Page 103 of Rah

His aggression was humbling the hell out of me. His aggression was oddly making me feel a tingling feeling that I hadn’tfelt in weeks. He stood in front of me with obvious offense all over his face. He was looking down at me as I sat on the step as if how dare I.

“Huh? What are you talking about?” I was completely confused.

“Don’t act like you didn’t see that I was feeling you. I didn’t push up on you when you worked at the bank, but that was because it was obvious that you were committed to your guy. But once you told me that you left him, I was on you. We were doing more than just ‘hanging out’. What nigga you know makes New Year’s Eve plans with a chick he’s just ‘hanging out’ with?”

“Well, excuse me, but clearly I was going through some more important things that was making my vision a little blurry. Ya know, with me fighting a fucking murder charge and all!”

Priest’s harsh stance transformed into sympathy. He sat on the step beside me. His powerful, masculine smell swam down my throat and choked me, weakened me and made me putty in his hands. I admired his skin that was just as smooth and golden as mine. I glanced at his body that was so fit that I could still see his figure through his coat and clothes. His fade, waves, beard and goatee were fresh, lined and smelled of coconut oil.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he placed a hand on my thigh. “I just...I felt some type of way about you disappearing on me. Then when I found out what happened, I was like ‘damn, why didn’t she tell me?’ I thought we were...I don’t know.” He sighed. “I thought we were feeling each other. I’m definitely feeling you.”

“I didn’t know.”

He looked at me, dumbfounded. “How did you not know?”

I wanted to tell him that after all I had gone through, I wasnow insecure. I didn’t see how a guy like him would even be attracted to a girl like me.

“I had a lot going on,” was all that I said, however. “A lot. Even before I got arrested.”

“What happened?”

I told him everything, and I mean everything: from finding out about Aaliyah on Christmas, to Rah calling DCFS on me, to Essence being raped which was what led me to stab Rah. I also told him about the money I found and now realizing that Rah was behind the bank robbery.

I wouldn’t have normally told a man with such potential all of my business. But what could be more embarrassing than a man seeing my mugshot online? I had nothing to lose telling him the truth. Besides, I felt so stupid that a man of his caliber had been feeling me for I didn’t know how long because I was too wrapped up in Rah to notice.

Once I was done telling him all my business, I was in tears, and his arms were around me.

“Damn, ma. I’m sorry you’re going through all of this. I swear, I’m here for you.”

As I felt Priest kiss the top of my head, I felt so unworthy.

I guess I wasn’t used to a man being a man because I asked him, “Why?”

“Because, like I told you, I’m feeling you.”

“Why?” I pressed.

“Fuck, Solae,” Priest cursed, sucking his teeth with a chuckle. “You’re killing me…no pun intended.”

My eyes squinted into his. “So not funny right now,” I groaned.

“Too soon?” Priest asked, having the nerve to hold back a laugh.

“Hell yeah,” I spat.

He was lucky he was fine, because that caused his joke not to be as offensive.

He kissed the top of my head again and said, “Okay. I’m sorry, ma.”

“I have two kids, no job, my life is in shambles, I’m fighting a case…Why do you have feelings for somebody like that?”

“From our conversations, I can tell that you were a strong, dedicated woman. Besides being beautiful, you have characteristics that make you flawless beyond your physical. You’re a beautiful person, inside and out. You’re unconditionally loyal, and I love that quality about you. And fuck that case. From what you’re telling me, he deserved that and then some. Nobody can blame you for that.”

I had heard him, but I still didn’t understand. He was a ray of light in a storm. I didn’t get the meaning of him showing up out of the blue, but I thanked God, and him, that I had somebody there for me. “Thank you.”

My parents and Kahlani had my back, but there was nothing like a stranger making a choice to have your back when they didn’t have to.

“You need a good lawyer,” Priest told me as he let me go.