He lifted my chin toward him, pressed his lips to mine for a second, then looked me in the eyes. "Everything okay?"
I drew in a deep breath and nodded. "I've been thinking."
A smile drifted across his face as if he knew what I wanted to say. "And?"
"I have to tie down a few things, but I might want to make the trip home with you."
"You have to do better than that," he murmured.
"What d'you mean?" I said, speaking close to his neck.
"You're either coming or you're not."
His insistence was disconcerting and seconds elapsed before I answered, "Didn't you just ask me?"
His arms tightened around me. "That doesn't mean I don't need an answer quickly."
Pulling away, I asked, "When did you turn into such a demanding man?"
"I always was. You just never noticed."
I considered his words. I'd never thought of Kofi as anything but a gentleman but somehow, we'd gotten much closer without him asking me any questions or me feeling as if I was being inconvenienced or pressured.
Gently, Kofi swiped my nose with his. The playful gesture brought a smile to my lips. He tipped my face upward with one hand. Our lips met and my mouth opened, inviting his invasion.
Kofi was quick on the uptake and as his tongue danced sensuously around mine, our bodies melded together where we stood.
At that point, I stopped thinking.
***
HALF-HOUR LATER, CHASEsat in my living room, leafing through the Economist and watching an action movie at the same time. We shared a house, but technically he lived next door. Our parents had redesigned the sprawling one-story building, so that it had two entrances—one for them and one for us. In their mind, if they ever had to move permanently, given the uncertain economic climate in Jamaica, we'd all have a place to live. While we'd been here, Chase occupied my parents' half and I stayed in the other. We tried not to get in each other's way and so far, we'd been successful.
Where I was bubbly, my twin was sober—and boring, at least to people who didn't know him—which was why our mother put such faith in him. According to her, Chase had gotten all the good sense and I'd gotten all the fluff.
When I handed Chase a plate loaded with a slice of coconut cake, he dropped the magazine beside him on the sofa.
I went back to the kitchen for another slice of cake and a glass of water for Chase. After I offloaded the glass on the table between us, I dropped on the opposite seat.
"How was your date?" Chase asked.
"Since when are you interested in my social life?"
His eyes gleamed as he said, "I'm always interested in whatever you have going on."
"Right, I keep forgetting you don't have a life."
We both laughed as he sliced off a chunk of cake. With his eyes closed, Chase chewed as if he was alone in the room. We both loved the rich concoction and fluffy, white icing, generously sprinkled with coconut flakes. I took the first heavenly bite of the stuff I kept in the fridge all the time and curled my feet under me.
"So, is Kofi your new man?" Chase asked, picking up a crumb off the burnt-orange cushion.
My eyebrows rose as I questioned him. "What if he is?"
Chase chewed, swallowed, then asked, "D'you know what you're doing?"
"No, but don't let that be a problem to you."
"Easy for you to say.” He didn’t smile but with amusement in his tone, Chase said, “I'm the one who's going to be picking up the pieces if he breaks your heart."
