Ben choked on his soda. “Love?” he sputtered.
“Yes, Ben, even you seem capable of it, although I’ve had my doubts.”
Ben crossed his arms and looked away.
“How about I bet that the reason commitment gives you the creeps is not because she is the wrong person, but maybe she is the right one and you don’t know what to do with it.” Solomon chuckled. “Am I cutting too deep with the scalpel?”
Ben harrumphed. “Now I think it’s time foryouto mind your business.”
Solomon’s laughter died as he grabbed his things. Maybe it was time for him to take his own advice.
SOLOMON ADDEDa quick signature to a chart and glanced up as the nurse quickly flipped the file.
“Kenya, hi. How did you get here?”
Seeing him immersed in his element with his scrubs on was quite the full circle. Especially since almost a month ago, he’d rolled her in here and now she had a plan to roll him out on an adventure.
Today he looked more tired than she’d ever seen him. She might be to blame, but even that wouldn’t deter her from why she came. She liked to move on the fly and on the pivot—much harder these days—but she couldn’t shake the desire to invite him on a little trip with her.
“We have a robust Uber system in this town. Can you do me a favor?”
The way his eyes floated over, she almost expected him to say, “Anything,” which she could tuck away in the labyrinth of her mind and pull out when she needed it. But instead, he responded to her with a half-smile, a weary one but still a smile.
“I want to say yes, but the look in your eyes has me concerned.Plus, I have been up longer than usual, and I may not be awake enough for whatever it is you have planned.”
“There will be time for a nap.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Where is this favor going to take me?”
“That is my surprise, but just consider it payback for surprising me with a trip to the library.”
“Why do I feel like I should be worried?”
Kenya stepped closer and took in his face, the slight scruff around his jaw, his full lips. “Haven’t you learned by now that you should always be worried around me?”
Just another foot and she’d be right there, close enough to put her wonderings at rest. Near enough to answer the questions that seemed to fill his eyes the more they were together. But she wouldn’t cross that threshold. Not now. And not here anyway.
Solomon cleared his throat. “You are a whirlwind.”
“Hurricane-force winds, baby.”
He laughed nervously.
What was wrong with her? There she went again, saying more than necessary. She retreated and stood a safe distance away. Maybe what she planned wasn’t the best idea after all, but she was too far in to stop now.
He beckoned her to follow him and led her out the staff exit door. He shielded his eyes from the sun with his hand, holding the door open for her as she placed the sunglasses hanging on her blouse onto her face.
“So hit me with it. What is your favor and what will it cost me?”
“An afternoon with me, if you are free.”
“I am, mostly.”
“Wonderful. I knew if I just texted you, you might say no. I will pick you up in a couple of hours.”
Solomon glanced pointedly at her foot.
She shrugged. “Oh, okay, I guess you can pick me up then.”
