Free Moments of Clarity by Michele Cameron

determination, Sexton went about the business of demonstrating to her just what he meant.

Chapter 5
    A few hours later, Sexton and Sasha stood on the sidewalk next to his car. “Would you like to go out to dinner on Friday night?” he asked.
    Sasha dropped her head in an effort to avoid the spell of Sexton’s gaze. In the bright sunlight she felt shy as she thought of how passionate their lovemaking had been. Their bodies had moved in sync as if they had been lovers for a long time, and there had been none of the usual awkwardness that many couples experience their first time together.
    She concentrated, thinking hard as she tried to remember what time her shift at work would end. “I don’t know what time I will be getting off. Can I call you later and let you know?”
    â€œThat sounds like a plan,” he answered, smiling down at her upturned face. Sexton patted the cell phone in his pocket. “If you don’t call me then I’m going to call you.” He took his finger and playfully touched the tip of her nose. At that moment, the harsh ringing of Sexton’s cellphone broke their mood of intimacy. He looked down at the number and said, “It’s Calvin.” He clicked the Bluetooth in his ear and said, “Hey man, what’s up?” Then he exclaimed, “You’re kidding! When? I wondered what happened to you two last night.” He was silent for a moment and Sasha could tell that he was shocked by whatever Calvin was telling him. “That’s a damn shame. Of course, I’ll come over.”
    â€œWhat’s going on? What happened?” Sasha asked, worried by the expression on Sexton’s face. “Is Tiara okay?”
    â€œYes, that’s Sasha. What do you think? I’ll tell her. Goodbye.” Sexton clicked off his Bluetooth and stood looking at Sasha for a minute.
    She became afraid when he remained silent. She could tell that he was trying to fathom what he had just been told. “Tiara’s husband was caught soliciting a prostitute last night.”
    â€œWhat? There must be some mistake.” Sasha took a step back, putting some space between herself and Sexton as if hoping that would shield her from the horrible news.
    â€œThe mistake was his. The hooker wasn’t a hooker after all, but an undercover policewoman.”
    She was flabbergasted, and the look on her face showed it. “Is that what people do in Boise?” And then her words got louder when her brain really began to process what she’d heard. “Is that what Peter does when he goes away on business trips?”
    Sexton replied sarcastically, “He wasn’t still in Boise. Dude was right here in the city. He pretended he was out of town, but he wasn’t.”
    â€œHow’s Tiara?” Tears welled in Sasha’s eyes as she felt sympathy for the humiliation her best friend was living. “Why didn’t she try to call me?”
    Sexton reached over and his fingers were gentle as he wiped her tears off her cheeks. “I don’t know. Calvin said that she’s just staring into space, not talking,” he responded quietly.
    â€œThen why did he ask you to come over there?” Her tears had died down to sniffles.
    â€œPeter’s on his way to the house with his brothers to get his belongings. I think Calvin wants some back-up in case things get ugly.”
    â€œI don’t see how things can get any uglier than they already are. I thought what Abdul did to me sucked, but I see there are many levels of disgust in this world.” Sasha was too heated to notice the questioning look that came across Sexton’s face at her words. “I’m going with you. Let me go and grab my purse. Tiara is my friend, and I’m going to go and be with her.”
    When they arrived at Tiara’s house there was a small moving truck parked in the driveway. Sexton chose to park his car directly behind the rental truck,