Page 61 of Caught off Guard

“Come in and have a seat.”

Sophie’s downturned face worried me.

“What’s going on?”

When she stared at her sneakers instead of looking at me, I became more concerned and reached for her hand. She clasped my fingers, tears in her eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Dr. Langston. I didn’t know.”

“Didn’t know what, sweetheart?

Any number of scenarios raced through my mind.

“Are you safe?”

She nodded as a tear fell from her eye. I grabbed my tissue box and held it out for her. Sophie reached for one and dabbed her eyes. After Sophie composed herself as best she could, she took a deep breath and placed her hands in her lap.

“I didn’t know Mr. Cairo was your boyfriend.”

By now, my heart raced. Whatever she had to say sounded too personal.

“How do you know Cairo?” My voice sounded strained to my ears.

“I…I…slept with him. He didn’t tell me he had a girlfriend. I’m so sorry, Dr. Langston. Y’all make a good couple though.”

“Excuse me?” Before I caught myself, I jerked my head back.

“Mr. Cairo and I slept together a couple of weeks ago. One of the Torch players got my number from my cousin and arranged for me to keep him company. It was his anniversary, I think. It was a one and done…No, make that a three and done that night. But that was it. I swear.”

Anger, then jealousy, rose in me at Sophie for telling me she slept with my man three times. Man, this was messy. Then I redirected my anger to Cairo with his sympathetic act about missing his wife. He celebrated his anniversary by sleeping with a random chick?

I took a big breath to steady my mind. Cairo and Sophie were adults. Maybe this happened a while ago.

“Tell me when y’all slept together.”

“Wednesday the eighteenth. I remember because it was two days before my birthday.”

Hold the hell up. He gave his donation on Thursday the 19th. And I was in his bed on the 21st. Whew. That man was messy as could be. I had been played.

Sophie and I talked for several more minutes as I tried to pull myself together. Lena was right. My prince was a slimy frog. When Sophie left, I called Whitney to my office.

“Please cancel my meetings for the rest of the day. I have important business to take care of.”

“You’ve got it.”

I walked back into my office and plopped down in the chair closest to me to text Cairo.

Me:

We need to talk ASAP.

WHEELS UP

When Zora texted me,I was at home packing for an away game to Phoenix. The team’s flight left in three hours, so I didn’t have much time to sort through what was going on with her.

Me:

Are you okay? Is work alright?

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