Huddle with Me Tonight (Kimani Romance)

by Farrah Rochon

  Making love to him.

  He’d bet that had been just another part of the plan. She’d had her eyes set on a goal from the very beginning, and selling him out was just one more way of reaching her final destination. He wasn’t naive enough to think a few nights in his bed was enough to derail her well-laid career track.

  An ache vibrated throughout his body at the thought of the time they’d spent in each other’s arms being anything but real. Torrian clutched his eyes tight against the pain in his heart.

  There was a knock on the storeroom door.

  “Torrian?”

  A ferocious stab of anger pierced his chest at the sound of her soft voice.

  “Torrian, are you okay?” Paige asked, stepping into the storage closet and closing the door behind her.

  “Get out!” Torrian growled.

  “What?”

  He opened his eyes and drilled her with a deadly stare. “I said get the hell out of here.” Torrian pushed up from the floor. In two strides he was in her face, backing her up until she butted against the shelf.

  “You must feel really good right now. You were the first reporter to know about the biggest scandal of the year.”

  “Torrian, what are you talking about?”

  “What I don’t understand is why did you let Stein break the story? Why didn’t you just save it for your own article?”

  “Torrian, listen to yourself. Do you really believe I told Barry Stein about your eye condition?”

  “Who else would have done it, Paige? The only other people who knew were Theo and Latoya, and they’ve managed to keep their mouths shut for two years. I told you a few days ago, and now the whole world knows. Doesn’t take a genius to figure that one out. Hell, even a dumb jock with bad eyes can do it.”

  She threw her hands up in exasperation. “You just said it yourself! If I wanted to out you just to further my career, I would have broken the story myself. Why would I let Barry Stein have all the glory?”

  “I don’t know how you reporters operate. Maybe you’re going to come out tomorrow with the story of how you were just a victim in my web of lies. Is that it? That way you don’t come across as the reporter who screwed around to land the big story.”

  She flinched as if he’d slapped her. “Oh my God, Torrian, don’t do this,” she pleaded. “You cannot seriously think I would betray you like this.”

  “Get out,” he said again.

  He stepped away from her, and had to turn his back completely. Even after he’d just ordered her to do it, he couldn’t stomach seeing her walk away.

  Torrian had hoped she would plead with him again. He wanted her to do something that told him she was the least bit sorry for what she’d done. But she didn’t say anything. The only sound was the soft click of the door closing behind her.

  Torrian went back to his place on the floor and resumed his position. Arms on his knees. Face in his hands. Pain in his heart.

  Chapter 18

  Torrian added another twenty pounds to each end of the bar and returned to the weight bench. He could have done this at his home gym, but he figured this would be one of the last times he would be allowed in the Sabers workout room. This was more about storing up memories than strengthening his muscles.

  Theo entered the weight room. “What’s going on with you, Wood? You’ve been avoiding my calls like we’re two teenagers who just broke up right before the homecoming dance.”

  “I haven’t been up to talking,” Torrian bit out between clenched teeth. The bar had become harder to pump with each rep, but he wasn’t about to stop now. Not until Theo got the point and left him the hell alone.

  Theo grabbed the weight bar with both hands and placed it in the cradle. “Get up,” he said.

  With a disgusted sigh, Torrian sat up and pushed himself from the weight bench. “I’m not doing this with you,” he said, heading in the direction of the punching bag.

  Theo caught his arm and whirled him around. He pointed a finger in Torrian’s face. “I’ve covered for your ass for two years. My sister put her entire practice in jeopardy. So, yeah, you’re talking.”

  Torrian rolled his eyes but relented. “Okay, what do you want to talk about? You already know my big secret, just like everyone else. You know what’s gonna happen when I go into the exam room to meet with the team doctors. What else is there to talk about?”

  “First of all, you don’t know what the doctors are going to say.”

  “Oh, come off it, man. I know my career is over.” Torrian grabbed the bottle of water he’d brought with him and headed for the exit.

  “What about Paige?” Theo called to his back.

  Torrian whipped around. “What about her?” he asked, stalking back to his teammate.

  “You done with her?” Theo asked.

  “What the hell do you think?” Torrian barked.

  “So, that’s it? You’re not even going to talk this thing out with her?” Theo shook his head. “Losing your job may be out of your control at this point. But if you lose Paige, that’s all on you.”

  “You don’t lose something you freely gave up,” he gritted through his teeth.

  “Come on, Dawg. Do you really think she sold you out?”

  “Did you do it?” Torrian asked, getting up in Theo’s face.

  “You really gotta ask me that?”

  “You don’t think Paige did it. You think it was Latoya?”

  Theo’s lip curled in anger. “I would kick your ass if you weren’t already doing it yourself.”

  “What? I’m just trying to figure out who the culprit is, Theo. If you didn’t do it, and Latoya didn’t do it, that means the only two people left who knew anything about my eyes are me and Paige. Between the two of us, who do you think would have spilled the juicy secret to Barry Stein?” He leaned in close. “Let me give you a hint, it wasn’t me.”

  Torrian straightened and steeled his heart against the words he was about to say. “It only leaves Paige.” The thought of her going behind his back still caused a hurt Torrian doubted he’d ever be able to overcome. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ve got a job to lose.”

