Through the doorway, two
people sauntered in. The woman in a short black dress and high-heeled shoes,
the man in a white shirt and black jeans.
Wumi’s
eyes met Kema’s. She grinned.
“They’re
here.” Kema said.
Steven
half-turned to look. He said, “Hey, look who’s late this time.”
Dare
and Wumi joined the rest at the table. Wumi said, rolling her eyes, “We’re not
late.”
“You
guys are staying in this hotel. You should have been here, waiting with Oliver
and Kema.” Steven said. And then with a wicked grin, he asked, “Were you making
sweet love to each other?”
Tari
slapped his arm. “Stop.”
Kema
grinned. Oliver shook his head. Dare and
Wumi exchanged glances and then burst into laughter.
“See,”
Steven murmured, “I told you.”
Oliver
snapped his hand at the waiter. He dashed over, all smiles. “The champagne.”
Oliver said.
“Yes,
of course, sir.” The man murmured, and departed.
“What
are we drinking?” Dare asked.
“Veuve
Cliquot. Brut Yellow Label.” Oliver answered.
“Nice.”
Dare said.
Oliver
glanced around the table. “I thought we should have some champagne and make a
few toasts before we order, okay?”
“Good
idea.” Steven said. The others nodded.
The
waiter returned with a sweating ice-bucket and a bottle of champagne.
“Fill
us up.” Wumi said, raising her flute.
“Yes,
madam.”
Going
round the table, he filled everyone’s glasses, left the bottle and bucket on
the table, and withdrew to his post.
Oliver
lifted his glass “First, I want to toast my wife and best friend…” inclining
his head at Kema and then Steven. “Together, we took out terrorists, disarmed a
bomb and saved lives. No-one died today.”
“Hear,
hear.” Kema started clapping and the others followed.
Wumi
stared, wide-eyed at Dare. She whispered, “So there was a bomb? Thank You, Jesus.”
Everyone
raised their glasses and then sipped from them, except Kema. She put the cold
drink to her lips, but didn’t swallow.
Oliver
eyed her. She smiled. She had a secret to reveal to him, but later, much later
when they were both back in their room. That secret had been fueling the
feeling of invulnerability that had enveloped her throughout the day.
“To
Wumi, for the greatest catwalk in history. She strutted like a supermodel!”
Kema said.
“To
Wumi!” Dare slipped his hand around Wumi’s shoulders. She grinned.
“To
the almost brand-spanking new couple, Dare and Wumi.” Steven added. Dare
laughed, nodding at Steven.
“To
Wumi and Dare.”
Tari
gave her toast. “To friends.”
“Friends.”
“To
family.” Wumi added.
“Family.” They echoed.
“To
love.” Dare said, his smile sweeping the table.
“LOVE!”
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Learn about the heroes and heroines in the Character Profile page
The Unhinged Book Series; Book 1, 2, and 3 will be out this 2016. Find out more at the Unhinged Books page
