Page 166 of Rather: The Therapist

I kissed Chem’s cheek and headed toward the stairs. Just as I placed a foot on the first step, my cell rang. Kofi’s name crossed my screen. A lump formed in my throat as I contemplated answering.

“Answer his call, Rather,” Chem instructed.

“How do you know?”

The insult was written all over his handsome face. “I always know.”

I slid the bar across the screen to connect the call.

“Hello?”

“It’s your husband,” joyfully, he replied.

My cheeks flushed. His sense of humor was medicinal.

“Your name– your name is saved in my phone, Kofi.”

“Aight. Just making sure you know what time it is.”

“I do.”

“It’s,” I paused to pull the phone away from my ear and check the time. “Ten twelve.”

“Which means I have an hour and forty-eight minutes to have you back home. They say it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride the day of the wedding.”

“That’s what I’ve heard.”

“Then, come ride with your nigga before the clock strikes twelve, Cinderella.”

“Kofi, I’m still in my dress.”

“The occasion causes for something of that caliber.”

“What is it?”

“If I tell you then it won’t be a surprise, right?”

I nodded as if he could see me.

“Come outside, Rather. I’m pulling up.”

The call ended before I could protest. There was a tingling in my gut that pushed the side of my mouth upward. Anticipation pushed my feet toward the door where I was anxious to witness Kofi’s arrival.

Despite the love that I’d developed for Priest and the pain of letting him go, time with Kofi wasn’t affected in the slightest. He’d been exactly who he told me he would be from the very beginning. My respect for him ran as deep as it did for the man he shared a father with.

“Rather?” Chem called out to me.

“He’s here,” I informed him. “I’ll be back by midnight.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

The December cold was brutal. I hurried out of the door and down to the driveway where headlights lit my path. Loud music rattled the speakers of Kofi’s car. He was out in a flash, opening the passenger door.

“Your chariot awaits.”

“Why, thank you, Sir.”

I slid onto the soft leather. Kofi carefully stuffed the tail of my dress inside of the car and made his way back to the driver's seat. My body stiffened as he changed gears, preparing for takeoff. Slowly, he eased out of my driveway, but the snail’s pace didn’t last very long.

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