18. Fire and Ice #2
Cairo continued. “Beauty like this should not be hidden behind a style that doesn’t reflect who Dr. Zora Langston is—a kind, smart, and modern leader who uses wisdom to represent herself authentically in a world that doesn’t always celebrate and respect strong Black women.”
Although we had rehearsed a general version of Cairo’s speech in his sunroom before our guests arrived, Cairo was going off script.
I didn’t expect him to lay on his compliments so thick.
I touched my mask necklace with my fingertips and gave Cairo a slight nod and smile, genuinely flattered by his public adoration of my beauty but anxious about how I would follow such flowery words.
I had nothing to worry about, though, since for the next ten minutes, Cairo and I flowed seamlessly, answering impromptu questions with off the cuff answers that were flirty and witty.
I didn’t flinch when a reporter asked me to share what I liked about him.
As I listed a long list of attributes, Cairo lifted my hand to his lips and kissed it, almost distracting me from responding thoroughly to the stated question.
Even my family appeared pleased by our performance.
“A final question…” The reporter from the Atlanta Star raised his hand.
Cairo signaled for him to proceed.
“Mr. Kinney, the world has been following your journey since the passing of your wife. You have never connected to anyone publicly. Why Dr. Langston? Why now? Are there wedding bells in your future?”
I clutched my necklace like pearls, trying to keep my face neutral as Cairo reached for my hand under the table and rubbed my palm with his thumb.
“Although I didn’t expect to be so open with my feelings for Zora so soon, I have a public confession.”
My eyes widened as my heart rate increased. This wasn’t in the script. Every time Cairo and I made confessions to each other, they were intimate, heartfelt, and very private. What was he going to say in front of these strangers? I cocked my head to the side and stared at Cairo with wide eyes.
“I never thought I would find another woman to bring me joy and be with me at this phase of my life. I was content being a bachelor for the rest of my life. Zora Langston shows me the possibilities of what could be. Stay tuned, because I predict this is the beginning of a wonderful love story the world has been waiting for.”
With that, Cairo Kinney released my hand and raised his hands to the back of my neck, pulling me to him with a gentle tug.
I was too shocked to peer into the crowd, so I focused my eyes on Cairo’s lips again.
He pressed them against mine so fast that I didn’t have time to prepare myself for their warmth.
I closed my eyes and allowed the wave of peace and comfort of his touch to wash over me.
Although Cairo and I had kissed several times, none were like this. In this moment, I felt Cairo’s heart and the public risk he took sharing an intimate moment with someone who wasn’t Cece. Appreciation of how much time he invested in my comfort washed over me. He hadn’t given up on me.
When I opened my eyes, I saw stars. What we were doing was no longer for show.
“Thank you, Cairo.” I held Cairo’s forearm with my hand and kissed him again.
He matched my intensity with one of his own. As his tongue found mine and explored with need, fireworks went off over my body. A small voice spoke directly to my soul.
This is your husband.
“Yes, I will.” I whispered into his lips as applause broke out around us.
He searched my eyes and paused, holding my head in place and speaking directly into my ear as if he knew how to respond to the unexpected words that entered my spirit.
“I haven’t asked you yet.”
Were we talking about the same thing? By faith, I believed we were and took a risk with my response.
“But you will. And my answer will be yes.” I preemptively declared I would be Cairo’s wife.
What the devil meant for bad turned into me finding the love of my life. I couldn’t explain what had happened and when, but the constant explosion of my body and soul confirmed Cairo was the one with every fiber of my being. He was my safe place.
“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 chatted in 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.
“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.