Page 16 of Cursed Daughters
“Hello, Golden Boy.”
“Hi…” He looked confused. “Do I…do I know you?”
“No. But I know you…I was watching you play football the other day.”
He squinted at her. “Ah. The girl on the bleachers.”
“So you noticed me.”
“It was hard not to. Your T-shirt had a bedazzled Che Guevara on it.”
“Oh! Is that who that was?”
He paused, and then burst out laughing. He had a throaty laugh.
“Do you want to dance?” she asked.
He looked away. He had long eyelashes.
“I’m not really a great dancer.”
“Yea, I was watching you. Ooof!”
He laughed again, meeting her eyes. At least he didn’t take himself too seriously. “Excuse you!”
She gave him another wide smile, showing most of her teeth. She had a generous mouth, all the better to kiss with. And tonight she was sporting a bright red lipstick. She noticed his eyes were drawn to her lips’ scarlet plumpness. She took his hand.
“Come. It’ll be a good excuse for our bodies to get close to one another.”
“You’re assuming an awful lot.”
She cocked her head to one side. “Am I? Well, the ball’s in yourcourt.” Her heart was beating hard in her chest. She was accustomed to guys approaching her. She had never had to work for it. But if she hadn’t made the first move, Golden Boy might have disappeared into the ether. Still, she didn’t need him to think she was desperate, and he was hesitating a little too long for her liking. She turned and started walking away, but he caught her wrist. His grip was gentle but firm.
“Don’t leave. This place would lose all colour if you left.”
She took his hand, pulled him past the dancing bodies, out into the night. He didn’t ask where she was taking him.
The air was gentle, warm. The sky was lit up with stars. She led him past the security men, across the lawn and into the shadow of a little outbuilding. Here, the party seemed distant. He let out a breath, then turned to her and leant against the wall, his body at a forty-five-degree angle. “I don’t know your name.”
“Monife. Monife Falodun.” She no longer used her father’s name. What would be the point?
“Kalu Kenosi,” he said, his voice thick and smooth.
“A pleasure.”
He paused, then: “The pleasure’s all mine.”
She giggled; it was a terrible line. He stuck his hands into the pockets of his black jeans. “I didn’t…I’m not really any good at…”
“From what I hear, you excel at everything.”
He blushed. She wanted to taste him, so she tugged his shirt, pulling him down, and pressed her lips to his. He stiffened for a moment, and then relaxed into the kiss, teasing her mouth with his own. Peppermint.
“Mo?” Ebun’s voice cut short their moment, and Mo sighed as Golden Boy released her. “What is it?” she said, turning and seeing her cousin approaching. Ebun looked them both up and down. Judgement was spilling out of her.
“Your boyfriend is looking for you.”
“Did you follow me?”
