Katenekwa expected regret to rouse her at dawn, but all she felt was fulfilment. She bit her lip to stop the moan escaping her lips at the memory of Wezi inside her.
Of all the reckless things she’d done, none was more foolish than bedding her crush in her childhood bed. She turned to find the space beside her empty. Wezi was up already? Clearly, he had figured out that the best way to deal with her dad was to bail after their illicit night of fun.
Her body shuddered at the memory. Passion, love, and hunger all wrapped in the delectable package that was Wezi. But as much as she wished to spend all day in fantasy, she had to get to work. Her father should be up by now, by habit. Even though the retired man had nothing to rush for, he was still an early bird.
She found him pouring himself a cup of coffee. Decaf, she hoped.
“Morning. You spent the night?”
Katenekwa shrivelled under her dad’s inquiring gaze. He knew. Oh God, he knew. “It was late.”
“Hmm.” He brought the coffee cup to his lips and slurped loudly. “If you’re looking for Wezi, he left really early.”
Katenekwa smiled like an imbecile. “Why would I be looking for Wezi?”
“I’m sure you know I asked him to stay.”
“Yep. I found him in the kitchen last night. So, that’s cool.”
He raised a brow. “You two annoy me.”
Katenekwa blinked. “Excuse me. We what?”
“I know as a father I’m not supposed to involve myself in these matters, but you two have gotten on my last nerve. Obviously, you love each other, but you just won’t get out of each other’s way. And you’re trying to move on with that phoney man.” He paused to shake his head. “He’s as boring as a doorknob.”
Katenekwa blinked at her father and opened her mouth a few times before she managed to make a sound. “You. Um. What?”
“And now she’s speechless. You live in the misery of your own making, child.”
That much was true. “Just out of curiosity, how long have you known about this?”
“I have eyes, unlike you. He’s always been in love with you. I kept hoping you’d see it, but you were too far in your own mind.”
So, she’d spent years pining for a man who’d loved her before she even noticed him. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’m going to make it right.”
“Start by ditching the doorknob. So boring.”
Katenekwa beamed at him, glad she had a father who more than made up for her lack of a mother. She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Thanks, Dad.”
***
Katenekwa was no coward, but she froze at Josiah’s door. Their relationship needed to be defined now. She had to tell him to move on, and then she’d be able to do the same.
She shifted her weight from one leg to the other, waiting for him to answer the door before she lost her last strand of courage, bolted, and let him down him via text.
She cleared her throat as a key turned in the door. She clenched and unclenched her hands as guilt rolled over her, and the bliss she’d carried around in her body shrunk into a husk.
She’d given in to her desire for Wezi without a thought for Josiah, and he’d been nothing but a gentleman. He’d been so patient with her, and this was how she repaid him? And she dared to show up at his door and break up with him as if she were innocent?
She took a bracing inhalation. It had to be done, no matter the consequences. She waited, poised to offer a cheery good morning.
The door opened, and the “good morning” stuck in her throat.
Josiah’s face brightened. “Good morning. I thought we were meeting at the festival. Come in.”
He ushered her into his flat. She’d once found comfort in this place. The cosy red and black sofa she’d curled up on as they binge-watched shows on his massive flat screen.
On cold days, he left the embroidered white rayon drapes covering the large windows open so the sun rays could warm the small room. When it was warm, they sat on the balcony, which didn’t view anything. The two-bedroom flat was rudimentary at best.
Josiah lived a simple life for a man with more than moderate success.
He wasn’t about the material wealth, and she’d loved that about him. If only she could have loved him. Her place of comfort was her courtroom now. It demanded her honesty, her confession.
She sank onto the sofa, unable to be as cheery as she’d thought she could be. Keeping her breathing steady, she hoped her voice was stable too. “I was hoping to talk to you before the show.”
“Yeah? Do you want some breakfast? I’d offer to drive to the show with you, but your outfit tells me you haven’t been home yet.”
Katenekwa glanced down at her gown. “I didn’t make it home.”
“So, what do you want to talk about?”
Katenekwa braced herself. Letting a guy down in person was more challenging than she’d imagined. She wasn’t really one for dating. Usually, the unwelcome man would just disappear if she stopped paying attention to him. This was different. Josiah had stuck around even when she wasn’t ready for a relationship. She owed him this one thing.
