Leo looked down at Emma's smiling face while she explained the situation to him. She looked radiant and the smile on her face looked so genuine. So hard to believe it's fake. He so much wish that smile of hers was genuine and would always be for him alone. If only they had met on a different ground, maybe she would love him the way he loved her now.
"My friend is sick and I pulled up in here so she could throw up inside the gutter... So I was backing out of the street when this dick head here rammed into my car from behind. The most annoying thing is even after telling him I will be responsible for the cost of repair, he still wouldn't shut up... He kept on yapping on and on like a mad dog!"
'Dick head!? She sure has a foul mouth for a girl...' Leo thought, in amusement, wondering if he was too hard on Titi after all
Abby watched with mouth agape how Emma almost shamelessly wrapped the length of her body all over Leo
'This girl!... What the hell is she doing!? Doing the opposite of what Omolade advised by wearing her heart all over her sleeves!... Even a blind man could tell from that smile alone that she's smitten by him...
They are not even married yet and she's like this? Can't she just keep her feelings to herself until she's sure he will love her back the way she loves him?' Abby thought and face palmed herself. 'This is a lost cause. She's hopelessly in love and I prayed she doesn't get hurt.'
Leo immediately took charge of the situation after Emma recounted everything to him. He first called the police, after which he called his mechanic. Abby was happy when she saw the maniac driver had finally quieted down.
Leo was indeed a force to reckon with, no doubt about that. The mere sight of him would make an average man filter his words before daring to say them out. Seeing how the driver had suddenly turned to a stammerer and couldn't get his words right at the sight of Leo amazes her
Abby felt like lying down. With the crowd dispersed and the situation under control, she moved back to Emma's car and sat inside, reclining the seat to the back. It wasn't even up to two minutes that she closed her eyes when Emma came to inform her that Tunde, her boyfriend has arrived.
"Really?... But how did he know where to find me?" Abby wondered aloud.
"Just wondering the same myself" Emma replied with a shrug. Abby came out of the car to find Tunde who looked worried walking towards her.
Tunde's eyes immediately lit up with relief when he finally set his eyes on Abby. He has been worried sick when the tracker he installed in her phone indicated she was nowhere near her school which she ought to have arrived by his calculation after he called her that morning.
It would have been better if it was only him against the ¹Jamal family but she's in the picture and he couldn't help but worry anytime she's not near him.
"How are you?..." He asked before hugging her fiercely to himself like it's been long that they saw each other last
"I feel like death warmed over... I shouldn't have drank so much."
"Yeah, you shouldn't have..." He replied and chuckled at the look on her face. "You should know your limits next time... What are you girls doing here anyway?" He asked after he released her from the hug, his eyes just now perusing the situation.
"Were you in an accident? Are you hurt anywhere?... Are you okay?" He asked all at once getting worried all over again.
"I'm okay... It was just a minor fender bender, don't stress about it..."
"Wait is that Leo?" Tunde asked looking towards where Leo was standing making a call with his side-view slightly towards them.
Leo also looked towards them and saw Tunde. The two men immediately walked towards each other.
"Hawk!... What a surprise... What are you doing here?" Leo asked smiling broadly with his hand stretched towards Leo.
"Came to get my girl.." Tunde replied, taking Leo's outstretched hand with one hand while he still held Abby close with the other.
"Oh wow... You!?" Leo couldn't help but express his surprise at what Tunde said and laughed.
Leo and Tunde weren't really friends but they've done two or three businesses together. The only people Tunde made friends with were his brothers, Mide and Lekan. Leo was good friends with the twins and the men spend time together at the club most of the time.
They all knew about Tunde's view on women and relationships. Tunde believed women are only good for sex and not for keeping around. Imagine how shocked he was when Tunde called Abby his girl.
"So unbelievable..." Leo chuckled and also pulled Emma closer to his side. "Well on that topic, although it has not been officially announced yet, I guess you'll be the first person to know... I'm getting married soon. Meet my fiance, Emma Da-Silva..." Leo introduced them to each other while Emma acted the part of the loving fiance to perfection, to Leo and Abby's utter amazement...
"That's great news... We already met though"
"Yeah I get it... The girls are friends" Leo said
While they wait for the mechanic to arrive, the guys pulled each other to one side to talk about business and whatever guys talks about. Abby decided to use that opportunity of being alone with Emma to ask her about the way she's been acting since Leo joined them.
"That was a perfect act, Emma... You cuddling up to Leo and acting the perfect fiancee..."
"I know, right?" Emma said, twirling some strands of hair around her finger while lovingly looking towards Leo who was now listening intently to whatever Tunde was discussing with him.
"But you and I know it wasn't an act..." Abby said and Emma looked sharply towards her.
"What do you mean by that?... Of course, it was an act. I was only playing with him and..."
"Emma, you're a very bad liar, so give it up already!..."
"Okay, it's not an act but I don't know why I'm acting this way towards him. I don't know why I can't be angry with him... I can't just help myself!" Emma replied with confusion. Pleading with her eyes for Abby to understand her predicament.
"Awww..." Abby cooed and pulled Emma into a hug. "I know the feeling... Falling in love can be a bitch, especially when you know or think he doesn't feel the same towards you." Abby pulled away from Emma and looked seriously into her eyes
"I just don't want you to get hurt, that was why Lade and I felt you shouldn't show your feelings to him yet, not until you're sure he feels the same towards you"
"I know but..."
"You don't need to explain yourself to me, believe me, I understand... Just be careful okay?..."
Emma broke into a wide smile and hugged her friend tightly.
"I will... I'm glad we met, Abby. Thank you for not judging... For understanding..."
"I'm glad we met too... And isn't it great that our men are friends with each other?" Abby broke away from their hug, looking happily towards Emma
"Yeah, I can't believe it myself?" Emma replied and the two girls quietly shrieked in excitement and laughter.
"Uhmm... Excuse me" A gentle voice said uncertainly behind the two friends.
"Uhm hi!..." Titi tentatively waved her hand and gave a weak smile when she got the girl's attention. "I've been waiting in the car all the while..." She said, pointing towards where Leo's car was parked
"Uhmm... The thing is, I've been waiting for brother Leo to introduced us... my name is Titi... Titilayo Salvador"
¹Watch out: 'SCARED in love' for Abby and Tunde's story