The tiredness Joshua felt was the one that wanted him in bed with a very good sleep after a cold or warm shower depending on the weather. Today, he had the two forms of tiredness, physical and mental. His body needed rest but his mind needs to lift the weight over it. His wife had not returned from her journey neither had a call come from her. He had called her due to care and not responsibility but she had not picked.

He slid the key into the key hole, opened the door and walked into quietness. His shoes clicked almost inaudibly on the unsullied floor. The muscles in his neck hurt from many hours of having his face into paper work.

"Welcome" her voice made him jump. His heart skipped that he felt like his soul had flown out of his body. "Did I startle you?" she asked walking farther from the kitchen's door, her movement feline.

"Yes" he strolled in kicking off his shoes and removing his suit jacket which he flung on the cushion. "When did you arrive?" his eyes lingered on her bare face. There was something different about her eyes. They were softer and cooler unlike the hard eyes that gazes at him. A little tender smile formed over her face.

"Today" she halted next to the armchair, a hand rested in a classy manner on the arm of the chair.

"How was your journey?"

"Fine and interesting. I enjoyed it. You look tired"

That startled him. She noticed. The little crease of his bushy eyebrows and slight gap of his lips had not hidden his surprise.

"Err...er...." He hummed and hawed. "Yes, I am. Work was stressful"

"Sorry"

"Thanks?" he replied, unsure.

"You should have a shower then come down for dinner. There's pasta"

"You....you....you cooked?"

"No" she gave him a full smile. "I bought it. Any problem?"

Something was wrong. Something was wrong somewhere. This was not the woman who left him at home. He could not just figure where the change had come from. He was confused and shocked.

His eyes scanned her from head to toe. She had held her hair up into a messy bun with little tendrils falling down her face. She had one of those so called comfortable wear she puts on at home. This time, she had settled with some comfortable shorts and tank top with those long legs in display.

"Something has changed about you" he said unable to hold back the remark.

"Did it? I am me" she shrugged.

The cool demeanour was fishy. Was this a plan? There was something smelly somewhere.

"You were not like this before you left"

"People change"

"Yes they do but yours seems so unusual"

"I want to speak with you when we are done with dinner"

That was more shocking. A talk with him.

"Of...of course" he shook his head.

"Alright" the corners of her lips moved up.

He hated that smile. Why? Because it was one of those that made her prettier than she looked and makes his heart quiver in his chest. It was the type that sent thrills into his spine.

As he headed to the hallway, he felt her eyes on him. He came out few minutes later to the atmosphere of the living room bathed with the pleasant tang of pasta. He found her in the kitchen, elbows on the granite top and her iPad in her hand. She laughed into the screen, her back to him.

"Is that their shaku-shaku dance?" she laughed.

"That's what my kids call that dance" He heard the familiar voice that belonged to her elder sister, Shola. "They came back from school and it had been what their father decided to teach them" At the background, there were voices of children screaming.

"Brother Dolapo did not teach the kids that awkward dance"

"He did"

"Sarah would do a better job at that" There was hilarity in both sisters' voices.

"It's dancing and we all know she loves to dance. Good thing mummy supports her"

"Right?"

"Toke spoke to me" Shola voice changed with more seriousness in it.

"I know. I am surprised she did not tell mommy"

"Told me you shouted at her on phone. She was weeping when speaking to me"

"We all know those are hormonal changes. She would never weep if she was not pregnant instead I will get a piece of her mind" Lola smiled, her heart heavy with guilt for what she had done few days ago.

"So is he back?" Shola asked surprising Lola.

Little lines creased on Lola's head. "You won't scold me. You won't talk about what had been trending online about me. How I am fighting those followers who are slut shamming me?"

"No because most deserve it. People need to learn how to stop sticking their nose into other people's life" Shola gave a smile at the end.

Her words left her sister in shock but it produced a smile on Lola's face. "Finally" Lola huffed running her hand through her hair. "Someone understands me"

"That does not mean I support what you did. The thing I know is you will learn Lola"

"I have learnt so much already about life"

"Not yet. Is your husband back?"

