Every month, there'll be an ongoing story published on the site, and these stories would be based on issues that affect us in our everyday relationships. This month's novel is based on the story of falling in love with someone who belongs to someone else. You know the feelings are real, but what are you going to do about it, especially if this someone belongs to your friend, or family? I know girls who have found themselves in a relationship where they fell in love with their partner's best friend, or brother, and it's never a great place to be! Would you risk hurting the other party, or would you just hide your attraction and try to act normal? Issues, issues! Enjoy the story!
Chapter One
Momo sighed as she looked over the list of shopping she had to do that day. And there were so many other chores she had to do first. Suddenly and not for the first time, she wished her flatmate, Rukky, hadn't left to stay with her folks for the weekend.
"Oh well," she sighed, and it was well past one p.m. before she was finished with the housework and ready to go to the market. Running a comb through her dark, long hair, she regarded her face in the mirror and decided she didn't really feel like wearing any make-up. Without any false modesty, Momo knew that she wasn't bad looking at all; her large, thickly-lashed eyes were an inviting shade of brown, and she had slopy, high-boned cheeks. Her lips were full and nicely curved, and though she'd have loved her nose to be pointier, it was pretty and straight. She also had a full yet shapely figure, which drew a lot of unwanted male attention to her sometimes - and being naturally shy and reserved didn't help matters much either.
She threw on a pair of black jeans and her favourite tee, then left for the busy food market. Two hours of shopping later, she staggered out of the noisy market with her hands laden with bags stuffed with food supplies. She had the fridge to stock that day, and that meant a whole lot of cooking. She was already getting very tired just thinking of what she had in store.
Stumbling on to the uneven Lagos pavement, she looked round for the bus stop. After glancing left and right to make sure the road was safe for crossing, she was about to make a dash over to the other side when she bumped headlong into a tall, formidable figure.
Winded, she promptly dropped the shopping bags. "Oh great!" she cried in dismay, then stiffened when two strong arms reached round to steady her.
"Sorry about that," said the deep, rumbling voice of the man she'd collided with, "My fault; I wasn't looking where I was going."
She felt herself go cold at the sound of that voice, and with an inexplicable feeling of dread, she lifted her head and looked closely at him for the first time.
Momo let her shocked eyes run over his dark, handsomely-chiselled face, then began to back away, realising that this stranger was indeed no stranger at all.
He smiled a little quizzically at her reaction. "Hey, I said I was sorry." He sent her a wry, endearing grin as he bent to pick the fallen bags. "Not too angry, I hope?"
His tone was teasing, and she recalled in an instant who he was. How could she have ever forgotten? When he was someone from a nightmare she'd tried for almost six years to forget?
"Um, no, of course not," she said quickly, trying to act more normal. "And thanks for picking up the bags for me. If you'd just hand them to me I can be on my way - "
"Come on, you can't possibly manage all these yourself; it's quite a load," he said. "Look, why don't I give you a lift where ever you're going? Please, at least to make up for practically smashing into you." There was that devastating grin again, and she swallowed.
"No, thanks, I can manage," she said firmly, inwardly frantic as she wondered if he'd recognised her or not. He didn't seem to have done so - but she wasn't taking any chances. . .
"I don't think you've managed that well so far, have you?" he pointed out kindly, even as he took her by the arm and began leading her down the side walk to where a flashy automobile was parked just meters away.
Unable to stop herself, she made an irreverent face to his back, noting that he hadn't changed one bit. He was still dominating, overbearing - and determined to get his way all the time. She wondered how she was going to gracefully decline his offer without drawing undue scrutiny from the crowd milling round them on that busy Lagos market road. And there was also the apprehension that the more time she spent around him, the better the chance of him finally recognising her! And she couldn't let that happen.
He was already unlocking her side of the door and dumping the bags in the back seat. She opened her mouth to categorically assure him that she had no intention of accepting his lift - but then she caught that no-nonsense look in his eye, and for some reason her voice failed her.
"Hop in," he said agreeably enough, but there was some trace of steel in his tone. Momo found herself complying with unconcealed reluctance. Just like in the old days, she found it very difficult to defy him when he was like that. She only prayed that if she just went with the flow, she'd finally make her escape without discovery.
However, she couldn't help but do a little experimenting, just in case. "I really shouldn't be letting you do this," she muttered, when he finally got into the driver's seat next to her and started the car. "I mean, we don't even know each other."
She stole a glance at him then, and wondered if she'd imagined the cynical look that crossed his eyes, before he slipped on a pair of sun glasses. She really wanted to know if he was just pretending not to recognise her.
"Don't worry," he told her, "We soon will."
She found those words somewhat menacing, and snapped at once, "Let's get one thing straight here, OK? I've got no intention of getting to know you. If you can't understand that, then I'll have to ask you to let me out of the car right now."
