"I can't believe she's coming back!" Jessica squealed, "it's been forever!"

"You saw each other last time at our wedding," Gillis said, deadpan.

"Like I said," she turned to him, "F O R E V E R."

He shook his head and lay back on his bed, playing around with his mobile phone.

She pulled a peach dress and a lilac dress form the wardrobe then, holding them up she asked, "should I wear this or this?"

He raised his head up and he smirked, "I think Nude looks best on you."

She looked at the dresses, "Nude? But none of them are nu-Gillis!" She yelled getting the naughty joke, "You're disgusting!"

He laughed throwing his head back to the bed, "Well, you asked for my opinion," he shrugged.

"You're not serious," she hissed, chuckling, "but seriously which do you think looks better?"

"None of them," he said sitting up on his elbow and facing her, "like they are really cute dresses but it's a little too serious for someone who is going to pick her best friend from the airport. Just wear a shirt and a jean, abeg," he said, "wear that grey jean that hugs your body very well," he said.

"Okay," she said nodding, "and what else?"

"Wear that your white 'show belle' shirt. That one that is long sleeved and has hood," he said.

"Show belle?" She quizzed, her face contorted in confusion, "what's that?"

"Show belle nah," he repeated vehemently, "that one you wore when went to mall that time."

"Ohhhhh," she laughed, "Gillis you will not kill somebody in this life! You mean my crop top?" She laughed till she fell to the floor, "village man."

"It's your business," he chuckled, "at least you got my point."

She stood up from the floor wiping her eyes, "Mister show belle."

Gillis hissed and lay back down, "I'm not telling you anything again," he said, "don't ask me for my opinion again. Go and meet Mister crop top to give you fashion advice."

She laughed, "Oh please you can go, I've already gotten what I needed from you, drama king."

He chuckled picking up his phone again.

"You do know you are coming with me to the airport to pick her up right?"

Now that made him sit up, "You say?" He asked.

"I said, what you heard," she retorted.

"Eh, Jesica Mba! Mba! Mba! Mba!" He replied, "if it was someone else, I wouldn't mind but it's Evelyn, as in your Evelyn. Mba oh! I'm not going anywhere."

"So you want me to go the airport all by myself?"

"You're not going by yourself, Jessica, you're going with Thomas," he said.

"Gillis please nah?" she dropped the clothes and strolled off to the bed.

He turned away as she approached him and he said, "Babe, you know Evelyn hates me. I mean we were good at first but she started to dislike me and now she blatantly hates me."

"Evelyn doesn't hate you, Gillis," she sai, sitting in front of him.

"Really? Jessica, really?" He said folding his arms around his chest.

"Okay, well she's not exactly your biggest fan but she doesn't hate you either," she replied, "and I'm not asking you to go for her but for me," she smiled.

He sighed, "I wish I could but I honestly don't want to be anywhere near Evelyn."

"So you're trying to tell me that nothing I say or do will make you escort me to the airport?"

"Bingo," he replied confidently.

She smiled.

ONE FRENCH KISS LATER...

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Gillis grumbled where he sat in the vehicle heading to the airport.

She pecked his cheek, "You're the best."

"Don't 'best' me jhoor!" he frowned, "I'm not the best anything! You're just using that one to press my mumu button upandan."

She laughed and this time kissed him at the side of his lip, "Well that's because I'm the only one allowed to press the mumu button."

Gillis sighed.

You see, he actually never had an issue with Evelyn. In fact, the two of them clicked on the first day they met each other. However, just before he proposed to Jessica she began to detest him. He tried sorting out the issue but the more he tried, the more he seemed to be infuriating her.

"Baby," Jessica called out to him. They had just arrived at the airport and wee coming out of their car.

Gillis sighed and turned towards her, "Yeah?"

"I'm sorry, for forcing you to come along," she said, "even when I know that you two don't really see eye to eye but please baby," she raised up his hand and kissed it, "please baby, just please tolerate her for me, okay?"

"I will," he said.

"Thank you," she said kissing his cheek again.

Thirty minutes later and they were alighting from their parked vehicle in the airport. Jessica held Gillis's arm as they walked down into the airport.

"Oh goodie, she just texted me that their plane has landed," Jessica said pressing her phone, "We're just in time."

"Great," Gillis sighed.

"Babe?" Jessica pulled his arm, he turned to her, "please be good."

"Jessica for the umpteenth time," he rubbed his eyes, "I promise, I will be on my best behavior, okay? The person you need to worry about is Evelyn, will she be on her best behavior?"

