19. Wheels Up
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?
Zora:
Could you pick me up so we can drive somewhere? Or come to my house? I want to talk with you. But not anywhere near a bed.
What was that about? Since we became official, Zora and I had sex like rabbits.
Only this morning, she woke me up with my erection in her mouth.
Never had she denied me sex, nor did I her.
That was our agreement as grown and sexy, consensual adults.
Out of the blue, she was trying to put a wall up. Why?
Me:
My flight leaves at 1. I can be on campus in 45 minutes.
Zora:
Drive to the back of my house and stay in the car. We’ll talk there .
My woman was setting strict boundaries. As always, I would follow her lead. But why wasn’t she telling me what was wrong? Was it that bad? I sighed, not wanting to stress and get my head out of another big game of the season.
I said a quick prayer before zipping up my suitcase and traveling to Zora’s house. Forty minutes later , with my bags packed and ready for departure, I texted Zora that I had arrived. Wayne pulled up into the back driveway of the president’s mansion.
Zora:
I’ll be out in a minute.
“Wayne, could you please give us a moment? Maybe sit on that bench by the door. Zora needs to talk to me about something private.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
His eyes met mine in the rearview mirror as if he wanted to say something more or ask me a question. I ignored him because, like Luther, he could read me like a book. There was no way he couldn’t pick up that something was amiss between Zora and me.
When Zora exited her back door minutes later, I sucked in a breath.
Each time I saw her, she was more beautiful.
Today, she wore formfitting capri jeans and black ballet flats along with a crisp white button-up shirt tied at the waist. Her thick hair was in a semi-messy bun, and she wore her “let’s get down to business” glasses.
Wayne exited the driver’s seat and opened the door for her.
“Thank you, Mr. Wayne. How are you today?” Her warm greeting and glowing smile didn’t fool me one bit, given her preference to meet me outside.
“Doing well, Doc.” Wayne’s Southern drawl matched Zora’s to a tee.
Zora entered my Bentley and closed the door. I leaned over to kiss her, but she blocked me with her hands.
“No, sir. Keep your nasty ass hands and lips to yourself.”
My patience was gone.
“What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this? You were begging for my cum this morning. Make your words make sense, Zora.”
Zora crossed her arms over her chest as the sweet smell of her Versace perfume filled my nose. Even in anger, she aroused me.
“Is that how you talk to the woman you declare you want to marry one day?”
Since our press conference, Zora and I spent hours discussing our future. We agreed that we didn’t want to play games and that we only wanted to date for marriage. Without waiting for me to speak, she continued.
“Then let me speak my peace. Do you know Sophia Worthy?”
I racked my brain, but the name didn’t register. I shook my head.
“That makes it even worse. She’s about five feet four with freckles across her nose. She’s really soft-spoken and sweet and works at Club Ecstasy.”
Oh… Memories of the Westin came flooding back. Cece Sophie?
I collapsed into the back of my seat and closed my eyes.
I pinched my eyes closed and held my lids with my fingers, knowing this was about to be messy.
I kept my mouth closed and braced myself for what was coming.
Without me having to probe, Zora would tell me exactly what she thought about this situation and what was on her mind.
“Did you know that Sophie was a secondary education student at Liberation?”
Of course, I didn’t have any idea, but I wasn’t going to condemn myself again for doing something I’d already apologized to Sophie for. What happened at the club was separate from my time with Zora. Zora continued speaking before I could answer no.
“She’s also going to be a recipient of your new scholarship.
” She paused longer this time as if waiting for me to finish Sophie’s resumé, but I wasn’t touching that with a ten-foot pole.
“And you slept with her two days before you and I humped in your bed. What do you have to say about that? Am I another conquest to you?”
“No, Zora.” I kept my answer short because I didn’t feel like arguing with a brick wall.
I didn’t have enough time to explain what happened, and for my sanity, I wasn’t going to go there with her right now.
“I promise we will work this out. Baby, I hate to do this to you, but I can’t go into great detail about this now. Please say you’ll hear me out later. My flight to Phoenix won’t wait. I promise I’ll explain everything when I return.”
She turned her head toward the window as her countenance fell. Because her soul was now partially tethered to me, I felt her angst and disappointment. I was on the clock, though, and I couldn’t jeopardize my career for this misunderstanding. Zora wiped a quick tear from her eyes.
“I get it. Have a good trip.”
Before I could say goodbye, she exited the SUV and shut the door in my face.
Wayne rose from the bench and watched her walk into her house.
When she closed the door, he searched my face.
In his eyes, I saw a ‘go and get your woman’ look, but I ignored it.
If Zora wanted to be petty, I’d let her.
She was angry and needed time and space to process my interaction with Sophie.
Whatever this was would have to wait until after tonight’s game.
When Wayne entered the driver’s seat, he met my eyes in the rearview mirror and sat there.
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
I stared at him and put on my shades.
“Go to the airport. I have a plane to catch.”