Page 69 of Taming a Menace

“That sounds unhealthy, Mr. Glover.”

“You knew I was unwell when they sent me here,” he countered.

“I wouldn’t say you were unwell.”

“Not out loud anyway,” he responded.

“Let me rephrase that statement. I don’t think you’re unwell.”

“Whenever I’m not with you, I’m figuring out ways to get back to you. If I’m not in your presence or cooking, I feel like I’m not living my life. I feel like I’m only existing unless I’m with you.”

“Key.” I sighed and took off my glasses.

“You’re so sexy in your glasses, Moonie, but I’ll be damned if I don’t miss your eyes when I can’t see them.”

“Can you stop saying things like that? We’re not here for that right now.”

“You’re right. Have you thought about coming with me to Myrtle Beach?” My eyes fell to the stack of paper in front of me.I didn’t even realize that I looked away until he spoke again. “What is it?” he asked.

“I told you I have plans Friday night. My sister and her husband set it up over a month ago.”

“And you’re going?” he asked calmly.

“I already told you that I was.”

“Why you doing that, Moon? You know I’m crazy about you. You know how I feel about you. Why are you wasting your time with some other dude? You know he ain’t me.”

“Because I promised them that I would give him a chance.”

He scoffed. “But you keep pushing me away.”

“You know why though, Keywan. It’s not that I’m not flattered by your advances. It’s not even that I’m not interested.”

“Well what is it? Don’t say the rules, Iyla. Fuck the rules.”

“Can we focus on your session? Have you worked on identifying your triggers?” I asked.

“It’s too stuffy here. I feel better talking to you in a comfortable environment, like at my house.”

“Unfortunately, this is what we have to work with.”

“We don’t have to sit up in here. Therapy isn’t confined to this room.”

“You’re right.”

“I’m triggered by anyone trying me period, because I’m not letting anyone fuck me over ever again. I’m triggered by anybody messing with my family, because they’re all I got. My biggest trigger is seeing someone who can’t or won’t defend themselves being violated.”

“Like the situation that sent you to prison.”

“Absolutely. Do you know that she defended him? After I stepped in and knocked his shit loose, she defended him in court, talking about what a great father he was to their sons and how he was struggling after having to have his jaw wired,” he said, shaking his head.

“No, I was unaware of the details of the case.”

“Those are the details. I defended her against her attacker, and they both turned on me. You would think something like that would teach me to mind my business, but that wasn’t the first time. I’m never going to stop helping the helpless, even if I have identified my triggers.”

“Knowing them is a good start,” I commented.

“I guess,” he said, reaching down into that trusty backpack and pulling out two containers. “Ribeye steak over a romaine and arugula salad.”