"Well-"

"SUP PITCHES!"

"Evelyn!" Jessica screamed rushing over to her best friend. The two ladies clasped themselves tightly in a fierce hug while jumping up and down in excitement. Their display caught the attention of passerby's and Gillis bent his head a bit in embarrassment.

"God! You look so good," Jessica said.

"I know right," she retorted, flinging her imaginary hair.

No doubt about it, with her tall and hour glass figured body, caramel colored skin, defined facial features and signature low cut hair died blonde, Evelyn was a stunner. Today she was dressed in a rainbow dyed long sleeved top, lemon green bikers shorts matched up with a white fanny pack, orange shades and white canvas, yet even when she was dressed so casually, she still made heads turn.

"Oh stop, you're so modest," Jessica replied sarcastically.

She chuckled, "I try," and curtsied.

"Oh come-come," Jessica said dragging her to Gillis. Jessica signaled him with her eyes to say hello and prayed in her heart that two of them would behave civilized enough to share a greeting.

Gillis waved, "Hi."

"Hey," Evelyn replied and quickly she turned back to Jessica, "I'm hungry and since I'm just coming back its your treat."

"Say no more," Jessica replied, she snapped her fingers, "Thomas."

"Yes," Thomas replied rushing over to Jessica, "Welcome back Miss Evelyn."

"Thank you," she replied.

"Please carry her luggage to the car, Tommy," Jessica instructed.

"On it," Thomas said grabbing the pieces of luggage from Evelyn.

As they walked to the car, Gillis just followed quietly behind. He remembered a time when himself and Evelyn used to be this free with each other but something changed, something he just couldn't decipher.

In the car, Thomas and Gillis sat at the front while Evelyn and Jessica at the back-catching up on ol'times. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the car as they drove to a nearby cafe where Jessica would treat Evelyn.

"Honestly, life is so unfair, I mean just look at you eating a whale sized meal for breakfast and I'm here eating sandwiches but I stick with weigh more," Jessica whined jocosely.

Evelyn laughed and pinched her beasties cheek, "honey, don't hate the player, hate the game."

Jessica laughed, "So what brings you back to Nigeria? You missed me that much?"

"Sorry to burst your bubble, sweet cheeks but I'm here for business," she smiled and stabbed a piece of lettuce in her plate, "It is urgent," she looked up and straight at Gillis, "I just hope, for its sake that this really isn't as serious as I'm told it is."

Gillis turned away, feeling uneasy with her eyes on him.

Jessica sighed, "it sounds dangerous," she said, "but you always did love the life on the edge."

She smiled, "true."

Since she could remember, Evelyn had always dreamed of a life on the edge just like what she saw in action movies. And she got her dream fulfilled when she joined the FBI, her degree in human psychology helped her scale high till she got a job as a full time PI-Private Investigator.

"Excuse me, I have to go to the restroom," Jessica chuckled as she stood up.

Be good, Jessica had whispered to Gillis in her kiss before she left but with the way Evelyn was glaring at him, he doubted he would be able to be good.

Throwing all caution to the wind, he took a deep breath and said, "So, did you have a safe trip?"

"Obviously," she retorted, "if I didn't I would be dead."

Gillis smiled softly and bent his head low. I did not think if that.

Evelyn laughed, "Gillis, relax I was only joking."

Gillis looked up at her, "What?"

She sighed, "look, I know we don't always see eye to eye but how about we call a truce? Huh? Sound good to you?" She raised her hand up for a shake.

Something about her sudden kindness seemed off but he made a promise to Jessica and keeping her hand hanging would be breaking the promise. He smiled and raised up his hand to hers, "Oh ok-" she snatched her hand away just before he could touch her, "I knew it," he said as he watched her grinned, "I knew you were faking it. I could tell by the way your smile didn't reach your eye."

She clapped thrice then said, "Excellent! You're cute and smart Gillis, I'll give you that," then she leaned in very close to him and said, "but smart people don't get very far."

He drew back and turned away. For crying out loud where is Jessica? He thought to himself,

"So you guys found Mr Ijah yet?"

He turned sharply to her and his reaction made her grin broadly, she was enjoying this.

"I bet his disappearance hurt like hell," she said while looking into his eyes, she noticed him flinch and she smiled.

Gillis ignored her and put his cups to his lips so he wouldn't say anything.