"Forgive me if I seemed too forward," he said quietly. "So where do you live?"
Totally thrown by his simple apology, she found herself reeling out her address. Then wanted to bang her head against the dashboard. What was wrong with her? she fumed inwardly, and looked away as he swung the powerful car smoothly unto the road. Soon they were moving steadily through traffic.
"I'm Lucas," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. He sent her a friendly smile. "Would it be terribly forward as well to ask your name?"
As if you don't know, she thought acidly. She could not believe he still didn't know who she was. Had she changed that much? It was a long time, yes, but it vexed her somewhat that he'd been able to erase her so easily from his memory.
"Yes, it would, actually," was her cool reply, resolutely staring out of the window. If he truly hadn't recognised her, then she wasn't about to jog his memory with her name.
He surprised her by breaking into that rich, throaty laughter she so painfully remembered, and she stomped down the urge to look sideways into his strongly good-looking face.
"You're not very sociable, are you?" he said lightly. "Well, guess what, I'm not so easily put off. You see, I've got this thing for honey-skinned women with smoky, doe-shaped eyes."
"And I'm sure you've met plenty," was her thin-lipped reply, as she wondered if he gave strange women lifts all the time.
"Not as many as I'd have liked," he confessed in the same humorous tone. He was obviously having a laugh but Momo refused to rise to the bait. "However," he added, "None of them, believe me, possessed the same combination of loveliness and irresistibility that you do."
He's definitely having a laugh, she decided, asking in a cutting tone, "And you've come to this conclusion about me after what - ten minutes?"
Lucas sent her a brief glance which she couldn't yet define, before returning his attention to the road ahead. "Funny enough," he murmured, "I feel like I've known you for ages."
That's it, she thought, as a prickle of fear crept up her back. Why oh why, had she let him give her this lift? What had she been thinking! At that moment, she wanted nothing more to do with him, ever.
"Please, stop the car," she said hastily, annoyed with herself when she heard the shaky tone in her voice. "I can find my way easily from here. . ."
"Don't be silly. I said I was taking you home, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," he said firmly and pleasantly enough, but she knew better than to argue further. Gosh, I wish I had the nerve to stand up to him properly, she thought despairingly. But then he'd always been an impossible man to defy.
"Suit yourself," she said gracelessly, folding her arms and looking away. They didn't say one more word to each other till he stopped his car in front of her block of flats. With a mumbled "thanks" she reached round to gather her things from the back seat - only to go rigid when he put a large, warm hand on her arm to stop her.
"Allow me," he said, his mouth twisting as she shrank from his touch as if stung. Letting out a ragged breath, Momo opened her door and stepped out into the warm afternoon air, which felt less stifling than being inside the air-conditioned confines of the car, so close to Lucas' overwhelming presence.
She stood by, watching as he got the shopping out, then came round to stand beside her. And Momo took her first full, straight look at him. His face hadn't aged much, and he was still as handsome as ever. His lean, athletically built frame was clad in understated yet expensive-looking clothes that told you he was a man of style as well as means. She felt that long-forgotten shiver trail through her, that strange little thrill she got any time she looked at him. And she immediately berated herself for her weakness. Lucas had only brought her misery and pain - how could she still be attracted to him?
"I really can take it from here," she said coolly, and without a word, he handed her all her shopping right back.
"Thank you," she said with inner relief, telling herself that all she had to do now was turn around, and walk the rest of the way up the steps to her front door, shut it behind her and forget all about him. . .
"Wait - please," he said, and unable to help it, she stopped in her tracks. And this time, when she faced him again, was surprised to see the vulnerability in his now uncovered gaze, his dark glasses twisting in his fingers. She could almost believe he was actually nervous.
"Listen, I know this is very unconventional," he began tentatively, "But. . .I'd really like to see you again."
Momo's mouth opened to instantly inform him that it was out of the question, but he was already fishing into his shirt pocket and retrieving a pen and paper, with which he scribbled quickly.
"That's my house address. I'm hosting a dinner party tomorrow evening, and I'd be glad if you could make it."
She took her time before taking the paper he handed out, searching his face to see if he was joking or not. Inviting her to a dinner party at his place? Like, seriously?
"Thanks for the invite," she said politely enough, "And I'll try my best to make it." Not, she added firmly to herself. She had absolutely no intention of showing up.
"Well, goodbye," she said brightly, before quickly making her way up to the house. She heard him get into his car and drive off just as she was sticking her key into her door.
Once inside, she went straight into the kitchen to sort out the shopping, but it wasn't till she was taking the items out of the bag that she realised she was trembling violently.
Delayed reaction, she told herself wryly, as she sunk into a chair, emotionally drained after the eventful happenings of the last hour. And closing her eyes with a sigh, she let those old yet ever-vivid memories wash over her. . .
