Patrice gave me that puzzled look he got sometimes and I thought he was going to tease me about OD-ing on my own positivity, but instead he bent down to kiss me. He pressed his lips against mine. It was such a slow and chaste kiss compared to how we usually came together. But the way his fingers dug into my back made the stress of the day start to feel a bit less oppressive. I placed my hand at the nape of his neck and felt the prickle of his locs brushing against the back of my hand.

I groaned, wanting more, but Patrice wasn’t letting us get revved up. He was giving me this slow, gentle kiss and I was going to have to take it.

When we pulled apart, he had that same look from earlier, like things were getting too deep too fast and he wasn’t sure if it was good or a bad thing. “How do you know Yin’s sisters?”

He asked the question like he already knew, or suspected the answer. I turned back around and fussed a bit with what I was doing. I picked up a piece of pumpkin, wondering when Patrice would notice the ingredients that were scattered all over the kitchen counter.

“I just helped her out when they first came,” I said, peeling another chunk of pumpkin. “I can’t give too many details, but it was a tough situation. I’m glad she was able to walk away from it.” I was not going to disclose about the violent boyfriend who threatened her and her siblings for months.

He ran a hand over my shoulder and said, “I can respect that.” He sounded curious, but I knew he’d leave it at that.

After another moment, he gasped and came to stand right next to me. “What are you making?” he asked, as if he could not quite believe what he was seeing.

I looked up, feeling really awkward now, wondering if the second part of my failed romantic date would also be a bust. I put down the vegetable and lifted my eyes to him.

“I’m making Soup Joumou?” It wasn’t a question, it was what I was making, but now I felt like an idiot for trying to make his traditional dish as a surprise. He was still saying nothing, his eyes assessing the ingredients scattered all over the counter.

“I thought it would be nice since it’s—”

He moved so fast that I had to lift my arms to the sides so I didn’t stain him with my hands. This kiss was one of our kisses. Teeth, tongue and fire. He sucked on my lip as he dug his hands into me. I felt like I was sinking and he kept lifting me up.