In His Arms

Chapter 2

"Trinity. Wake up Ma." Cairo called to me. I had fallen asleep in the tub. I don't know for how long. But it was long enough that the water had gotten cold and my skin was wrinkled. I'm guessing it was past the 10 minutes I gave myself. I looked up at him realizing he had a full view of my naked body. But he kept his eyes fixed on mine. I don't know why. But I trusted him. I stood up and wrapped the towel he was holding around me all at once. He helped me out of the tub. "Put these clothes on and then come out. I have a doctor here to look at your foot." He informed me.
I put on the boxers and Brooklyn tshirt that he left on the counter for me and then slowly without putting too much pressure on my foot made my way to the door and opened it. He looked over at me and saw I was struggling and quickly came over to help. He picked me up bridal style and sat me on the chaise lounge across from the bed.

"Hello Trinity. I'm doctor Cooper." an older white man advised me. "Now let me just have a look at this cut." He said kneeling beside my foot. He examined the cut thoroughly before speaking. "Good news Cairo looks like she won't need actual stitches. I'm going to clean this up and apply some butterfly stitches." He stated getting straight to work pulling supplied out of his bag. When he was done with the bandaging he advised that I should stay off my foot for a couple of days and gave me antibiotics to take to avoid infection from the glass that cut me.

"Thanks so much doc, I'll keep her off that foot, I promise." Cairo told him. "It's really a pleasure doctor cooper stated. "Cairo give your father my best and you take care young lady." He smiled as he collected his things "thank you sir." I smiled at him, as he walked out of the room. Cairo walked him out and came back after a few minutes. "How you feeling?" He asked. "Tired." I said looking down not able to fight the tears any longer. "I can imagine. It's almost 5 in the morning and it seems like you had quite the day." He said lifting me up and placing me in his bed. He pulled the blankets back and laid next to me as I cried into his chest. "Shhh. You safe ma." He assured me as I drifted to sleep.

I awoke to the sunlight peaking through the curtains and the sound of birds chirping outside the window. Not exacltly a familiar environment. The warmth of his body was comforting to me. I looked up glancing in his eyes. He was looking back at me with a look I couldn't quite put my finger on. "Good morning." He smiled at me."Good morning." I blushed sitting up and suddenly feeling super embarrassed about last night. I started to get out of bed. "Careful ma. Your foot ." he reminded me. I nodded and eased off his bed, which sat pretty high up. I walked slowly to the bathroom to handle my business. "Him waking up looking that dang fine is just not fair." I said looking up at God. "What you said ma?" I heard Cairo call to me. "Extra toothbrush?" I asked praying he didn't hear what I said before. I would be mortified.
"Yeah, left top drawer." He called back.!"Wash cloths and towels in the closet and soap." He added. I looked up at myself in the large mirror that ran across the top of the marble vanity. "What a mess you are T." I mumbled out loud.

I heard the door bell ring and not too long after I heard a female voice come into the bedroom. "This is what I could do for now. I was in a rush. I have somewhere I have to get to." She said. "It's cool, Nile. Thanks. It should be straight until I can take her myself." Cairo spoke back. I heard their foot steps trail out of the room. I finished my shower and when I got out I dried my body. There was a knock on the door and Cairo advised me that he had something for me.

I opened the door and he was holding bags from different clothing stores, bath and body works, Victoria's Secret and one from Rite Aid. "Oh you didn't have to." I told him with a grateful smile. "I know. I want to." He assured me. Everything I needed to get dressed and groom myself was in these bags. So I took my time and got ready.

The next few weeks were the easiest weeks of my life. Cairo did just as he promised Dr. Cooper and kept me off my feet until my foot healed. We had talked a lot and really gotten to know each other. He was surprised to know I was 17, because I'm very mature for my age. I wasn't as shocked to learn he was 20 though. He was on his grown man shit. He was more confused about why I went through the trouble of graduating a year early and not go to college. I explained to him that my mom wasnt really supportive of me going to college and because I wasn't 18 yet. It wasn't my choice. I was also scared to leave my sister alone to deal with this by herself . The whole situation annoyed him. We had talked about everything from past relationships to how many sexual partners we had both had. He told me he wasn't sure of how many, that he had lost count, which scared me. He didn't believe me at first when I told him I was a virgin. I knew there was no way a guy so fine that could have any woman he wanted. Would ever want some inexperienced girl, with nothing to offer. But Cairo was a gentleman to the core. He was calm, patient and kind. So he never made me feel inadequate around him. He always treated me with respect and made me feel safe around him. He definitely wasn't like any of the other men that I had met my entire life. My mother had, had many men come around and none of them ever stood up to be as amazing as he is. Cairo was the kind of man you only find once in a lifetime. He wasn't Perfect by any means, but he's a young man with plenty of time to grow and flourish.

I hadn't seen him very much in the last few days. He had given me my own room to stay in once I no longer required assistance with getting around. Most nights he came home late and left before I was awake. Some nights he didn't come home at all. He was also honest with me about his lifestyle. Which I figured was a majority of the reasons for his absent nights. But I also knew there were women. I wasn't stupid. I couldn't lie and say I hadn't developed feelings for him. It wasn't exactly hard to do. He was handsome, intelligent and charming. But it was starting to become clear that those feelings were in no way mutual. I felt like it was time for me to leave. But I had to figure out where first. I knew he wouldn't accept me telling him I was leaving without me giving him a solid plan. Cairo ran on logic. He didn't make decisions based off of fear or emotion. He wouldn't be happy with me running away just because my feelings were hurt because, he didn't want me. He friend zoned me pretty early on. One night we were watching tv in the living room having dinner and I tried to kiss him. I don't know what the hell I was thinking.
***flash back***
"Oh my God. I can't believe you got me watching this punk ass show." Cairo complained as Riverdale cut to commercial. I laughed at him mugging me. "But it's a good show though." I sang biting into the fork full of beef teriyaki that we had ordered in. Cairo sucked his teeth and cut his eyes at me, as I laughed at him. I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. He pushed me back. "Whoa lil mama. I don't know if I miss lead you. But I didn't mean to. We just friends, Trinity." he said looking away. "I'm so sorry." I said looking down and clutching my hand over my heart. Without another word, he got up from the couch and picked up his dishes, heading to the kitchen.***

I was so embarrassed that I avoided him for days after that.

My phone buzzed snapping me out of my thougts. I looked at the screen seeing I had a text from Cairo's sister Nile. She had been coming by from time to time she was only a year older than me and we had really hit it off.
Nile: Girl be dressed by 10:30. I'm picking you up. The turn up is about to be real. Wear that outfit I got you 😘
Nile: and I won't take no for an answer.
Trinity: ugh did you forget how old I am?
Nile: you let me take care of that. 😉