She wore a mock sympathetic face and said, "your first million, snatched from right under you and you couldn't do anything about it but sulk all the day long."

That did it.

"The fact that you can doesn't mean you should!" he snapped, "I would've assumed that even someone like you would have something more reasonable to do than sticking your nose in my business. You had no right to do that! You really should learn to mind your own business for once," he added.

Feeling eyes on him, he turned to see Jessica standing there with her mouth open.

Shoot. He thought looking at her.

"Well, I guess I should getting go," Evelyn said rising to her feet.

Jessica rushed over to her side, "No, wa-"

"Jessica, relax," she chuckled, "I think I've overstayed my welcome but thanks for the meals, I promise I'll treat you back next time."

"Okay at least let me drop you off?"

"No need, I already called an uber before thinking you weren't going to come pick me up at the airport but I have redirected him here-" her phone chimed, "That must be him," she smiled at Jessica and kissed her goodbye then she winked at Gillis before leaving.

"Jess-"

"I literally begged you Gillis," she snapped, "and you promised!"

"Jessica, would you at least hear me out?"

"See you in the car," she said grabbing her things and leaving.

The drive home was awfully quiet and even when they got back home, the couples ignored each other. Jessica sat at one side of her room quietly pressing her phone while, Gillis sat idly at the other side.

"So, we are just gonna spend another day ignoring each other?" Gillis quizzed finally fed up with the silence.

Jessica said nothing.

Gillis gritted his teeth, he wasn't gonna take this anymore. He walked over to the bed snatched her phone from her grasp and sat opposite her.

"And forget it Jessica, I'm not giving you this phone. At least not until you realize that you're not married to this phone but you're married to me!" he said before she could protest, "so I'd advice you to sit up and let's talk this over."

She hesitated and finally sat up with her pillow in her arms, "I'm listening."

"Good," he turned to face her squarely, "Look, I don't like what's going on with us, okay? I'm sick and tired of the petty arguments and the fact that we were avoiding each other, Jessica. I'm tired of it all and I just want you back. I want us back, Jess. I don't like the way we've been arguing with each other for the past few days. When I married you, this is certainly not what I signed up for."

He stretched out and lightly caressed her chin, "I'm sorry I broke my promise and I insulted Evelyn b-"

She scoffed, "I'm not upset with you because of Evelyn, Gillis. I mean at first I was but I figured out that the Evelyn I know-same one who got suspended in high school for beating up two football players, six times her size and same one who drove the school principals car into a tree for calling her short-that Evelyn, would respond back to you in the same tone and then some," she said, "and before you started talking I already sent a text message and she said she's sorry."

"So wait oh," he paused, "you mean to tell me that you figured it all this out and you were still giving me the silent treatment? Why?"

Jessica remained quiet.

"No! I'm not gonna have that, okay?" He said, "we're having a conversation, Jessica and I need you to speak to me!"

She pulled her hair behind her ear, "Fine," she said, "when were you gonna tell me about Mr Ijah? Huh? When were you gonna tell me about his disappearance?"

Now it was Gillis's turn to stay silent.

"Uh-uh," she wagged her finger in disapproval, "Oh no, you don't. We're having a conversation, remember?"

Gillis sighed rubbing his forehead.

"When were you gonna tell me? Gillis, I had to find out from Thomas myself about the incident," she sighed pulling her robe, "God, Gillis were you ever gonna tell me? You were just gonna keep wearing long sleeve tops to hide the cuts on your palm, right? You were just gonna keep acting like nothing is wrong, right?"

"I just didn't want you to worry about it," he murmured.

She moved closer, "what do you mean, you didn't want me to worry? Gillis, you're my husband! I ought to worry! I mean what can of wife would I be if all I did was sit back and watch and not worry?"

"I'm so-"

"No," she threw her arms around his shoulder, hugging hims fiercely, "I'm the one who's sorry."

"Babe," he held her arm.

"No, let me finish," she said, "I'm so sorry about everything and I'm so sorry about what I said and what I did. I remember when Ozzy was here and I chided you for transfeing your aggression to him but I did the exact same thing! I was angry about the fire incident that broke out at one of our branches and I took out my anger on you. I was wrong Gillis and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not paying attention to you and your needs. I'm sorry and so ashamed of myself because I'm a terrible wife and-"

"Are you crying?" He said pulling away sharply, he pulled her face up till she was looking him in the eye and indeed she was crying, "Oh baby, don't cry. You know I love you and I forgive you, right?"

She wailed even louder as he tried to console her.

