“Moyo…”
“Remember? I don’t do well with solo vulnerability. Plus, a conversation is better for follow-up questions. You can dig deeper. You get to know me, I get to know and trust you. It’s a win-win.”
I shake my head. “I really shouldn’t. Everything should be focused on you.”
“And it will be. Unless you don’t want to share. It’s okay if you can’t handle it.” She shrugs, but her lowered pitch makes her tone the furthest thing from nonchalant.
Succumbing to the moment, I drop my pitch to match hers. “Moyo, I can handle whatever you give me.”
The entire room melts away and the late fall weather evaporates along with it. I thought Saturn was cold and unfeeling, but I feel a foreign, burgeoning heat.
If this is a sign I’m not good at this job, I accept it. I’d rather be warm, my blood rushing at a probably unhealthy rate, than cold and measured like my father.
Neither of us say a word, and my eyes fall on her parting plump, gorgeous lips.
In another world, I’d make a move, but Moyo deserves more than that. I am beholden to an unforgiving, isolating duty. And I refuse to be like my father.
Despite every fiber of my being screaming at me to stop, I sit back and give a piss-poor attempt at laughter. It’s stiff and undeniably awkward, but it brings us back to some air of normalcy.
Moyo sits back as well. She clears her throat. “So, what’s your first question?”
17Moyo
I DIDN’T EXPECT NIYI’S FIRST QUESTION TO BE “WHAT DOyou like to do for fun?”
Without thinking, I answer, “Movies, trying out new restaurants, hanging with my girls, and I guess, dancing but that is primarily when I’m with friends.”
Niyi listens intently, his eyes not leaving mine as he scribbles down my response.
“What kind of movies?”
“Horror, mainly.”
His writing stops. “Really?”
The miniscule indent in his brows makes me smirk. People are usually thrown off by my blood-and-gore fascination because of my job with kids.
“Shocked?” I ask.
“Honestly, a little. But it makes sense. After all, youarea doctor. Any favorite subgenres?”
“Slashers have my heart.”
“Would be a shame if they did that literally,” Niyi says. He puts the pen down.
“Is that so?”
“And lose an amazing doctor who cares about her clients and doing pro bono work? Absolutely.”
It’s been weeks since our meeting atCupid’s BowHQ. “You remember that?”
“That and everything else you’ve said to me.”
Heat creeps up the back of my neck. He’s my dating coach. Of course, he has to remember things I’ve said in order to help me find my soulmate. I shouldn’t project fantasies onto someone showing a modicum of attention. That’s how unsavory situationships and one-sided attractions form.
“Um, yeah…uh…what about you? Your hobbies outside work?” I change the subject.
“Haven’t gotten into much since I moved here, almost…two years ago now. I’ve been too preoccupied with work, but I enjoy pottery and collecting wine.”