"Yes, he should be taking a shower and changing and I am still yet to consider him a husband"

"Have you spoken to him?"

What does she want to tell him? Hope it was not something that will break him more.

"Not yet but very soon"

"How will you do that?"

Lola exhaled hard "I don't know. That's what I have been thinking"

"Just take your time"

"I will"

Her facial expression was what he yearned to see at that moment.

"Did you see Tenny's new nails?" Shola's voice had gotten its glee back.

"The watermelon ones" Lola laughed out. "That's girl and her recent obsession with nails. I checked her instagram page and you need to see the rolls of comment beneath"

"She has put it on her blog and had told me she is taking a photo shoot with it"

"Who is taking her?"

"You"

"Tell her she will pay"

"Haba now Lola, why will you do that?"

"Because my business is not for free"

"Se egbon fun (Be an elder sister to her). Don't be an agbaya now"

"Samson is also good with the camera. He has one. He could take her. So how is the lawyer doing?" she changed with topic.

"Great"

They spoke longer than he expected so he walked back to the living room, switched on the sixty-four inches TV. He was scrolling through channels when she called him for dinner.

"I do not know if you love pasta" she said as she served him.

"I do" He swallowed still shocked because what was happening was a dream come through. Having his wife serve him and care about how work had been was one great thing to experience. He hopes this would be continuous and not just for a night.

"That's great" she beamed at him. "I saw the backyard pool. I did not know we had a pool"

"We do but it's for everyone"

"That's nice for someone like me who loves to swim" She poured him a glass of water and in another glass, a fruit drink. "The garden is beautiful. I liked the gazebo and the little sprout of flowers in the garden"

"I am glad you do"

He noticed she was not talking because she wanted to but talking because she does not want an awkward ambiance. They began to eat and silence dawned over them. Lola kept herself busy with her iPad as she ate. They finished eating and he left after washing his plates saying he will be in the room.

Lola picked a bottle of red wine from the bar and examined it. It was one of those they have in their bar at her parent's house, her favourite. She kept the costly bottle on the bar and reached for two wine glasses in the cabinet below. She does not know if what she was doing was right but she had to do it for their sake. Lolu was right. They can't keep living like this. They needed to change, to make it work out because they are the one in it. It was their life to live. She headed up the flight of steps, humming a song in her head, her heart beating faster in her chest.

Lola felt the sweat that seeped from her pores out of nervousness. Her limbs grew weak as she reached the door to their room. The door was slightly opened. She saw him and it increased the speed her heart raced. He was seated at the end of the bed, his back against the bed post as he spoke on phone. He rubbed his temple for a swift second and laughed in a low volume. She pushed the door gently and took a step in getting his attention. His eyes met hers.

Her heart skipped. One. Two. Three. Then a steady beat. She had no idea what he had felt, the jolt in his chest when her brown eyes met his.

"I will call you back" he said and ended the call suddenly nervous at her sight.

"Hey" her voice, soft and husky, drifted across the room. "Want a drink with me?" she showed him the glasses in her hand and the bottle of Cristal.

"I don't mind" he sat up, folding his legs beneath him. She settled on the floor next to him.

"Here" she gave him the glass and a corkscrew. "Let's see if you are as strong as you look" She placed the cups on the floor in between them. He chuckled.

"That's a dare I will win" He placed the bottle on the floor to remove the foil.

"Oh" she cooed with her eyebrows up. "Let's see" she rested her elbow on her lap and cupped her chin with her hand "I bet I can open that quicker than you"

"I don't think so" he positioned the corkscrew in the centre of the cork and twisted clockwise.

"How long have you been working in ExxonMobil?"

"Almost two years. I began twenty sixteen" she watched his hand as he placed the first step onto the lips of the bottle, lift the handle until the cork was halfway out. He got manly hands with his veins evident against his skin. His hands seem rough from maybe manual labour.

