Page 177 of Rather: The Therapist

“Ten o’clock on a Monday morning,” I announced.

“Only you.”

Kofi closed the book in his hand and took a sip from his coffee. Steam escaped the warm liquid as he placed it on the table and stood. He wrapped his arms around me.

“Good morning.”

He returned to his seat, but not before sliding mine back.

“Good morning. You’re early.”

“And, finally realizing why your head is always in a book. Soon as I opened that one, she was busting that shit open. I’m taking that motherfucker home with me. I like her!”

“But, this time we’ll pay.”

“Who?”

“If we keep stealing from this beautiful business, we won’t have a place to meet for coffee a few Mondays out of the year at ten.”

“You know what, you’re right. You can pay for this one and the last one I stole. You owe me that, at least.”

“As well as an apology. And an explanation.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation, Rather. You’re a grown ass woman who was tossed into some shit head first–just like me. You coped with Priest. I coped by sticking my dick in every pussy I could get my hands on.”

With a shrug, he took another sip from his coffee.

“Ima be shitting. I can already feel it. You smell that?”

“Smell what?”

“That fart?”

“Kofi, please don’t make me puke. Why woul– Ugh.”

“You chose this place. I told you coffee makes my stomach bubble.”

With a roll of my eyes, I got to the point of our coffee date.

“You have to talk to your brother.”

Adamantly, Kofi shook his head.

“Priest and I met before everything with Chem happened. Before I got on the plane thinking I was going for a normal girls trip and would return in a few short days, I had already claimed him as mine. Physically, I’d given myself to him. Mentally, I’d shared myself with him. Emotionally, I had no ties but I had a deep desire for them. For him.

“For two years, I wished I’d had another night. Maybe two. Maybe four. No amount felt like it would’ve been enough. I was drawn to him. He was hard to forget. I had every intention of doing that, though, no matter how hard it was.

“When I came back and you laid out a set of rules, it deflated the dream I’d had of the beginning of our partnership. Immediately, I wanted to run back to him. Still, I didn’t know who he was. Not until he revealed himself to me at dinner the second time I had the pleasure of dining with the family. From that moment on, I couldn’t stay away. No matter how hard I tried. And, I tried. But, some things we have no control over.”

“My attraction and connection to Priest are some of those things. I’m sorry it all played out the way it did. But, the way things are right now, I can’t let them stay this way. He’s not himself lately. And, I doubt he will be until you pick up the phone for him or acknowledge his communication efforts when you’re in the same room.”

He sipped from his coffee, staring back at me.

“Say something.”

Shrugging, he sat it down.

“Priest is the man for the job, Rather. I can’t deny it and that’s why I’m not mad anymore. I was leading with my head and not my heart when I said the things I said to my brother and was willing to brawl with him about such nonsense.

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