Page 50 of Rhymes with Metaphor

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Chapter 13: Afternoon of a Faun

The next day, whileReg made coffee after a long lie-in, Joel entered the kitchen in his rumpled scrubs and tousled hair.

“Morning,” said Joel.

“Do you want some coffee?”said Reg.

“I don’t drink coffee.”

“Why not?”

“I tried it once.I didn’t like it.”

“This isn’t your sister’s instant coffee.This is proper coffee.If you don’t like this, you have no soul.”

He poured some for Joel.As Reg passed him the cup, their hands touched briefly.Joel had such beautiful hands, graceful and still.

“There’s cream and sugar if you like,” said Reg.“But I take mine straight.”

Joel took a sip, then stared into the cup.

“Well?”said Reg.“Do you have a soul?”

Joel took another sip.He was perched on the wooden bench seat of the kitchen table, knees slightly apart, elbows balanced on the table, and the slice of sunlight shining through the window blinds laid a path along his side and his thigh, and he looked so magical and ethereal, Reg almost expected him to sprout wings.

“I thought we could go out today,” said Reg.

“Where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“All right,” said Joel.

“Finish your coffee, then go and get dressed,” said Reg.

While he was gone, Reg’s phone rang.

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