Joshua was not muscular to the point where muscles would be bulging from his clothes. He was lean, tall but still muscular. That kind of muscular that was just perfect for his build.

"Did you get in there through someone or by yourself?"

"Myself. There was no one to get me in there. I wrote the exam, did the interview and backed everything up with prayer" he repeated what he had done making use of the second step in the corkscrew, pulling until the cork was almost out.

"The exam must have been hard"

"I agree but I passed. All thanks to God" he pulled the cork out.

Lola made a sound and clapped. "You did it" she said clapping. Whatever joy she was feeling was from within. It reached her eyes.

"I told you. I am good. What kind of man can't uncork a wine bottle?"

"A man like my elder brother Miracle. Here" she set the cups forward.

"So what do you want to say to me?"

He had not missed the way her hand had stilled over the glass she held. Her countenance changed but was masked with a little nervous smile.

"Something. Fill my cup to the brim"

"You will get drunk, Lola"

"Just do it" he did. She had lifted the cup to her lips once and drowned the entire glass down her throat. Joshua took his and sipped from the little content of his cup.

Lola positioned her glass on the floor taking in deep breath and blowing them out. She pushed her glass to him. He filled it again. After two more glasses, she seized drinking.

"You said you want a chance" she began. "I...." her head spun. She shook her head, blinked her eyes to shake away the sudden dizziness that glazed them "I am giving you a chance"

She watched his lips move up slowly and break into a wide smile with a little chuckle escaping his lips.

"There is nothing you and I can do. Like my mother had said this is fate. This is destined to happen" she pushed her glass forward to him, a silent way to tell him to fill it. He collected hers and gave her his.

"I am glad" his stomach flustered with excitement. "You are giving me a chance" Hilarity absorbed his bones, taking a quick journey through every part of his body.

"So we begin as friends?" she picked his glass and sipped the red wine. She loved the taste on her tongue but disliked the way the wine made her feel. Her system was changing and she was reacting to it.

"So friends" he brought out his hand.

"Friends" she took it. That simple contact between their hands hand tensed her nerves and her body was not oblivious to the way it chilled to the tip of his fingers. It was a foreign feeling. There was quietness after she let go of his hand. She took his glass of wine and sipped again. "I am pissed you know" she voiced blowing out her pocketed frustration.

"I know" he responded, filling her empty glass for himself.

"I am angry at you and fate and me" she stretched, unfolding her legs beneath her to lay. His eyes stayed on her.

"You ought to be"

"Look at us. At me. I am married" her words came out together that he could barely make a word out of it. He noted, his wife was a one-time drinker. She was alcohol intolerant. "You kept coming and we kept meeting and marriage was the next thing to happen to me. I did not plan for that any time soon"

"You despise it. Why?"

"I am not telling you" he chuckled, a manly one that was deep and her ears tickled to. "Even though I seem drunk, I am in my right senses"

"You are alcohol intolerant"

Lola raised her eyes to look at him. That look was the type that said how did you know? "How many things do you know about me?" Lola lay her head to the side proceeding to sprawl on the floor.

"I will be sincere" he leaned forward putting their glasses and the bottle of wine aside. "Within these few days, I have learnt little about you"

"Which are?" she grimaced.

This can't be happening, she thought as her head spun in circles. She rolled from her side to her stomach, shutting her eyes. She curved her legs in the air and intersected them at the ankles. He had saliva assembling in his mouth from such a feline and seductive movement she was oblivious to. She giggled girlishly, opening her eyes.

"I can barely see" her eyes dropped but she pushed the lids back up to meet his. "You are becoming two"

He studied her, a little curve of her lips, eyes that dropped sexily. It would be a lie if he had not been moved or filled with need. He shifted cursing himself for his wild thought.

"You are organized"

"You noticed" she puffed out, swinging her legs in the air.

"You keep everything orderly. You dislike it when things are disordered. You love music. You always listen to it when you work"

"It puts me in good mood and energises me" she twirled a lock of her hair around her finger lazily.

