Always been mine!

chapter fifteen

"My feet are killing me,” I groan, leaning against the bar. "Stupid ass heels!"

"Nah, you’re fine. You just need another drink."

Mumba raps her knuckles against the top of the bar and the bartender looks at us. "Three tequila shots please."

"No," Camilla mutters. “Not tequila. Anything but the devil's drink! Get me some orange juice."

I hold the tiny glass in front of my face. " If It’ll stop my feet hurting, i don’t give a shit."

Mumba: "I’ll remind you that you said that when you call me tomorrow with a hangover."

Me:“I promise I’ll drink some water before I go to bed. My mom will kill me if I’m hangovered tomorrow.” I bring the glass to my lips and tip it back. "Another one. Hit me!"

Mumba smirks and throws my words back at me. "Your mom will kill you if you have a hangover tomorrow."

Camilla: " You turn twenty-three once in a while right? It’s my birthday, I need this."

“Okay.” Mumba shrugs, waving the bartender over again. “Three more, and three bottles of spin. ”

He nods and fixes the drinks. A few minutes later, they appear in front of us, and I grab my purse.

“Hell no!” Camilla cries. “It’s illegal to buy your own drinks on your birthday. What kind of sister would I be if I let you buy it yourself.”

Camilla and I had grown close the last few years and we're like best friends. She and Mumba have been friends since they were kids. I miss Bonnie but she's off working at a missionary hospital in the southern part of the country.

Me:“But...”

“She’s right,” a smooth voice says from behind me.

I spin on my seat and look into the dark eyes of Ronald Mwamba. The very same man that has my grand-mother drooling. His bright eyes are sparkling with the same smile that’s twitching at his lips. I've seen him shirtless on TV and right now I'm tempted to look down at his abs. He’s hot. The tequila in my glass says so too.

Me:"Is that right?" I reply.

Him:"It's the law. Will I be lucky enough to buy a drink for a pretty girl like you?"

Me:"Are you hitting on me, Ronald?"

He rests his elbow on the bar in front of me and hands the bartender two hundred kwacha between his fingers. "Does it sound like I am?"

Me: "I’m pretty sure Ronald Mwamba, Zambia's golden boy, can find a thousand girls like me just by turning around." I nod my head over his shoulder.

He takes his change from the bartender. "Finally, a girl who recognizes me for more than what is under my shirt. Is this my lucky night?"

Me: "Oh, the abs. You'd be surprised how many want to run their hands on them." I laugh, remembering grandma's obsession. "If this is your lucky night, clearly Lusaka isn’t doing much for you!"

Him:"You could always tell me your name." He says leaning toward me.

Me:"God, I just love it when guys act like they have no idea who I am. It’s so cute."

Him: "All right." He holds his hands up briefly. "You got me, Nicolette Guardner. I’d recognize you a mile away."

Me:"I’m flattered."

His eyes don’t move from mine. "You're much more beautiful in person."

Me:"Really? I didn't realize. That's the line you're going with?" I raise my eyebrows.“It has never worked on me. Nice try though.”

He laughs, "I like you. I can tell, we're going to have so much fun."

I seal my lips around my bottle and have a sip.

"Do you always make it this hard for guys to pick you up?"

Me: "No." I meet his eyes once again and twist my lips into a smile. "I’m only this much of a pain when the guy is overly certain he can."

Him:"Touché." He moves in a little closer. "How about we make a deal?"

Me:"If you leave me alone, I promise not to scream?"

Him: "screaming in my bed, yes. But, no."

Me: "Hit me, I'm pretty tipsy. Hopefully you will have a better aim now than you did earlier tonight."

He smiles. "If you give me your number, I’ll leave you alone. For now."

Me:;"Here’s a better idea." I lean forward, bringing my face closer to his. "You realize I’m not interested and let me enjoy the rest of my birthday in peace."

Him:"Are you asking or telling me?"

"I’m telling you."

"You can enjoy your birthday all you like, Nikki, but I don’t believe you when you say you’re not interested in me."

I snatch my hand from his grip. "What do girls see in you?"

Him:"The money, the name, the body…"

Me: " yup, It sure isn’t your charming personality."

He winks. "Happy birthday, Nikki," he says smoothly as he walks away backwards.

I shake my head and turn away. How does that guy get laid? Oh, yeah, that’ll be the sexy smile and smooth lines that work only on desperate girls.

Camilla:“Was that the Ronald Mwamba talking to you?” Camilla puts her hand on her chest.

Me:“The Ronald Mwamba?” I snort. “He is a football legend, so what?”

Mumba: "He plays football?" She blinks at me.

Me:“How the hell are we even friends? You don't even know what football is, do you?”

Mumba laughs. “Damn. He’s hot.” She licks her lips.

