Last updated on October 22nd, 2025 at 11:26 am
Joe and I ended up talking for about two hours that night. It’s been a week now. We had to end the call when we both started yawning. No doubt, we’re both busy people. We have another call scheduled for today, and I have promised to catch Zabby up on things after tonight’s call, which we’ve both agreed to not exceed an hour.
It’s an hour to the close of work, and an exhilarating sensation courses through my body. A sweet feeling has taken root in my belly since Joe came back into my life, and I find myself wanting more from him, wanting to explore that feeling that he ignites within me. Maybe I’m getting way ahead of myself, after all, I haven’t asked if he has a girlfriend or anyone he’s seeing. I also don’t trust myself regarding my feelings for him. Is this because he once asked me out? Is it because we’ve known each other for a long time? Or because he’s the first man approaching me after the dead relationship I had with my son’s father? Is this feeling a mere distraction?
My wanting to talk to Zabby also has a lot to do with these questions. Zabby has been in a long-term relationship for over five years now with her boyfriend, who also lives in Abuja, and it’s one of the few healthy ones that I’ve witnessed—I’m in safe hands with her. Even with these doubts in my mind, I note that not once have I doubted Joe’s sincerity in all of our discussions. His attentiveness, the way he reflects before talking, him just listening and knowing when to talk…
—
I burst into the house, exhausted but happy, joyful even. Zabby’s on the couch, reading and as I pull my shoes and sigh in relief, our eyes meet.
“What?” I ask even though I know what the silent stare implies. “Tonight, for sure, tonight,” I say in a singsong voice.
“Better. This guy that’s making you happy when I’ve not been able to, I want to hear about him.”
“Aww, Zabby. It’s not the same you know. No one could ever replace you.”
“Well, I know.” She answers confidently, a smirk on her face. “But, I want to hear about him.”
“Definitely, let me refresh and get something to eat.”
—
“Joe, before we start, before I even ask how you’re doing, do you have anyone that you’re serious with?” I quickly ask before I forget.
“No no… umm, I’m a bit flaggerbasted.”
“Right,” I laugh. “You look shocked. What did you expect me to ask?”
“I assumed you were going to ask me when I wanted to ask you out.” he answers, matter-of-factly.
“And what makes you think that I’m interested in you like that?”
“I would laugh, but my heart and sanity are on the line here. Angela, be honest, do you think that there’s a possibility of an ‘us’ ?”
“That’s so direct, Joe.”
“We’ve tried this before, you know? You’ve explained the reason you didn’t say yes to me when we were in school, but what potential reason or reasons do you have now? I’m curious.”
“I have my doubts.”
“Does this mean you only see me as a friend?”
“No no, I only question the origin of my feelings. And maybe the authenticity.”
“Okay, that’s something. I like that we can talk about this.”
“Yeah. What if I just need a distraction?”
“That’s possible, Angela. But wait, does this mean that you have feelings for me?” He asks as if what I said just clicked in his head.
“Umm, don’t lose focus. We’re trying to dig into the credibility of said feelings.”
“Yeah, we are… It sounds like fear to me. But hearing that there’s something there…” He trails off and sighs.
“Well…”
“Angela, do you have the capacity to make the space for someone else right now? In two months, three months?”
“These calls, Joe. They almost feel like therapy. I can’t believe we are normalising these heavy questions. What do you think?”
“Truthfully, it’s not something that I’ve tried either. But something about you makes me want to be vulnerable, to be honest, to lay everything out.”
“Same here,” I say quietly, then click on the video icon on the screen. Joe accepts the video call request and greets me with a smile.
“Hi, Sweetcakes.”
“Joe,” I breathe.
