasted nuts and began eating from it. Sundays were different here, people mostly cook at home and have meals together. The restaurants have less customers and I sometimes feel out of place dining alone there, I sighed wishing I had ingredients in my refrigerator to cook something.

  I should have took Nicola's offer and went to church, she and Wendy must be having dinner at this moment. It would have been great to get a proper homecook meal, plus the company afterwards playing dominoes and funny conversations over drinks. My phone rings and my first thought was that it was my mom, I swiped it fast when I saw Lamais's name on the screen.

"Hello?" I said hoping I didn't sound as anxious as I felt.

"Hi, I hope I did not call at a bad time, are you busy?" She said then ask and I was intoxicated by the tone of her voice.

"Ah, no- no not at all," I replied quickly.

"Well I -ah brought something for you, do you mind coming down to the car park?" She said and ask.

"Sure, ofcourse not. What I mean is yes I can come down, give a minute," I said and end the call.

  I was such an idiot I scolded myself as I pushed my feet inside one of my sneakers, I pocketed my phone and hurried through the door almost forgetting to lock it on my way out. I jogged lightly down the stairs and out into the warm evening sun, Lamais's jeep was park right infront of my car and I walked towards it.

"Hello, good evening," she said brightly.

  I smile a little and replied. "A pleasant evening to you."

  She took up a bag and hands it to me saying. "I happen to be coming this way so I thought I would bring you some of my dinner."

"Ohhh, that's so very thoughtful of you, thank you," I told her feeling really grateful.

  "You're welcome," she says with a gorgeous smile.

  I bit down on my bottom lip and couldn't stop looking at her. "Ok take care," she says calmly.

  Oh sweet Jesus, I did not want her to go she hasn't even been here a minute. "Can I invite you up for a drink or to- talk for a while?" I ask.

  "I- I would love that but I'm afraid I have to decline, I'm actually going to see someone so another time," she says.

  Who was she going to see I wondered and my mind began to swell with all kinds of sorts, it would be totally inappropriate to ask her who she was going to see. She shook as if a slight chill had ran through her and look away from me, I felt disappointed and cursed myself inwardly that I was an idiot.

  "Some other time then," I said reluctantly.

  She look up at me and said. "If I finish up before six at the dressmaker, I am coming back for that drink if the offer still stands."

  I smile widely. "The offer is open indefinitely," I told her and she nodded.

  I stood aside as she drives away and out of the car park, Simeon and Roelly would laugh at me if they were here. I smile to myself as I mount the stairs back up to my apartment, I miss my sister and brother dearly- I know they miss me too but they had all encouraged me to come here. The two punks had even came to help me pack my suitcases, they wanted me to be happy, forget about what happened and move on.

"Oh wow! This smells good!" I exclaimed after opening the dish and seeing the meal inside it.

  It smells wonderful and I lick my lips, I got to admit I was totally in love with the food here. After eating I washed the dish, I checked that the apartment looked ok and with a quick straightening up I then checked the fridge. I did not have any maltas but from my array of liquors she most definitely like something, I made up my bed which I hardly did and laugh at myself. As if she was going to come inside my bedroom, she may not even come I thought and then haul my ass off to shower.

  I blow dry my shoulder length growth of hair and come my facial hair, my mom thinks I look cute with the new look while my dad says I'll trim and shave when I can't mother to keep grooming them. I guess it was part of my healing, ever since the funeral I started being neglectful of getting a haircut and shaving- but the new look made me feel strong. It was as if I had climbed a high mountain and looking down over the other side, I felt renewed and comforted.

  Jeneila had never been in love with me, how couldn't she when most women admits that I was the full package. I thought she was an angel that had miraculously find her way into my path, never had I dreamt that such an innocent and beautiful woman such as her could be a con-artist. If she had not died I hate to consider what may or may not have happen, what type of men allows there women to go and sleep with another man to try and rip off that man.

  I shook my head and took a deep breath, releasing it and unplugged the blow dryer. After fitting on several different shirts I finally settled on one, I I leave my hair hanging loose so that it may finish drying. My phone rings and I race out to the living room to get it.

"Hey Lamais," I answered.

  "I'm less than five minutes away," she said sounding uncertain.

  "Ok, I'll be waiting for you down by the car park," I told her.

"Ok," she said and the call ends.

          Lamais's pov

  I was trusting my gut instincts while being very careful, there is only one reason as to why I may not be able to read Cushane thoroughly and that is because he is a shield-er. How can that possibly be when only recently he was in doubt of my reading, I can't remember everthing about a shield-er, but I will be taking out my big book of important things that I've wrote things of this nature in.

  True to his word he was waiting for me at the car park, I was nervous and it was justified. He was a little less than a stranger, a man who was healing from being deeply hurt and my interest in him is heightened by his good looks, his desire to be friends with me and I must admit my sudden attraction to him.

"Hello again," he says when I emerged.

"Hiiiii," I said pleasantly pressing the lock button and locking my jeep.

"This way," he says with a motion of his hand and I walk ahead of him.

  Walking up the two flights of stairs he said. "I almost never use the lift."

"Oh," I went.

  "Turn right," he said from behind me and I did.

  I heard keys shaking behind me and Steven his deep smooth voice say. "Right there number eighteen, now you know where I live."

"Should I pop up unannounced?" I ask as he inserts the key into the lock and with a twist of his hand it opens.

"Shoud I give you the spare key?" He asks blocking the entrance.

  I chuckled while thinking of snide comeback, the expectant expression he was wearing when I look up at him, made me felt shy. I look down quickly and took a steadying breath, Cushane was waiting for his answer.

"I bet you don't have any seasonings in your kitchen for me to use cook," I said.

He moved out of the way and said. "Welcome to where I reside for the moment."

"Thank you for having me," I said looking around the small space of his living room.

"I have Ciroc, henessy, rum cream-"

"I do not consume alcohol any at all," I told him cutting him off.

His face registered surprise before he said. "Oh, my bad."

"Water is fine by me," I told him.

  He ran his hand through his hair and I couldn't stop staring at him, he wasn't just handsome he was magnificent. I will not be seeing him alone after this I tell myself, my lips trembled as he turn and look at me- thank God, he couldn't read me or else he would be chastising my thoughts.

"I think I may have a bottle of non-alcohol champagne," he says and walk to what looks like the kitchen area.

  He came back with a green bottle and two glasses. "Have a seat," he said and I sat gracefully unto the couch.

"Tell me who gave you the name Lamais?" He ask as he popped the champagne bottle open and begin to pour it into one glass then the other.

"My grandmother did," I reply taking the glass he offers from his hand.

  His hand brush lightly against mine and it took all my will power to not drop the glass, I was afraid he may have felt what feels like a small jolt of electricity that passed through from his touch. He was looking at me and I bit down on my bottom lip, he smile and took up his glass.

"Do you know the meaning of your name?" He ask with the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

I smile and reply. "Sure I do."

"Cheers," he said putting his glass next to mine.

"To a healthy, happy and successful life," I said clinking my glass with his.

"To a friendship that will bound us together and last forever," he said clinking his glass with mines.

"Cheers"

"Cheers"

To be continued...