  He turned and walked out of the weight room for the last time as a New York Saber.

  Paige rearranged the hand-sewn quilt, tucking the edges underneath her legs. She leaned against the pillows butted up against the headboard, and reached over for the tea her mother had placed on the nightstand.

  Her old room felt the same, even though most of the furniture was new. The only thing that remained from Paige’s childhood years was her grandmother’s well-worn rocking chair.

  There was a soft knock at the door. “Olivia?”

  “Come in, Mom,” Paige called. Her mother pushed the door open and entered the room carrying a second teacup. She went straight for the rocking chair, but Paige motioned her over.

  “No, come and sit here.” She patted the bed.

  Marlena Turner looked good for sixty-three. She couldn’t afford to torture herself with expensive plastic surgery, or even your run-of-the-mill facial. She just lived a good life, and it showed on her face.

  But her eyes were sad. And Paige knew why. Marlena also empathized with her children when they were hurting. Like today.

  Her mother switched her teacup to her right hand and used her left one to run through Paige’s short hair. “How is your cold?” she asked.

  Paige shook her head, a self-deprecating grin on her face. “It’s not a cold, Mom. We both know what it is.”

  “I didn’t want to just bring him up,” her mother replied.

  “It’s okay. It’s been over a week. I think I can handle talking about him.”

  She knew she could talk about Torrian with her mother, because she’d just done the same with her sister. But unlike her mother’s subtle, soothing encouragement, Nicole had demanded answers. Paige went through the entire conversation she’d just had with her sister.

  “Why would he believe you would be so dishonest?” her mother asked.
r />   Paige hunched her shoulders. She’d asked herself the same question over and over again. Had Barry Stein told Torrian that Paige had been his source? Whatever his reason, Paige had come to one simple conclusion: Torrian didn’t trust her. That’s what mattered.

  “I don’t know, Mom. I thought he knew me better than that. I thought I knew him better. The one thing I do know, this hurts so much it’s killing me.”

  “Oh, Olivia,” her mother said, leaning over and enveloping her in a hug.

  “It’ll be okay. Eventually.” Paige sniffed. “How’s Dad doing?”

  “He’s fine.” Her mother waved her off. “He’s resting.”

  “I feel horrible. I came here to help you look after him, and you’ve had to look after me as much as you’ve had to care for Dad.”

  “Your father is going to be fine. Medicine has come a long way since your grandfather’s heart attack. They had your dad out of there the next day.”

  “It was a blessing Dad’s heart attack was only a mild one, but it was a wake-up call.”

  “Yes, it was. No more fried food for him, no matter how much he begs. I am grateful to have you home for a bit, though,” her mother said, nuzzling her forehead against Paige’s.

  “I’d rather come home under better circumstances, but I’ll admit it’s nice to be here. It would have been awful to be holed up in my apartment these past few days.”

  “Well, as much as I love having you here, you’ll eventually break my heart and go back to New York. You need to think about how you’re going to handle that.”

  “I know,” Paige answered. It’s something she’d been mulling over since returning to New Orleans. Just because she’d packed a bag and left her problems, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t be waiting for her when she returned.

  “I’ll have dinner ready in about an hour,” her mother said, kissing Paige’s forehead as she rose from the bed.

  “I can help,” Paige offered.

  “No. You’ve done your share of cooking over the past few weeks.” Her mother laughed. “Stay here, rest.”

  “I love you, Mom.”

  “I love you, too, baby.”

  For long minutes after her mother’s departure, Paige thought back on how many times this scenario had played out between them. From her elementary school days when she cried nightly over kids teasing her inability to read to broken hearts in high school. Her mother had always been there to soothe and comfort, and offer her special brand of support.

  It would be so easy to stay here and soak in all that love and consoling, but Paige knew what she had to do. She had to return to New York. There was unfinished business to attend to, a career to grab hold of.

  This time back home had given her a chance to engage in some much-needed soul searching. Torrian’s accusations played back and forth in her head. Paige realized he would not have accused her of such vile things if she had not given him good cause. She thought about some of the decisions she’d made over the years. How many times had she been uncomfortable with some of the reviews she’d written but had added a bit of snark to make them more entertaining for her readers?

  She thought about the syndication deal. She’d landed it based on her work with Big Apple Weekly, but she wasn’t so sure it was what she wanted to do anymore. She should be proud of her work, but she wasn’t proud of some of the things she’d done.

  Her mother was right. She needed to get back to New York. She had some hard decisions to make. It was time to see them through.

  Chapter 19

  Torrian swept into his sister’s office at the Fire Starter Grille. Theo leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his mammoth-sized chest. Deirdre sat behind her desk. The tension in the office was thick as chimney smoke.

  “Good, you’re both here,” Torrian said.

  “You asked me to come,” Theo said.

  “I didn’t know if you would,” Torrian answered.

  “You’ve been the one ignoring me, Wood, not the other way around.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, man. I just needed to get some things straight in my head.”

  “And you have?” Deirdre asked.

