AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But then I add, “My local business advisor, Kojo lives here, he’s about my age. We could definitely make a foursome.”
"That would be lovely. We came for breakfast because the power at the house went out. But if you're inviting us to dinner, we'll be back."
That surprises me. "You live here? In Cape Coast?" I look back and forth at the both of them. Her cousin sounds British to me, and so even though she looks Ghanaian, I'd assumed they were visitors.
"He's not inviting us to dinner." Emma's voice is low and annoyed.
Bambi ignores her.
"No, I live in Accra. She lives in -- oof." Her words are cut off by a gasp of pain, that I’m guessing was caused by a pinch or a kick. She gives Emma a sharp, warning look. Emma just glares back. She rolls her eyes in return and looks back at me with her smile back in place.
"We're just in Cape Coast for the week. We're going to visit Elmina Castle today, but we're free after that. So we can be back for dinner. Bring your friend with you," she invites me cheerfully.
“Enjoy the castle, it’s one thing I really want to see before I leave,” I say, sincerely disappointed. It's one of the most well-known former slave castles in West Africa and apparently has been left completely untouched since it was closed.
“Come with us!” Bambi demands loudly. Emma glares at her, and if eyes could shoot daggers, Bambi would be full of them.
“I can’t. At least not today, but if you could wait until the weekend.”
“Oh, okay.” She claps enthusiastically, while Emma’s jaw drops.
“We’re not changing our plans,” Emma snaps, her voice the clearest it’s been since I got to the table.
“Of course we will. We can go to Kakum today,” Bambi says dismissively, not taking her eyes off me. “It’s a plan. So, dinner? Tonight?”
Emma groans and looks up at the sky as if asking the heavens for patience. I stifle my laugh.
"I'd love to take you to dinner, and I know Kojo will be glad to join us." I know once he gets a look at Bambi, he’ll be glad I talked him into it. She's a knock out.
“That’s perfect. We’ll be here around seven.” She smiles and winks subtly, ignoring Emma’s wide, alarmed eyes.
My phone buzzes with a new text, and I see Kojo’s name when I glance at it.
"Ladies, I’ve got to run. Have a great day. Hopefully, I'll see you later."
I chuckle when, as I turn to walk away, I hear Emma say, "Hopefully not."
4
Lilly
I'm lying by the pool, my sunglasses on, listening to Mary J. Blige's heart bleed through my headphones. I feel like some of her songs were written just for me. No one sings about heartbreak with more feeling than she does.
But right now, even Mary J can't help me escape. I didn't come here to meet a man. In fact, I came hoping the exact opposite would happen. I needed to relax and clear my head, and instead I'm irritated and something feels off.
"You want a drink?" Porsha pulls the earpiece away from my head and shouts in my ear.
"Yes, but I'd also like to keep my eardrums, thanks."
She sucks her teeth in irritation and scans the pool area. It's littered with women in bikinis and swim short-clad men, all determined to bake themselves under the hot Sub-Saharan sun.
"Let's just go. I'm tired and hot," I whine, my head falling back on the chaise in despair.
"We paid twenty US dollars to use this pool, and we're going to enjoy it," she declares as she sits up. "Useless staff. I have to go in search of my own drink," she grumbles.
"You could just drink your water. Or we could go," I snark, pushing up the sleeves on my tunic.
She eyes me dispassionately. "If you’re hot, that’s your fault. I don't know why you're dressed like that.” She flings her hands in the direction of my tunic and palazzo pants. “We're at the beach. You're in Africa." She enunciates every syllable in Africa as if I might not understand otherwise.
