“From what I know of Gladys, I‘d say she‘s a novice. As a rule, I personally avoid those but you‘re both grown adults and can make your choices. That said, you may need an assistant girlfriend.” Kanayo laughed into the sudden uncomfortable silence.
Edward couldn‘t imagine why it sounded so loathsome; it wasn‘t as if he hadn‘t done it before. But thinking about it now turned his stomach. Of course it had nothing to do with visualizing the pain on Gladys face if she ever found out. He wiped his palm over his face.
“I don‘t think I want to do that. I guess I must be getting old.”
The laughter stopped. “You know it can very easy to get a girl. In fact they would be falling over each other to get to you. And Gladys doesn‘t have to find out.”
It seemed Kanayo had tapped into his deepest thoughts. Edward‘s heartbeat came faster and he could feel his pulse racing. Gladys had become very close and dear to him. She was as beautiful inside as she looked and he found that he never wanted to hurt her any way.
“Even if she doesn‘t, it wouldn‘t be fair on her.” He went and sat on the wide bed.
“In the months you‘ve been dating Gladys, you‘ve changed a lot, Edward. We called you ‗Mr. Ice‘ as a joke but it was very apt. I don‘t know any other person so much in control of their emotions, especially with women. You were with Bisi for almost two years and were about to consider marriage but you were never as sentimental as you are with Gladys.”
The silence stretched again before Kanayo continued. “You spend every spare minute with her in person or on the phone. Could it be that you‘re falling in love with Gladys?”
Edward lay back against the headboard. “I have thought of it, but what exactly is love?”
Kanayo laughed. “That is the billion naira question! If I knew I would have solved most of the world‘s problems. But you can begin to tell by the way you feel about her.”
Edward inhaled deeply and let out a rush of air. He stood up and began to pace again. The deep brown rug padded his footsteps as he marched from one end to the other. While he couldn‘t pinpoint the moment he‘d begun to need her so much, he couldn‘t deny that he did.