Page 5 of Smoke N' Stroke

“As you all know I’ve been working with Tabitha to enforce boundaries in her personal life that make her feel like life is closing in on her. Today I was surprised by her report and you all might be as well. She said that lately after using a different variety of cannabis, she’s felt relaxed enough to go out with her friends and even allow men to approach her. She hasn’t gone past the communication phase with anyone, though one she feels more comfortable with than the others, but she made a point to tell me that cannabis was allowing her to rewrite her story andsee the beauty in her life and not just reminders of pain.”

“That’s great, Zaire. Truly. I would love to keep track of her developments as I know she’s been one of the toughest cases you’ve handled since being here.”

“You’re right. I’m grateful, Dr. Patton. It takes guts to walk into these doors and ask for help with making healthy sexual connections but for some reason, she along with many other women, and a few men, do come in and trust me with helping them.”

One look at him and anyone can see why it was mostly women wanting Zaire’s help, but you didn’t hear that from me. I chortled. I didn’t even realize the sound had escaped my throat but when multiple sets of eyes including Dr. Patton’s disappointed ones and Zaire’s humor-filled ones, stared at me, I realized I screwed up. So I did what only a sane person would do, I started clearing my throat and coughing to cover up my faux pas. It took a while for anyone to seem convinced, so I kept going and as if God himself was either assisting or sending me to perdition, real phlegm started to block my airway and my eyes were watering and some saliva slipped from the corner of my lips. Now theyseemed concerned but so was I. Do you hear me? So was I!

Through watery eyes, I could see that Zaire and Dr. Patton had now gotten out of their seats and approached me and in my embarrassment, I waved them off as if help wasn’t exactly what I needed. I did accept Pete’s assistance because he was the nicest of the crew and somehow that seemed to make a difference. Tricia appeared with a bottle of water that she handed me with a smirk on her face as if she realized my bullshit and at this point, I was just so happy to not be dying that I didn’t care. I sipped the water slowly as Pete patted my back a little too long and I guess Zaire didn’t appreciate that. My eyes weren’t too watery for me to miss the hard look he gave the poor guy who backed away.

Zaire’s large palm replaced Pete’s tentative one, and the soothing motion his ministrations now invoked was anything but calming as evidenced when my nipples hardened with rekindled memories of just how wonderful his hands and fingers were.

After a moment I croaked out,” I’m okay now.”

“You’re sure?” His eyes were serious, and it endeared him to me that he actually cared especiallysince it was me being mean that started this whole mess and he knew it.

“Yeah. Thank you, Zaire.”

His eyes widened at my use of his name but he made no mention as he went back to his corner and took a seat so the rest of the meeting could commence. A few others added some remarks to the discussion once Zaire was finished and then Dr. Patton filled us in on her announcement. There was an annual conference, Healthy Mind Escapes and Methods, taking place in Denver in a couple of weeks and she planned to send someone to go. The conference was cannabis-focused, though not entirely as other methods were gone over during the three-day event, however, cannabis was welcomed in Denver, making it the perfect place for this conference to be held. Dr. Patton mentioned Zaire had attended the conference independently for a few years and had good reports about the event so I of course figured, the golden boy would be going. Then Dr. Patton called the meeting to an end.

“Dr. Booker. Dr. Jackson. Please stay behind because I need to talk to you both.”

Tricia gave me a look as I slowed my steps, leaving her side. I knew she wanted to discuss the coughing fit which I would avoid telling her thetruth about but now I had gotten out of one thing and ended up in another.

“The reason I asked the two of you to stay behind,” Dr. Patten’s voice was slow and calm. “It’s because you two are the ones I want to go to the conference in Colorado.”

“Oh, no I think Tricia should go instead,” I rushed to say just as Zaire smoothly said,” I’d love it.”

We looked at each other. His eyes seemed disappointed which made me look at my hands with guilt. He seemed genuinely hurt that I wouldn’t want to go on this trip with him. Hurt or not, it was a bad idea. I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off this man.

“No,” Dr. Patton said slowly like I was simple-minded.

“You two are going. The decision has been made because I think you both will benefit the most from it.”

“Why?”

I didn’t mean the question to come out so, so, harsh but dammit why?

“Because you’re the most resistant to this method of treating patients and here at Higher Pathways, we want to make sure we aren’t missing out on making the best breakthroughs for our patients.”

She had me there. “And Zaire, I mean, Dr.Booker? Why does he need to go when he loves using cannabis to treat his patients? What could he get out of going?”

Dr. Patton gave me a patient smile but the one a parent gave their most difficult child, a feeling I wasn’t accustomed to. That was left to my sister.

“Let’s just say that I need Zaire to be able to provide the newest advancements in the use of this drug and since he is the one most enthusiastic about it, he is the best candidate for this trip. Does that sufficiently answer your questions, Dr. Jackson?”

I nodded wondering how I would find a way out of going on this trip with Zaire but besides the death of myself or someone close, which I would never play about, I would be going to Denver. There was only so much pushback I could or should give considering she was my employer. I was going and that was that. I would just have to find a way to stay clear of him.

4

ZAIRE

Ihung back while the rest of the team hurried out to get a start on their weekend so that I could speak to Dr. Patton about Tabitha in more detail. After agreeing that being patient was the best approach with the young woman that I first saw in the psych hospital years ago ready to end it all, even she mentioned Nala’s reaction while in the meeting. Her eyes held concern and something else I couldn’t identify.

“How are things going between you and Dr. Jackson?”

Dr Patton moved deliberately around her desk covered in tons of paperwork and textbooks. I was amazed that this woman could keep track of not just managing her staff, and the building’s needs, butcontinuing a caseload as if it was her only responsibility. When I asked her about it once, she smiled and said, “This is my calling and when you are called, you answer and do so in your most eloquent voice.”

I followed in behind her but stayed close to the door to ensure the conversation remained brief. I still needed to wrap up my notes before I got out of there to head to the gym. I was also considering responding to a “wyd” text from someone I met at the gym a few weeks ago. She wasn’t Nala but I was a man and I needed company from time to time. My dick was begging for me to do something because the golden hand wasn’t hitting like it needed to but I didn’t want to be with just anyone. I wantedher.

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