Page 42 of Caught off Guard

“No, I’m good, Mr. Kinney. Thank you.”

With that, I saw Zora shut all the way down. I wasn’t going to push her to open up to me again. Instead, I remained silent and finished my breakfast. I texted Wayne, who, twenty minutes later, loaded Zora’s bags as we said our goodbyes by the SUV.

“Thanks for your hospitality.” She extended her hand in that same stiff way, but I didn’t shake it.

I wasn’t in the mood to put on airs simply because Wayne was close. I believed in actions and words matching. With my hands by my side, I keep a neutral face.

“You’re welcome, President Langston.”

Zora dropped her arms to her sides and broke her perfect character by rolling her eyes at me. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Wayne’s frown as he stood at the back of the vehicle.

Enough was enough. Someone had to be the bigger person in this war of egos. I opened Zora’s door. When she entered and sat down, I helped her fasten her seat belt and leaned toward her. With my lips inches from her mouth, I spoke softly so only she could hear me.

“When you are ready to move on and address whatever this is, call me. I’m still your friend, Zora.”

As I expected, she said nothing, but her eyes softened, resting on my lips. I kissed her cheek and exited the car, closing the door. I stood back and waved at the tinted window between us.

Wayne walked by me and gave me a concerned look on his way to the driver’s seat.

“You good, sir?”

I nodded, thrusting my hands into the deep pockets of my sweatpants.

“Peachy.”

Wayne entered the car, started it, and pulled away. I watched the Bentley disappear down the driveway and closed my eyes, praying for peace when I felt nothing but discomfort.

HOUSE CALL

From the minuteI accepted his weekend invitation, I understood that Cairo was asking me to move beyond a professional relationship. Because of that unspoken agreement, I packed adult items and did everything in my power to seduce him, but I couldn’t go through with it.

Last night, I wanted to strip him naked but knew if I rubbed his sturdy body much longer under those covers, I’d be sitting on his face, begging him to eat me out until I came and collapsed. Cairo’s heated eyes throughout the night confirmed he would take me if I let him.

I was more interested in him than any guy I’d ever known, but when the time came to show him that, I couldn’t fully expose my feelings. Call it responsibility or my conscience, but being uninhibited like that wasn’t comfortable for me.

At breakfast, I wanted to talk to Cairo like the mature adult I claimed to be, but my headspace wasn’t right. Cairo had been so kind and giving, not demanding anything of me, yet I could not be open and move forward with whatever was happening between us.

The feelings he pulled from me were so new I didn’t know what to do with them. He saw goodness in me that I didn’t think was always good. More than anything, I hated people putting me on a pedestal, and it felt like that was what Cairo was doing.

But Iwasthe president of Liberation University. That meant something to me. Women in my position didn’t have sex with men the first night they met. Cairo and I hadn’t even gone out on a real date.

And no matter how horny I was and daring when it came to getting what I wanted, physically and emotionally, I couldn’t bypass the unfinished business in my life. At least I now knew I no longer wanted to be with Geoff. I needed time alone to process that.

As Mr. Wayne and I drove down the interstate and the Torch arena came into view to my left, I allowed the cool air of the vents in the back of the Bentley to wash over me. They brushed back tears as a fresh wave of regret and sadness overtook me.

Last night, Cairo and I started a spark of something, but I was too cowardly to explore if what we had could turn into a fire. To distract myself from the emotions attempting to suffocate me, I lowered my eyes to my phone.

Lena:

Did you get any? *tongue emoji*

I closed my eyes, wanting to brush off her question or lie to her, but Cairo was right. I needed to be more open and keep the mask off around those closest to me. Lena could always tell when I was lying anyway.

Me:

I fumbled the ball.

Lena:

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