Me:“He’s also the biggest serial dater in the league. In fact, I’m sure his dates are more like casual f***s. So yes, he’s hot...”

Mumba: "Very hot."

Me: "Very hot,” I correct myself, my eyes flicking to the back of his head across the bar. “But he's an asshole.”

Apparently my eyes linger on him too long because he turns and smiles at me. I blink slowly.

Mumba continues. “You should have given him your number. That would have been cool.”

“This is Zambia,” Camilla butts in. “It’s not exactly a huge deal if some hot, rich guy has your number.”

Me:“Exactly,” I mutter.

“But he’s not just some rich guy!” Mumba argues. “He’s Ronny. The Ronald Mwamba.”

“You didn’t even know he’s a football player until two minutes ago!” Camilla shakes her head.

“Mumba, why don’t you go and get his number?” I ask. “I’m not interested in him. He's all yours.” I turn to the bar and wave my glass. “I’ll have another.”

I dig out a 100 kwacha bill when the bartender brings it back, but he shakes his head.

“Mr. Mwamba said all your drinks are on his tab tonight.”

My eyes turn to the corner table where he’s sitting with two of his teammates. He raises his glass in my direction, and I purse my lips.

Me:“Well, you tell Mr. Mwamba thank you very much,” I tell him. Bar guy makes a move, but I lean over the bar, grabbing his arm, my eyes still on Ronald. “But I am perfectly capable of purchasing my own drinks."

I slap my money in his hand, grab my drink, and turn without another word.

******************************************

Me: "Oh c'mon grandma, i am not hungover. I'm just a little tired.”

Grandma turns just as I take a sit and smiles."Some water, please."

Her: "Sam Horter? Who i?"

Me: "OMG, where's your damn hearing aid." I groan. "Water, granny. Wooooooo-ter."

Her: "Right! You would like some water."

Me: "there we go. Yes, please."

Her: "Well, why didn't you say just that?" She smiles, handing me a glass of water. "By the way, Starlet is going to kill you."

I reach out for the glass of water and take two aspirin pills in the counter. "Don't say her name, you just might summon her."

Mum: "Summon who?"

I sit up straight, wincing at the pounding in my head. I smile, trying to play it cool.

Mum: "Hello, mum." She smiles at grandma before turning to study me. "Did you have a good time last night, Nicolette?"

“I did.”

Mum: "Did anything…interesting happen?"

Me: "Camilla and I came back home in one piece this time."

Grandma places a plate of bacon and scrambled eggs and a glass of orange juice infront of me.

Mum’s lips slowly turn into a smile, "No, Nikki. I meant with you."

I shake my head slowly while chewing on bacon. “No. I’m boring.”

Her smile grows a little more, and she hands me the rolled-up newspaper from under her arm. I frown and take it from her.

Me: "You have it already?"

Her: "yup " She waves her hand.

Granny: "Oh! Is that sexy abs Ronald Mwamba?"

"What?” I Jump from my seat at grandma’s question, grabbing the newspaper from her and zoom in.

Sure as hell, there we are, on Watchdog. The image shows him leaning down as I’m looking up. We look like we’re about to kiss.

"Something to tell me, honey? have you found a replacement for Michael?"

I look at Mum, my jaw dropping. “Michael again, mother? That piece of shit.” I turn back to the paper, “Is this for real?”

“Is he more handsome in real life? Did you touch the abs” Grandma asks and I ignore her.

"Nothing happened.He is the

last thing I need when I’m about to launch my own line."

Camilla walks in munching on an apple,"I can answer that for you my granny-bum."

Mum sits down next to me, “I know, honey, but you’re allowed to have a little fun. You can't give up on men just because one hurt you.”

Camilla:"tell her."

I look at her. “Okay, so I’m taking fun as ha-ha-giggle fun and not the oh-oh-sexy fun, because I’m pretty sure you are not supposed to tell me to do that and I haven't given up on men,I have a few here and there.”

Granny:“I’d have fun with him if I were twenty years younger."

Me:“Grandma! God!” I gasp, looking at her. “You can’t say things like that around me. You’re going to traumatize me for life.”

Her:"Mar you for life? Child, you keep saying a bunch of nonsense today."

Me: "Can you please get her that damn hearing aid? And maybe a gag?"

Camilla stops in front of grandma, bends, fits the aid in her ear, then stands. "Is that better?"

Granny: "Lovely." Grandma turns and hands her a plate of French toast and bacon. But she gets a kiss.

"Hey, why didn’t I get a kiss on the cheek?"

"You refused to tell me if Mr. Mwamba is hotter in real life than he is on TV."

"Omg, seriously? Yes, he’s hotter in real life, granny. There. Are you happy?"

Granny: "Will you bring him for dinner one of these nights? I’ll make lasagna and meatloaf."