“It’s about us. I’ve kept you waiting for a while. You are the kindest, sweetest, most patient man I know. I can’t keep you guessing forever, and the truth is, I don’t think this is ever going to work.”
It took a second for Josiah to process the information. Confusion turned to realization, morphed into anger and sadness, and then his expression went quiet. He put on his business face. That straight, serious face he put on for work. He rolled his shoulders and straightened his back.
“This is about Wezi, isn’t it?” Josiah said in a matter-of-fact way.
“It’s not...”
He raised his hand to shush her. “Don’t lie to me, Kate. I’m not a child. I saw how you looked at him. You’ve never looked at me that way.”
“I’m sorry,” Katenekwa said softly.
“Have you slept with him?” His eyes sought hers.
Katenekwa fought the urge to look away and betray the truth. Somehow her eyes still did.
Josiah nodded to the unspoken answer, and then he laughed.
Katenekwa blinked. It was Josiah’s usual laugh, but it held so much pain that it burrowed deep into Katenekwa’s core.
“I should have known. Everything I heard about your brother, but somehow I thought you’d be different, even after the games you’ve been playing all year. I was stupid enough to think you were the good egg.”
Josiah’s words slapped her in the face. No. She was nothing like K. She wasn’t a player. She hadn’t betrayed anyone. Josiah wasn’t her boyfriend, right? He’d never been. She hadn’t betrayed him. But she had lied. She’d dodged him, kept him in the dark while she indulged in fantasies with Wezi. She’d told herself there was nothing to betray while she gave him hope that he was the only man in her life. Oh, God! He was right.
“I didn’t mean to….”
“Get out.”
She flinched at the muted fury in his voice. “Josiah.”
“Get out.”
She sighed, gathered herself and stood. “I’m sorry you see it that way. Goodbye, Josiah.”
***
With most of the work done, Katenekwa found herself wandering the showground, offering assistance no one needed. She hadn’t heard from or seen Wezi since last night. Every cell in her body told her he’d bailed on her. He’d gotten her into bed, and now he’d vanished like only he knew how. But she’d deal with the debris of her love life later. For now, she had a festival to manage.
“Katenekwa, you genius you!” Mike found her behind the main stage. He hugged her tightly, his face flush with excitement. “This is a success! You should see the crowds waiting to come in. Are all the acts here?”
All except Wezi. “The director says we are ready to go.”
“Excellent. Excellent. You know, I was sceptical when Keystone asked to organize this event. Even more so when he insisted you plan it. But this is more than I could have imagined.”
“Thank you.” Katenekwa beamed.
“And getting Wezi to sign with us—the icing on the cake. You are something special, Miss Mwaba.”
Katenekwa stared after Mike’s retreating back. Wezi had signed with them? When? How? She glanced at her phone again. Where was that bastard?
Tucking her pride away, she marched to Felicia’s trailer. The diva was stretched out kitten-like on the couch, scrolling on her phone.
“Comfortable?” Katenekwa asked.
“It’s all right. Though I do wish there was alcohol.”
“Sorry, it’s a family festival, so no booze allowed. Hey, have you seen Wezi today? You guys are supposed to do that duet, and I’m wondering if you’re all set.”
“Aargh. That bastard cancelled on me. He was mumbling something about saving it for his true love or whatever. God, I can’t believe I dated him. He’s so damn weird. But he’s so handsome, too. Eish! I need to get a grip.”
With that, Katenekwa agreed. “Uh-huh. So where did he say he was going?”
“No idea.”
“Okay. Thanks. Call me if you need anything,” she offered, playing the courteous host while hoping the diva wouldn’t take her up on the offer. She’d hate to turn into Felicia’s errand girl.
She rechecked her phone. Still nothing from Wezi. This time her heart refused to overlook the fact that he’d disappeared on her again. He’d run like he was so good at doing. Damn it! Why had she thought he was capable of a normal relationship?
She spent the next half hour gliding around the festival grounds, there but not aware. A living ghost. She was in stasis, clutching the last slivers of hope. Refusing to mourn without absolute proof that he’d genuinely run. Her mind, however, laid the past as evidence before her. He’d done it once; he’d do it again.
