Michael shook his head with a smile as he turned back to the road and eased the car back into motion. "Why did you do that, though?" he asked, looking at Amara, who was still giggling, clearly unbothered by the scene she had just orchestrated.
"Wasn't she the one who started it? She was behaving as if she were your wife. Last Sunday, she did the same thing. When I first saw the two of you, I even thought that maybe she was your wife or fiancée," Amara said, not wanting to tell Michael about what she had seen at the Hotel.
Michael chuckled. "For real?"
"Yes. Now that I know she is nothing special to you, she will rest in Jesus' name," Amara said, adjusting her seatbelt. "Let her know that you're not her property."
Michael laughed again. "You gave her the impression that I'm your property."
Amara shrugged playfully. "She sef gave me the impression that you were her property. So, I balanced it. You're not anybody's property. Don't worry, until the wife that God arranged for you comes, I will ensure that people like sister Faith won't stand in the way or pursue them."
Michael knew he shouldn't enjoy her possessiveness this much— after all, he hadn't told her anything official. But here he was, grinning like a fool.
He was almost tempted to ask her what if she became the one pursuing or standing in the way of his God-ordained wife since she wanted to pursue Faith and everyone else.
But he decided against it. There was no need to make her feel that way when he knew she was the wife God had given to him.
Instead, he said, "So, should I also make sure that people like Brother Emma don't stand in the way or pursue your future husband?"
Amara giggled, "Talking about brother Emma, did he ask you to let him drop me off?"
Michael glanced at her. "Whenever I ask you a question about brother Emma, you always avoid answering. Why?"
Amara laughed softly. "Sorry. It's not deliberate. Maybe it's because I don't like talking about myself too much."
"You? Is it this Amara that I know or another one who doesn't like talking about herself? Which Amara told my mother her full life story?" He asked, and she burst out laughing.
"That's different jare. That's not what I mean. Anyway, to answer your question, eh. Since I'm helping you pursue sister Faith and any others, you can help me pursue the guys too."
Michael raised a brow. "Are you very sure about that? The way you two were whispering in church, I thought maybe you like him, but you're forming small."
Amara laughed. "The way you were talking to Sister Faith when I was with the pastor nkor? I saw the way she was smiling, nodding, and touching your hand. Are you sure you don't like her?" she teased.
Michael chuckled, "We were only talking about the Bible. She asked me some questions I was answering. Do you think if I liked her, I would have asked her to sit in the back while you sat in front? Or do you think I will play along with you if I liked her?"
Amara grinned. "I don't know o. Maybe you played along because you were trying to use me to make her jealous. And maybe you asked her to sit in the backseat so that you can be looking at her very well through the rearview mirror."
Michael laughed again, amused by the entire conversation. "Amara Abeg. No, I am not interested in Faith. For the last time, are you interested in brother Emma?"
Amara shook her head. "No, I'm not."
"Good," he said, not wanting to tell her that Emma had told him anything since he wasn't Emma's messenger of love. It wasn't from his mouth that Amara will hear that another man was interested in her.
"I'm glad that you chose to drop me off sha. At first, I thought you gave him the go-ahead to drop me off," Amara admitted.
"I considered it. I wasn't sure what you'd want." And he didn't want her to go with him.
"Well, you have my permission to continue to refuse if he asks you another day. I prefer it like this. I like gisting with you as you're driving." Amara smiled at him as he turned to look at her.
Michael didn't respond immediately, but her words struck something warm and dangerous in his chest. "Me too."
They both fell silent, but it wasn't awkward. It was comfortable silence, the kind that didn't need to be filled.
"By the way, how did your conversation with the pastor go? Did his wife apologize to you?" Michael asked, and she laughed.
"That woman sha. Only God will help her," she murmured before remembering she was Michael's cousin. "Sorry, I know she's your cousin. She's just funny. She said she was angry with me because I reported her to your mother, and your mother embarrassed her and rejected the food she wasted her money and time to make for her because of me. Pastor looked so embarrassed eh, and she didn't even care. Imagine calling me so his wife would apologize to me, and she was expecting an apology from me. A whole pastor's wife o!"
Michael chuckled. "So, what did you do?"
Amara shrugged. "I apologized to pastor for blocking his line back then. I told her not to be angry. I assured Pastor that I'm fine and I don't need the apology. I'm not in church because of a human being. Pastor asked if I would join the choir again. I told him I would, so he said he would talk to the choir coordinator, and on Sunday, I should resume rehearsals."
Michael nodded with approval. "Well, that's good. I can't wait to listen to you sing."
Amara laughed. "I will have a three-month probation period first. So, you will wait a little."
"You know you can just sing small now, abi?" He asked with a grin.
"How much will you pay? Na only God I Dey sing free song for," she said, making him laugh.
"How much?"
Before she could respond, her phone rang, and she smiled when she saw it was his mother. "It's your mother," she said before receiving the call.
She had a broad smile on her face as she received the call. "Mummy, good evening, ma."
"Good evening, My darling Amara. How are you? Did you go to church?" Her voice was warm.
"I'm fine, mummy. We are on our way back. How are you? How is Daddy? How was your flight?"
"The flight was smooth. I'm fine, my dear. Daddy is fine too. I told him about you, and he can't wait to meet you. I'm glad to hear you went to church. Is Tega there with you?"
"Yes, ma. Should I give him the phone?"
"No. You're the one I called to check on. I'm on my way home from church, too. When I got home, I tried on the dress you made. It was so beautiful! Tomorrow, I will call you. Let's talk about the clothes you're going to make for me."
"Okay, mummy. Greet daddy for me," she said as she hung up.
Michael glanced at her as he slowed down as they approached the pharmacy.
This one she was referring to his parents as Daddy and Mummy, he hoped she wouldn't start brother zoning him.
"What?" She asked when she caught the way he stared at her.
"This one you're calling my parents mummy and daddy, I hope you won't start calling me brother Tega or start thinking I'm your brother or something like that?" he said, and she laughed.
"You're my brother in Christ. And nothing is wrong in taking you like my brother…."
"Don't even think of it. Loose that thought," he cut her off.
Her heart skipped a beat and her brows pulled together when she saw he was serious.
Not wanting to read too much meaning to it, she sighed as she looked out the window. "I want to see a movie on Netflix before I sleep," she said as she adjusted in her seat.
Michael could tell she was trying to change the subject, and he was okay with it. He had passed his message on for now.
"Don't forget to come and take the money for the jollof rice tomorrow. Or maybe I should give it to you this night before you come and tell me tomorrow that you were only saying it because of Faith," he said as he parked.
Amara laughed. "I meant it jor. I'll text you a full list of everything I want to buy tonight, including Maggi, meat, and firewood."
Michael blinked. "Firewood?"
She burst into laughter. "I'm joking jor. But don't worry, I'll make it very tasty tomorrow."
"I have no doubt. Come and take the money before you leave for the market," he said, so he will have an excuse to see her in the morning.
"Yes, my lord," she said with a mock bow.
They sat in the car for a few more seconds, both not quite ready to say goodbye. Amara's hand reached for the door handle, then stopped.
"Thanks for the ride. I really enjoyed the talk," she said, then grinned, "minus Faith."
Michael laughed. "Well, the way you handled her made it more fun."
They laughed again before Amara finally opened the door and stepped out.
"Goodnight, brother Tega," she said with a small laugh.
Michael laughed. "It's not me you're talking to. "Goodnight, Amara."
She laughed as she closed the door behind her and walked away.
Michael leaned back in his seat as he watched her head for the stairs and exhaled.
Everything was moving so quickly, but it didn't feel rushed. It felt… divinely timed. And that scared him in the most thrilling way.