Page 60 of Caught off Guard

“I love you, Zora.” He looked directly into my eyes and spoke as if we were the only people in the room. I kissed him again and smiled.

“I love you too, Cairo.”

I didn’t know exactly when it happened, but we were no longer faking whatever this was between us. I went from hiding everything about myself to confessing my love for a billionaire basketball player in public. Without cowering. I had everything to lose but didn’t care. Cairo Kinney was the real deal and was worth every risk I took.

After the press conference, Lena pulled me aside on the porch at the back of Cairo’s house. My parents and Cairo chattedin preparation for brunch prepared by Cairo’s Atlanta chef. I loved that they embraced him as if he was already their son.

“Bish…what were y’all doing up there? It went from zero to one hundred real quick. Did you propose to that man? And did he say yes?”

I shrugged, still in a semi-haze about our public declaration.

“I don’t know. It felt right—like we weren’t acting anymore. I think he’s going to be my husband, Lena.”

“Was the sex that good, because I know he hit it? You weren’t acting right at your house earlier, like you were in a sex haze. You were too happy. Sated, as you would say. Nothing but a good sexing would have you not caring about your beloved university. How’d y’all fall in love in less than a week? This isn’t a romance novel. You know that doesn’t make sense.” Lena blurted her thoughts so quickly, I could barely keep up.

Instead of answering every question, I shrugged again, unable to explain in detail what had gotten into me. Although Lena teased me about the fairy tale aspect of my new relationship, I couldn’t be logical about it.

“When you know, you know. We’re old, sis. I’ve kissed enough frogs to know when my prince has arrived. Cairo’s the one.”

“If you say so. I’ll say what you always tell me. Be careful, and watch your back. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

“I get it, but I’m good.”

Lena and I joined everyone else to celebrate what we already declared to be a victory. With the people I cared for most surrounding me, I looked forward to a promising future.

For the next two weeks,Cairo and I settled into a comfortable rhythm as partners. Call me fickle, but I was too old—no, make that grown, sexy, and sophisticated—to call him my boyfriend. When he was in town, he was my plus one, accompanying me to on-campus events. And of course, I cheered him on front and center at Torch home and away games as my schedule allowed. To our delight, when Cairo and I became an official couple, the board of trustees put their tails between their legs and dropped the accusations against me.

Geoff was mad as a burned tick on a dog’s butt, but that wasn’t my problem. He was an asshole who tried to take me down and deserved any smoke that came his way. More than Geoff’s legacy, I speculated that they decided to respect me since Cairo was the biggest donor in Liberation’s history.

The Friday afternoon of our second week as a couple, Whitney walked into my office with a big bouquet. I thought it might be from Cairo since we celebrated our first Valentine’s Day together with a simple night watching movies in his home theater.

“These are from the board.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Please read the card.”

Whitney placed the carnations, roses, and baby’s breath on a side table and pulled the small white card from its envelope.

“We are blessed to have you here—glad everything worked out for our Liberation community. You are appreciated.” My jaw dropped.

“After work, please drop those off at the funeral home down the street. That’s some bull.”

“You’re right, Boss. If it wasn’t for Mr. Kinney, you’d probably be cleaning out your office by now.”

I shook my head in disgust.

“Exactly. If you learn nothing else from me, remember that when a leopard shows you its spots, believe it’s a leopard.”

A soft knock brought the silence in the room as Whitney and I stared at the flowers like they were trash. I turned to the door and smiled.

“Sophie. I haven’t seen you in quite a while. How is life treating one of my favorite former students?”

Sophia Worthy was an older undergraduate student whose gentle spirit always brought me joy. She worked part-time at a club to make ends meet. With Cairo’s generous gift, she could attend school full time and graduate with a degree in secondary education within the year.

“Do you have a minute, Dr. Langston?”

I nodded as Whitney exited my office and closed the door behind her.

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