“What do you mean?” I ask. In an effort to appear casual, I lean forward to cup my chin in my palm, but my elbow misses the table and jabs me in the thigh.
“It’s just hard to believe, that’s all.” Alex stabs his fork into his plantain. “You seem like you have your entire life put together, you know? You’re a nice girl. You can clearly cook. You would think someone like you would have been wifed-up by now.”
I take a long sip of water to hide my growing smile.
“Well, what can I say?” I put down my glass, and because I’m feeling confident, I add, “Some men don’t know a good woman even when she’s right in front of them.”
My eyes widen. OMG. Did I just say that aloud?
But it is as though Alex has just slept through a fire alarm. He continues to chew his food, unfazed. “Hey, now. Don’t go lumping us all in the same boat. Trust me, I know a good woman when I—”
He turns his head, distracted by a knock at the door.
Dammit.
“Sorry.” Nana pokes her head, then materializes with her gym bag strapped over one shoulder. She’s wearing a white cropped top under a short black hoody, and leggings with the words “Ivy Park” down the side.
She’s in? I immediately think, followed by, Oh, crap, I’m wearing her clothes.
Her eyes narrow into a squint. Bummer.
“Sorry, just need to grab some water,” she says, nodding to her bottle by the sink.
“Go for it,” I shrill. “Oh, by the way, Nana, this is Alex.” Alex has already risen to his feet. “Alex, this is Nana. My best friend and roomie.”
Alex extends a hand. “Pleasure to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.” Then she says, “Well, let me not get in the way.”
As she goes to grab her water bottle, I notice her bum in the skin-tight gym leggings, and cringe on her behalf. Us J-shaped girls can’t get away with clothes like that.
“Don’t worry, you’re not disturbing us.” Alex turns to me and says, “Wait, is this your fashion designer friend? The one who made your outfit at church last Sunday?”
“Yes, that’s Nana.” He remembered what I was wearing. “She also made this beautiful jumpsuit.”
“You know, my mum loved that dress Yinka wore,” Alex says over the sound of the running water. He turns to me. “This jumpsuit is dope too. I really like the fabric, the way the diamond patterns almost look 3D. It’s so stylish and feminine.”
“Thanks,” Nana and I say at the same time.
Nana glances at me with narrowed eyes. She’s going to make me pay for nicking her jumpsuit.
“Well, it was nice to meet you,” she says, heading back toward the door.
“Do you have a website or something?” Alex says to her retreating back. “My mum’s birthday is coming up and I would really like to buy her one of your designs.”
“I don’t have a website, sorry.” Nana half-turns.
I leap up and drape a hand over her shoulder. “She’s actually planning to launch her fashion business this summer.”
“Well, in that case, you definitely need a website,” says Alex, smiling brightly. He sticks out a hand. “Say hello to your new website designer.”
“Huh?” Nana stares at his hand. Okay, she might be pissed off with me but there’s no reason to be rude to Alex.
“I design websites for a living.” He stuffs his hand back into his pocket. “And if you’re launching a business, then you’ll certainly need a website. Actually, let me give you my business card.” He pulls out his wallet from his back pocket. “Have a think about it and let me know if you have any questions.”
“Alex is amaaazing,” I say. Okay, I haven’t seen any of his work, but I am sure it’s fantastic. “He’s super-talented.”
Nana glances at her watch. “Um, sure.”
Meanwhile, Alex is still rifling through his wallet. “I swear I had a card in here,” he’s saying. He pulls out a handful of bank cards. I catch a flash of his work ID. Ooh. Nice picture.
“Do you know what?” says Nana after another glance at her watch. “You don’t mind giving your business card to Yinka, do you? It’s just, I’ve got a train to catch.”
“Sure, sure.”
“Nice to meet you.” She hoists her bag and I go after her.
“Nana,” I hiss, just as she’s about to open the front door. “I’m sorry I borrowed your jumpsuit without asking.”
“Borrowed?” She jerks. “Yinka, you stole it!”
“I’m sorry.” I look over my shoulder. I wish she would keep her voice down. “But would you have lent it to me if I had asked you?”
Nana sighs. “I’ve got a train to catch. Excuse me.” She opens the door and slams it behind her.
I exhale. I still don’t understand why Nana is so against my plan when it’s clearly working. And I just got her a website designer. If I hadn’t worn her clothes and name-dropped her, Alex wouldn’t have offered. And I’m sure, if I twist his arm, he’ll give her a discount.
When I return to the kitchen, Alex is still on his feet, only there’s a white card in between his fingers.
“Found it,” he says. “Just as the door slammed.”
“Don’t worry. I can give it to her.”
Alex presses the card into my palm, and I feel a zap of electricity as his fingers touch mine. I take a quick glance at the card. Fancy, I think, admiring the gold calligraphy. I stuff it into the hidden pocket that Nana wisely sewed into the side of the jumpsuit.
“Shall we?” I say, gesturing at our seats. We return to the table. I clear my throat. “Sooo, you were saying?” I bat my eyelashes like they do in the movies.
Alex ruins the moment by furrowing his brows. “Um. What was I saying?” He looks to one side then breaks out into a laugh. “God, I’ve got such a bad memory.” He picks up his fork.
Nooo, my brain says in a whiny voice. I swear he was just about to profess his feelings for me. (Nice going, Nana.) I can’t bear another week in limbo.
“Okay, same question to you,” I say. I bite the bullet and lean back. “You seem to have a lot going for you too. How come you’re not wifed-up? I mean, hubbied-up. I mean—you know what I mean.” That’s basically Question 2—nice work, Yinka.
Alex holds the base of his glass. Then after what feels like a monumental silence, he says, “I’m single because I’ve been grieving,” and I feel like the worst person in the world.
“Oh, gosh. Your sister. Of course you are. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t worry.” He bats away my floundering apologies. “The truth is, I’m actually ready to start dating again.”
“You are?” I say this too loudly, but whatever. “I mean, do you have your eyes on anyone in particular?” Oops, I don’t think that question was on the Post-it notes. Ah, well. “I dunno. Let’s see . . . Vanessa?”
“Vanessa?” Alex’s eyes pop out like a champagne cork. He laughs. “Yinka, she’s like seventeen. Yeah, Vanessa is pretty, but come on, she’s like my baby sis.”
The corner of my lip quivers a little upon hearing the word “pretty.” I try to reassure myself. Vanessa is pretty. I can’t deny that.
“So let’s say Vanessa was older . . . would you be interested?”
“I dunno. I’d go out on a date with her, maybe. But nah, she’s too bubbly for me.”
My belly contracts a little. Okay. I’m not a bubbly person. I still stand a chance.
And just as I’m about to ask him the subtle question, “So what was your ex-girlfriend like then?” Alex surprises me by saying, “Actually someone has caught my eye.”
“Really?” I’m praying that my bulging eyes haven’t given me away, but at this point, I barely care. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.
“Yeah. In fact, someone I met recently,” Alex says. “And I mean verrry recently.” He flashes me a cross between a smirk and a knowing smile.
My heart thumps. “Are you going to tell me who it is?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Why won’t he just say? “So I’m guessing it’s someone that I know, then?”
Alex nods slowly. “Yup, very close to home,” he says, and I swear I feel my blood pressure sky-rocket to the roof.
“Okay. You’re just going to have to come out and say it.” I dump my napkin on the table, leaning back in my chair, trying not to grin too widely. “Who is this mysterious woman?”
Alex laughs. “Wow, I really thought it was obvious. Yinka . . . It’s . . . Nana.”