"Aside from that, you love makeup"

"Ah" she sucked in air with a girlish chortle. "You noticed that? I love it" her heavy eyes sparkled. "Heavy or light makeup. I love makeup. It is just a part of me. I think I might be obsessed with" she giggled again. "You got good looks. I won't deny I admired your face that night" she belched out loud. "Oops, sorry. That so called date my grandparents set up back then, I found you attractive that night" she cupped her face in her hand. "Deep eyes" she examined his face "African nose, luscious lips, a bushy eyebrow. You got an appealing look" she scooted closer. "Handsome"

"What?"

"You are handsome and that it trouble to me"

"Why?" he smiled reaching to tuck her tendril behind her ear.

"That tickles" she smiled with all her teeth out and a little downcast of her eyes. "How will your lips taste?" he lifted her mesmerizing pair of eyes to look at him.

"Wanna taste it?" he said smugly.

"Ah!" she took in a deep breathe, eyes wide and hands over her soft cheeks. "You are flirting back" she slapped his thigh.

"You started it" they laughed.

Her head felt heavy so absent-mindedly she settled it on his lap. He could have jumped back. Damn the woman! His eyes shifted with desire. The kind he had never felt for any woman. He was for once glad, she was his wife. Lola held his eyes.

"Why did you agree to marry me?"

"I like you"

"I know but I don't like you"

"But you are giving me a chance"

"Because I have no choice" there was a long pause. She raised her index finger and drew feathery circles on his right thigh. The sensation he felt went deep into his spine. He halted her finger to stop her.

"I am glad you are" he bent his head to have a good look at the lovely face. "I just have this hope within me that we would work out" his voice became soft, huskier. Her breathing seized for a moment with a quick flick of her heart. That voice was erogenous. He took her hand, something she had not expected or protested to. She felt the tender affection in it. She can't recall feeling that way with a man. "We have a lots to know about one another"

"True but we shall see what happens" she sat up. "So friends?"

"Friends" he nodded his head watching her.

"Good" she ensued to stand up as she picked a glass that still had wine. Her feet grew unsteady. With her blurry vision, she staggered.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, alarmed before rising to his feet.

"I am not falling" she laughed when he held her arm. "I am fine" words came out jumbled and impossible to hear.

"You need to sleep"

"But I am not sleepy" she walked out of his hold.

"Don't fall!" Joshua shouted noticing the way her legs moved.

A step, two and she was on the floor. Joshua shifted his face aside unable to watch the fall. The glass bounced across the room into tiny fragments. Wine splashed. She cried out with pain, a sharp pain in her ankle.

"My ankle" she cried out. He tilted his head back and took in air between his teeth. Lola laid flat on her stomach hissing from pain.

Joshua rushed to her. "I warned you. Sorry" he bent down beside her. She pouted with a face.

"I think I hurt my ankle" her words were clearer but childish with a fake cry.

"Sorry" he repeated putting a hand under her arm to sit her up.

"It hurts" she whined placing her leg forward. He found her cute at that moment. Gone was the proud woman and Orekelewa lady. Here, he saw a cute one, who seemed childish at that moment. The influence of the wine.

Joshua wondered what the following day holds. This felt unfamiliar but he loved it. She was who he wanted and he saw a part of his dream come true. He helped her massage her ankle with a pain relieving balm and listened to her clustered chatter that made no meaning. She played music and told him her favourites while offering him wine and wanted more wine which he opposed to. He helped her into bed and sat next to her while she garbled out. She told him he scared her the day he found out she had not put on her ring and he apologised. He listened to her rant until she fell asleep. He watched her, held her hand and prayed over her. He prayed for himself, prayed he get the best out of the relationship that just made because it was what determined their future.

-----

"What do you think about Lagos?" Joshua asked few days after the night Lola agreed to be his friend.

It was a Wednesday morning. They prepared for work after Lola had washed the dishes they used for breakfast and Joshua had wiped the dining table neat. Living together was easy. They were just friends and they got along easily. Their sleeping arrangement was still the same.