Last updated on October 22nd, 2025 at 01:11 pm
“Angie, baby, did you get enough sleep?” I ask, maybe because I didn’t get any. With Angie a few feet from me, it’s not a surprise that I couldn’t sleep a wink all night. I also couldn’t take any cold showers or distract myself with work or movies because I didn’t want to wake her. Yesterday, when she called me, I made a quick stop at the eatery to get enough food and snacks. It was almost as if I knew that I wouldn’t be able to leave, even though I had no intentions to stay over. We were up talking until midnight. At this point, we were cuddled up (in retrospect, it was probably a bad idea) and we both agreed that I could stay.
It’s been a long time for me—about two years ago, during my tour to other African countries, I was in Burkina Faso. Afterwards, I felt really dirty and decided that I could only do the intentional stuff. I dislike the sleeping around thing, maybe because I’m a bit of a neat freak and it’s a requirement in a sexual partner. Clean mouth, clean hair, clean feet, clean smell. The challenge is that Angie is more than ticking all these boxes; it’s a huge problem. Even though I went to the couch after she dozed off, it was still a struggle for me.
“Just a little.” She answers, but I know her enough to know that she didn’t get any sleep as well.
“Come here, my love.” I spread my arms as she slowly steps into it. “Only when you’re ready, baby. We don’t have to rush.” I whisper.
“What if I am ready now?” She asks unexpectedly.
“Angie, you’re being a tease,” I say, and she starts to laugh. “You know how much I’m struggling, baby.”
“Well, I’m struggling too!” She says, detaching from me, still laughing. I still can’t believe that she’s here with me in Calabar. She’s so considerate to have come on a weekend; if it were during the week, I would have unapologetically forgotten about work.
“Glad you’re having fun, baby,” I say as she enters the bathroom. I begin to clear the disposable plates and the little mess we made last night to distract myself from thoughts of her in the bathroom.
“Oh, you’ve cleared the space. Thank you.” She says, coming out of the bathroom in a towel. She wraps herself around me obliviously. I swallow and try to steer my thoughts towards work-related things, but nothing comes to mind. Then it hits me.
“You’re welcome, baby.” I kiss her forehead. “You know, I wondered if you were aware of what you were doing while I was in Abuja. I think I have my answer.”
“What answer? What did I do?” She asks, not looking at my face.
“Naa, we good, mama,” I smirk as I find the strength to detach from her. I start laying the bed, “It’s good though, two can play this game…Thankfully, I can draw this out too.”
“Draw what out? Joe, you really think you have the upper hand here?”
“Oh! My Angie sounds fierce. A little competition then?”
“How much?”
“Naa, it’s more than that. It has to be more than money. I already work crazy hours for money, a competition with my woman can’t be for money. The winner decides the outcome.”
“I’m not backing down if that’s what you expect. The uncertainty can’t deter me.”
“Okies.” Of course, we make this decision all the while with her almost naked. For a bit, I ask myself if I’m crazy. Maybe I am. Oh, I am because, unexpectedly, Angie drops her towel and makes a show of getting dressed. I’m looking at anywhere but her.
“Baby, have you found my scrunchie?”
“Angie, is this how you want to do this? You want to win so badly you’ll play dirty?” I ask, hoping that she reconsiders. She stops to eye me and I can’t help my eyes as they finally take her in, black bra and lavender panties thankfully on.
“Abeg shift. Joe, honey, have you seen my scrunchie?” At this, I burst into laughter. Soon, we’re both laughing.