"Oh come on honey, don't cry," he said patting her hair, "You and I both know that puffy eyes, tear stained cheeks and pouting lips doesn't suit you," he said, "I mean you look like bulls dog when you cry."

"Gillis!" She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, "I'm serious here!" She threw another pillow at him, "You're absolutely hopeless!" She wiped her eyes and frowned.

Gillis had caught the two pillows and he stood in front of her laughing, "Did I lie?"

"Did you...!" She grabbed another pillow and threw it at him but he dodged the pillow. She threw another pillow again at him and once again he dodged.

Seeing that she was completely disarmed, he went for her with full force slamming the pillow he held on her.

"Stop!" She shouted while laughing as she tried to avoid being hit but Gillis was faster. She could barely dodge one hit from the pillows, "Stop nah!"

He paused, "Abi you think you can throw pillow?" He asked rhetorically, "Oya say you're sorry and that you surrender."

"No."

He rewarded her response with one more hit on the head with a pillow and while she whined, he said, "I said say you're sorry!"

She kept quiet, trying to check her breathe but the impatient Gillis hit her with a pillow again.
"Fine! I'm sorry! I surrender! I surrender!" She yelled covering trying to shield herself from another attack.

"Eh, I'm not satisfied yet," he said smacking her butt with a pillow, "that pillow you threw you at me hit my liver and the way it's paining me, I hope I don't have liver failure."

"Gillis!" She exclaimed, "pillows that you caught in your hand hit your liver? Are you high?"

He raised the pillow in the air, "Are you questioning me? Is it your body that the pillow hit? Do you know if my own liver is in my hand?" He raised it higher.

"Oya, I'm sorry, your eminence." She yelled back, once agin shielding herself from the pillow.

"Oya, say that your husband is the most handsome man in the world," he said.

"Ah, this one is looking for someone that will boost his ego," she laughed, "haven't I told you before that I'm managing you?"

He dropped the pillows and pulled her to his chest. Then looking into her eyes he said, "I'm sorry for not telling you about Mr Ijah, I really am. I love you, Jessica and this is how I want us to be like this from now on. I want us to be friends and lovers. I want us to just live in peace and harmony. No more arguments and quarrel and silent treatment. In fact, if we must argue then let us argue about scriptures," he rubbed the length of her arms, "Just us two loving ourselves, okay?"

She hugged him, "yes, I want that too."

While they hugged, Gillis was unaware that she grabbed a pillow and before he could think, she hit real hard on the head.

"Gotcha!"

He laughed and pulled her closer to himself, "I love you so much Jessica. I love you always."

She smiled, swaying on his arms, "I love you too Gillis. I love you always and forever."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Finally the long OVER due update 😭😭😭😭😩

I'm so sorry! 🙍🏽
I actually typed this update a while ago and was supposed to publish it since however, I was having an issue with my device. It hindered me from doing a lot of useful work and so I had to reset my entire device-I regret not thinking this through 😑.
Long story short... I lost important files and...💔.
I also tried downloading wattpad and it wasn't working 💔 in fact, I just lost motivation and let it go but someone came through for me 😇 and it all worked out! 😭😭😭 So sorry for the hold up and I'll try to make updates more frequent.
Thank you for your understanding 😌👍🏽

TORRI CORNER <let's talk>
What country do you live in and do you think pillow fights are romantic there?

Well, my dear ninjas, I live in Nigeria and I do not think it's romantic to do pillow fights here.
You see in foreign country's like America and stuff, they use duck feathers to make their pillows and so it's so soft and fluffy, perfect combo for a pillow fight. When you hit your partner with it, it's like hitting them with a cloud. It's fun.

Whereas in Nigeria 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 *Egungun be careful starts playing in the background* 🔫😌

Nigeria that they stuff our pillows here with foam till the pillow dey like bag of Dangote cement. Just go and hit your partner with it-I laugh you in Indian film 😌💅🏽-na so love play go just end. Honestly, E GO SHOCK YOU EH, 🌚🌚🌚 that you will start love play from bedroom and end in pharmacy or even hospital 🎩🎩⚰🎩🎩 #EgungunHasReachedExpress

Lol...don't mind me, I actually have a very soft pillow but I've seen really STIFF ones too and I wonder what kind of person sleeps comfortably on them. I really wonder.

All in all, To all THREE IS A CROWD fans (old and new one) I missed all of you ninjas!💕
Thanks for reading,
With all my love,
Judah 🤗