Age is Just A Number-Part 4

We’ve been on the road for 10mins when Bolade turned to me and said, “you’ve been quiet since you said good evening, are you uncomfortable”.

I felt placed on the spot like that I was forced to voice my confusion. “No, I am not uncomfortable, I am confused as I do not know where I am or where we are going,” I said as politely as I could.
I guessed it dawned on him that he hadn’t shared dinner plans as his eyes became wide in realization. “My bad, I apologize, I just thought it would be nice we had dinner at my place” my brows begin to furrow, as he continued to speak.
“I just thought having the chef prepare something in the house might make you comfortable, but if you are not, we could go somewhere that you are, however, do not be anxious about anything. YOU – ARE –  SAFE.” I think he spoke the last three words slowy to make sure it sunk into my fearful brain, which to my amazement did the trick.

I registered his house was situated in Gbagada and I was fluent with the Gbagada environment so I knew I could always get by.

We got to his place and wow, it was lovely, it was spacious yet homely. I loved it. The art pieces on the wall, the flower arrangement beside the entertainment area. It was a lovely use of space and I wasn’t too embarrassed when I requested a tour of the place.

It had a total of 6 rooms and a master bedroom with a walk-in closet. The closet was enough to house my two rooms. I was impressed by the minimalist décor. It was elegant, simple yet exquisite, and luxurious. I fell in love with his styling taste, which made the idea of dinner in his place even more tolerable.

We sat down at the sitting area, and the chef came out to say his greeting and offered some sparkling water before he went back to the kitchen. Within minutes, the chef announced that dinner was served and, boy was I impressed.

I was thinking the chef was going to go over and beyond with flamboyant dishes, well he did because the food on the menu were so simple that one hardly remembers to eat. We had Ikokore (it is a Yoruba water yam delicacy). Pasta and Beef Stroganoff, Chicken soup, cinnamon rolls, and dessert was stuffed cream chocolate with a fine bottle of Bordeaux that I can’t recollect the name.

At the end of the dinner, I was stuffed and I was ready to sleep, but on my bed non less. Girl have some standards. I wanted to be polite, but was ready to go home in order not to tempt fate, at the same time I enjoyed our evening and I didn’t want him to think I was rude or worst, that I didn’t like him. Wait I minute, I like him, I thought to myself.

Amazed at how easy it was to like him and I gave myself a mental note to have a stern talk with myself as soon as I got home. But honestly, what was not to like, he was kind, sweet, gentle and thoughtful and many things i had yet to discover.

Right on cue, he said, “I can see you are conflicted about something, what is it?”. I didn’t know what to say so I just said “dinner was great”

“And you want to go home” maybe he could read my mind I don’t know but what he said made him so lovely and true.

“yes” was all I could mutter

“don’t worry, let’s go,” he said while he stood up and stretched his hand towards me to help me to my feet.

It was a silent ride again which was beginning to get awkward, maybe it was me feeling that way. I just had a nagging feeling, he thought I used him or something and I was beginning to spiral in my thoughts again until he took my hand in his
“Tonight, was very lovely, I had a great time with you”

Breathing out a sigh of relief
“Tonight, was wonderful for me as well, I had a great time,” I told him as truthfully as I could.

We got to the front of my house and I began to wonder if this date would end with a kiss, I thought to myself, did I want it to end with a kiss? Was that too much, too early or was it okay, at least we were not kids?

He ended the endless kiss battle in my mind by giving me a peck on my cheeks and a kiss on my hand. The driver opened the door and I alighted from the car, he waved goodbye and the car zoomed off.
Like a typical girl, I began to wonder, a peck! On the cheeks! Maybe I was overthinking it. Maybe I let myself  like someone who was just being kind towards me.

I was tossing and turning that night after dinner, the hot shower didn’t do anything to help me, I just wrapped myself with my fur duvet and began spiralling on the possibilities that he didn’t like me the way I liked him and he was just being nice. I was spiralling that I forgot to check if he had gotten home and it was past midnight already. I thought to call but I felt he would have slept and that started another battle in my head. Until my phone rang and it was Bolade.

I didn’t let him say hello, immediately I said “I hope you got home safe?”

He chuckled “yes I did. Feeling guilty?”

I knew he was smart  and something i felt he could read my mind so, It was a moot point denying it “yes”

“don’t” he simply said

“I should, but I was thrown by the kiss on the check you gave me,” I said honestly

“You didn’t like it,” he asked

“I did, it was gentle of you”

“But,” he said waiting for me to speak further when I didn’t say anything, he decided to fill in the blanks himself “you wanted me to kiss you?”

I was flustered and shy like a schoolgirl, but at the same time, I had learned over the years to be bold and speak freely about my expectations “yes” I whispered.

“Next time,” he said

The anticipation in those two words made my heart swell and my inner goddess did a backflip

“You are such a bright and smart lady and I must tell you the truth, I like you, and I would like to date you. I hope you would be open to dating me as well. The truth is, after my wife died, it has been very difficult to feel the way I feel right now, and you make it easy, our conversations are so soulful and it is hard to see that in a lady of your age. I hope you don’t look at our age difference to be discouraging because I do like you.”

All I could think of was wow, wow, age difference, shoot, I hadn’t thought about it at all. He was 62 and I was 31. It was such a gap, but when I am around him or talking to him, there seems to be no gap at all. He was cool and hip, smart and thoughtful. Honestly, I didn’t think of the gap at all.

So, it felt freeing and peaceful when I said those four words back to him
“I like you too”

And so, it began…