Besides, at this point, she probably deserved it. She’d so quickly let Josiah go, even though Wezi hadn’t made any commitment to her. What an utterly idiotic move.
She came to a stop somewhere between the stage and the VIP-only area where the trailers were set up, unable to wander any longer. She forced herself to listen to the performances and even clapped along with the shrieking cloud to not draw attention to herself and her genuine struggle.
She whooped after some Zed pop song that made the crowd go wild.
“Since when do you like Zed pop?”
Wezi’s voice shattered the cage around her heart. She looked up and restrained herself from jumping into his arms.
He beamed down at her, looking just edible in his ensemble, blue jeans, and a white shirt.
“Hi.” Suddenly all the things she’d sworn she’d say to him when he showed up evaporated, and she could only gape.
Affectionate Wezi leaned in for a tender kiss that made her heart somersault. “Sorry, I had to bail on you this morning.”
“No problem. I assumed you were busy,” she lied.
Laughter danced in his eyes. “No. I’m almost certain you thought I’d disappeared on you.”
“Okay. Fine. I did. You went quiet. Don’t do that to me again.” She hit his chest playfully, then pulled him close to her as if letting go meant he’d walk away.
“Never again.” He wrapped his arms around her.
Katenekwa pulled away, a little uneasy about this much PDA. “On a weird note, Dad knows about us, somehow.”
“He is a very perceptive man,” Wezi said. “And I may have mentioned it.”
Katenekwa gaped at Wezi. He’d felt comfortable telling her father he was in love with her when she couldn’t even fathom what a conversation like that would look like.
So many questions, but nonrelevant to this moment.
“Where did you go so early?”
“I had to pick something up for you.” He pulled a box from his pocket. “I had this made for you before you, you know, told me to hit the road.”
“To clarify, I didn’t kick you out. You left.”
“Fine, before I left.” He opened the box and pulled out a locket. Inside was a photo of Katenekwa and Kawana and on the back an engraving, Beloved. “You once told me you felt like his memory was slipping away from you. I know this isn’t the same, but I hope it helps.”
Katenekwa wiped away a stray tear and allowed Wezi to clasp the chain around her neck. She pressed the locket close to her heart. “Thank you. I have to confess, you’ve surprised me these past few days. I didn’t think you were the romantic kind. But this, and the note—you’ve surprised me.”
“About that, not to jinx this, but when I saw you that day, you were fuming. You were sure I was back with Felicia. What changed.”
“Felicia explained everything.”
“She did? I’d never imagined her doing something to help someone out.”
“Oh, she wasn’t. She was complaining about Kitty. She doesn’t know I’m Kitty.”
“Does that mean…” His eyes widened.
“That she told me why you broke up? Yep.”
“Oh. That’s embarrassing.” He buried his face in his palms.
“Nah. It’s so you.”
They stood in silence for what felt like an eternity until she spoke. “So, Mike told me you signed with Media GQ.”
“Yeah. It was time.”
“You know you didn’t have to do it. I’m sorry I implied that you didn’t know what you were doing with your life, but you don’t have to do something you hate just for me.”
“Oh, I know. Mike hates my songs. He said they were too melancholy. Until Felicia and I sang together. He liked that, and he signed me. Of course, he made me promise to limit my moody songs.”
“And our song? You never told me you wrote it.”
“Well, K was very much against me telling you how I felt.”
“Kawana knew?”
He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. Love spilled out of him into everything around her. “Kitty, from the first day I laid my eyes on you, I have loved you. K tried to get me to forget you. He didn’t want me to distract you. He loved you so much.”
“I know. You know, we aren’t fighting for the first time in days.”
“Oh, yeah. What’s changed?”
“I believe you now.”
“I’m not like K.”
“I know.”
“I won’t cheat on you.”
“I know.”
“I won’t hurt you.”
“I know.”
“And I will never, ever stop loving you.”
“I know. I truly do.”
He drew her to him in a kiss that made the birds sing and the sun shine brighter. And this time, she didn’t worry about the future or mind that they were being watched. In a world with Wezi, nothing else mattered.