Unconsciously running my tongue across my teeth, I egressed the driver's seat of the sleek, white, Audi motor vehicle and perambulated to the solid dark oak wood door of the voluminous, grey coloured, two story house where my closest friends resided.

Making use of the large metal ring onto the door, I rapped once then two more times when I had received not an answer, the eventual sound as Lucas jogged to the door, annunciating of his impending arrival ,breathless and panting-- monumentally hyperbolized, immensely exaggerated.

"I said I was coming"in a frolicsome,playful complaint, Lucas groaned and wiped a long, graceful forefinger across his forehead, an act to clean the imaginary perspiration that had formed after the time he had swung open the large door.

Chortling at the man's mirthfulness, antics I hugged him, brushing against each cheek my lips in an affectionate gesture and then whispered in a sly way, into his ear, jabbing at the lobe with my tongue, hassling him. "Perhaps if you were coming rather than cuming there would be no need for me to knock three times. Yes?"

"Brii" he loudly gasped in an attempted scold and gave me a slight shove,eyeing me with disapproval. "How dare you make utterance of such obscenities-- that was profoundly out of order, child. And for your information, you naughty, misbehaving girl I was with my nice. As we speak, even, my gorgeous husband is not at home. You know, whereas I am pregnant and barefooted, running around the house, he is out making money so we can continue to live the lavish lifestyle."

He twirled and I softly chuckled at the ostenation and as we entered the house, his ensuing words cunning and so low, it were nearly a struggle to catch wift of them. "Clearly, you need to get laid sis."

I snickered and bounced Lucas with my hip and he grinned, protruding his tongue. "Now, where in this house are you hiding my child or have you abducted her as you pledged you would?"

....

"Mama" squealed Sebriina and she sprinted as fast as her small legs would permit her towards me, when my friend and I made entrance to the expensively , furnished living room, where she sat gleefully laughing to whatever tale it were Isabel, the middle aged housekeeper were telling her.

I crouched down and lifted Sebriina sprinkling kisses all over my child's face. "Hey beautiful, I missed you."

She giddily shrieked when I rubbed my nose onto the side of her neck, tickling her. "Mama!"

*

"Thank you again Lucas. You truly are a God sent." My lips curved upwards in an appreciative, thankful smile as I prepared my dozing child and myself for our leave.

Lucas accompanied us to the car and he placed his hand lovingly onto my shoulder, like a father's touch as I settled Sebriina into the car seat.

"You are most welcome Brii. But really you know you don't have to thank me babe. John and I take pleasure in offering to you a helping hand-- in spite of how very seldom you allow us to and Briina is such a doll-- we value every moment spent with her."

I embraced my friend and pecked his replete, red lips. "I love you Lucas"

He whispered. "Right back at you baby." Leaning over into the car, he pressed his mouth to a slumbering Sebriina's forehead. "I love you, sleepy head"

Once more, I enchained my arms around him and so he did me, interweaving our bodies. "Give my love to John and please take care of yourself until we again see each other."

He nodded. "Of course. Goodbye Britondii, all the best and remember--" he mouthed the last words. "to get laid."

From the spectacle of his amusing articulation, I laughed quietly and shook my head, entering the car. "Boy, bye"

I exhaled and continued the short trod to Miss Luca's door, the aroma of the roses asphyxiating, the heaviness of the bouquet a metric ton into my hand, the box of dark chocolate into the other not weighing much lesser.

Nervousness at its best.

For a brief moment my steps faltered, decreased while I took into mind what the men had cautioned at today's session -- take things with Miss Luca at a snail's pace and if it were an option, even slower --give her space -- as acting too soon sometimes will cause more harm than good.

God knows I had cogitated that -- a billion and ten times-- all the same, I had not taken heed.

How could I when I felt as though I would go mad if I did not soon see Miss Luca?

When I had as familiarly touched her?

When I had seen the truthfulness into her eyes-- listened to it as she talked.

"Alright Brandon, I will"

How would she respond when she saw me standing

onto the outside of her door this evening?

In detestation?

Anger?

Or love?

God-- did our time together -- a mere two nights before mean as much to her as it did, me?

I considered all of these whilst I knocked twice onto the hard wood door.

The door opened and Miss Luca immersed, discovering it were I who stood there, she turned her neck and peered into the house then stepped out.

I focused my eyes onto her face rather than her curvaceous body, covered with a robe, the sachet loosely tied exposing a fragment of the bare, immaculate skin beneath .

She crossed her arms and the action forced her breasts to rise. I struggled to conceive with the correct head.

Rather than thinking about the one you gave her?

"Good evening Miss Luca"

"Good evening Mr. Monteiro is there something you need?"

Yes. You.

I nervously cleared my throat, treading, choosing my words carefully, not desiderating to utter anything that might have aggravated her.

"Ah, yes Miss Luca. This is actually a business call and I apologize for the unexpected bomb rush. You see, I have been thinking of a name change for Wellington and Pauls and am here to request your input. What do you think of Monteiro's Cars?"

Smooth Monteiro. Real smooth.

A soft, bemused and musical chuckle fell from my love's lips. "Good night Mr. Monteiro" and as she turned to reenter the the house. I bayed her appellation, name. "Miss Luca"

She turned to face me once more. "Mr. Monteiro, it is now past eight at night hence I do not have the time for this hickory dickory. We can discuss the name change tomorrow when I return to work"

"Miss Luca, hear me out please. I am sorry my love-- I had to see you, I could not wait another minute baby."

I took a step, closing the distance which separated us. I extended my hand offering to her, the gifts. "These are for you."

She shook her head, and apoplectically hissed. "I cannot be bought Mr. Monteiro"

The door slammed into my face.