THE HONOURABLE MAN

Episode 15

Back at work and all he can think about is his amazing weekend with his girl, he worries their relationship is way too good to be true but he hopes things will stay as good as they are or even better. He makes it a point to call her every morning on his way to work just to ask how her night was and wish her a wonderful day. He calls her again on his lunch break just to hear her voice and tell her how much he misses her.

A call from his mother comes through, he hasn’t spoken to her for a while and he decides he is not going to tell her about the love in his life at least not over the phone. “Mother how are you?” “I’m great how about you my boy? You’ve been awfully distant, is there some girl keeping you busy?” “Of course not, I’m sorry about that mother I’ve been swamped at work.” “That’s all right, I’m thinking of coming to visit you in a few days from now.”

Bryce gets up from his seat and paces around his office, he cannot have his mother around not when he has just started seeing someone. His mother would just interfere in their relationship and tell him Kiana is too young for him and all other things he doesn’t want to hear, he might even scare her away. “Bryce, hello! Are you still there?”

“I’m sorry mom but you can’t come, you see I have a friend who needed a place to stay so he is kind of living with me for some time,” he stutters. “You better not be cohabitating with some floozy Bryce,” she warns. “Come on mom I think you know me better than that.” “Okay son, I will talk to you later then, take care of yourself I love you,” “love you too mother.”

Being the only child has its own advantages and disadvantages, if he had siblings his mother wouldn’t want to be visiting him too often as she would be taking turns to visit her other children and maybe she wouldn’t be so over protective and obsessive.

Kiana surprises him by paying him a visit prior to his lunch break so as to take him out for lunch, her treat. Bryce considers it sweet of her to offer to pay for his meal but he feels it’s his job as a man to make sure his lady never dips into her own pocket besides she is young and unemployed but Kiana is persistent and so she insists on paying the bill, she desires to do something nice for him for once, she can’t always be receiving and never giving back.

He assures her it’s not like that at all, she has given him so much that material things can’t compete with. “I have something for you,” she enthusiastically announces and gets his attention immediately. “What is it?” he asks excitedly, “don’t be over excited, it’s nothing big,” she dips into her sling bag and takes out a black leather wrist band engraved with the name Adams.

He is chuffed he wasn’t expecting this at all and it’s the most sentimental gift anyone has ever given him. He wears it on his wrist right away and he loves the way it looks on him. “You should have engraved your name on it instead of my surname.” “I thought it would seem childish and too obvious to everyone that I bought it.” “Hmm okay then, thank you so much I love it,”

“Really?” she hopes he is not just saying that because he doesn’t want to disappoint her. “Yes I love it,” he reassures. “Good I’m glad, I saw you wearing a nice wrist band the other day and I just thought of buying you one and engraving your name on it. You have done so much for me yet I have never done anything for you so I just thought to return the favour and do something nice for you.”

Bryce and Kiana part ways after his lunch break, a few hours later he gets an unexpected call from Maliah. “Is everything alright at home, Is Kiana okay?” He can’t think of any reason why Kiana’s young sister would be calling him, he worries something may have befallen his lady love.

“Yes everything is okay I’m sorry for worrying you. I just wanted to remind you that it’s my sister’s birthday next week Friday.” “Are you kidding me, Its Kiana’s birthday next Friday? I had no idea,” “I know that’s why I called to let you know because I really like you and I don’t want you to get dumped for forgetting her birthday.”

“Thank you Maliah I owe you one,” he chuckles before he hangs up. Now he needs to think of what to buy Kiana for her birthday, the first birthday she will hopefully get to celebrate with him. Throwing her a surprise party is out of the question, he is thinking a romantic dinner and a late night movie.

*

Bryce joins Pete for a drink later on and he asks him what he usually gets his wife for her birthday.

“Smart kitchen products like a seven in one pressure cooker or non-stick stainless steel pots, automatic vacuum sealing system that kind of stuff.” Bryce gawps at him in disbelief, “are you serious?” “Yes I am and in case you didn’t know those things are pretty expensive man and they make things very convenient for the ladies in the kitchen,” he justifies himself.

“Pete those are things to buy your wife at any time but not as a birthday, anniversary or Christmas gifts, oh poor Selena I wonder what on earth she did wrong to deserve a husband like you,” he buries his face in his hands he can’t believe how unromantic his friend is and he genuinely feels sorry for his wife. Pete doesn’t say anything although he is left feeling dumb.

“Please I beg you the next time you buy her those boringly unromantic kitchen things just make sure to add flowers, her favourite chocolates and a piece of jewellery on top,” he advises. “Says the man who is still playing with his food instead of eating it, tasting it and enjoying it. You know what I mean right?” “No I’m afraid I don’t understand riddles,”

“I’m wondering when you are going to give it to her? Are you not dying to taste her? I’m pretty sure she is dying to taste you, can’t you see you are sexually starving that poor girl and I’m sure by now she has given you plenty signs that she is ready to get intimate.” “The time will come Pete and I’m not going to talk to you about my intimacy with Kiana I respect her too much so it will stay between me and her.”

“Ah come on man, you can’t do that to your best friend that’s what I’m here for and besides she will tell everything to her girlfriends, that’s how girls are like so you might as well forget about it staying between the two of you.” He rolls his eyes