  “Almost,” Torrian answered. “I’m getting there. The meeting I just had with Sabers’ management just took me one giant step forward.” He couldn’t wipe the huge grin from his face. “They offered me a coaching position.”

  “What?” Deirdre and Theo both barked.

  Torrian nodded. “Avery Collins just accepted the head coaching position in Cincinnati. They moved Josh Newton to offensive coordinator, leaving a vacancy at wide receivers coach. My eyes may not be good enough for the field, but I can coach.”

  “Oh my God, Torrian.” Deirdre ran from behind her desk and enveloped him in a hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Congratulations, Dawg,” Theo said, clapping Torrian on the back and pulling him in for a one-arm hug.

  “Thanks, man. Guess you’ll be seeing me a bit more these days, huh.”

  “Not unless you’re up in the press box,” Theo answered.

  “You took the job?”

  Theo nodded, a grin spreading across his face.

  “What job?” Deirdre asked.

  “I’m retiring from football after the season is over,” Theo told her.

  “Yeah, my man got an offer for this cushy commentator job.”

  “You’re quitting?” Deirdre asked.

  “Not quitting, retiring,” he answered. “There’s a difference.”

  “I didn’t mean to imply…”

  “Forget it,” Theo cut her off.

  Torrian glared at Theo. “Hey, Dee, you think I can get a reservation for lunch? Theo and I need to celebrate.”

  “Of course.” She gave him another kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations again, honey.” She turned to Theo. “Good luck with your new job.”

  “Thanks,” he answered with as much emotion as a lump of coal.

  Torrian refrained from speaking until they were seated at one of only a few tables available in the restaurant. “What’s going on with you and my sister?” Torrian started.

  “Not a damn thing,” Theo answered.

  “You sure? Because I think I saw a bit of hurt in Dee’s eyes, and I told you what would happen if you hurt my sister.”

  “Your sister didn’t give me a chance, okay. She shot down every attempt I made at getting to know her better. And after asking her out for the fifth time, she straight up told me she didn’t want anything to do with me.” Theo shrugged. “I’m just granting her wish.”

  “What’s her wish? For you to act like an ass?”

  “Are we going to celebrate our new jobs or debate who’s being the bigger ass when it comes to the women in our lives?”

  “Hey, man, don’t try to put me in your league.”

  “Really?” Theo deadpanned. “Do you want me to bring her up?”

  Torrian clenched his jaw. “You win.”

  Theo’s cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and held up a finger. “It’s Latoya. I forgot I was supposed to meet her for lunch today.”

  While Theo talked to his sister, Torrian signaled the waiter for more wine.

  “Oh damn,” Theo muttered. He dragged a hand down his face. “When did you find out? No, I’m…uh, I’m with him right now. I’ll tell him.”

  They were talking about him? An uneasy feeling settled in Torrian’s stomach. He rapped his fist on the table, trying to catch Theo’s attention.

  “Yeah, Toya, I know you didn’t mean for this to happen,” Theo said. “I’ll talk to you later.” He ended the call and tossed the phone on the table with an aggravated grunt.

  “What in the hell is going on? Did Latoya see something on my latest test?”

  Theo shook his head. “She would never share medical info with me.” He sighed. “Toya forgot her cell phone in the office. When she went back for it, she found Paul Mixon, the pediatric ophthalmologist who shares her practice, rifling through her files. She confronted him a
nd eventually got Mixon to admit he was the one who leaked your eye condition to the press.”

  Shock rooted Torrian to his seat. In the blink of an eye he saw the scenario play out in his head like a movie: Mixon stumbling over his record, the surprise on his face at finding the disease Torrian had tried to hide for so long, the call to Barry Stein, the one reporter who would relish unleashing such pain upon Torrian.

  There was one person missing from the picture.

  Paige.

  “Oh God.” Torrian cradled his head in his hands.

  “I’m sorry, Wood,” Theo offered.

  “I accused her,” Torrian whispered to himself. Shaking his head from side to side, his mind bombarded him with images of Paige from the last time he’d seen her. The hurt on her face. No, not hurt. There had been pain. She’d flinched at every horrible word he’d hurled at her.

  He’d wanted to hurt her that night. He’d wanted to inflict some of the agony he’d been feeling from her betrayal.

  But she hadn’t betrayed him.

  “What have I done?” Torrian said. He looked up at Theo. “I blamed Paige for all of this. If you only knew some of the things I said to her. God, Theo, I hurt her so much.”

  “You didn’t know, Wood.”

  “You think that matters?” he asked loud enough to cause the heads from several tables around them to turn.

  “Hey, c’mon, let’s take this to Deirdre’s office.”

  “No,” Torrian said, pushing back from the table. “I need to find her.”

  “Now?” Theo asked.

  “Yesterday,” Torrian answered.

  Torrian signed the visitor’s log and followed the security guard’s directions to the bank of elevators. He knew he was taking a chance, visiting her at work. But when he didn’t find her at her apartment earlier he’d had no choice. He had to see her.

  As he rode to the eighth floor where Big Apple Weekly’s offices were housed, he imagined how the next ten minutes would play out.

  He would grovel. Torrian knew that with certainty. It was nothing less than he deserved. After everything he’d accused Paige of doing, groveling was the least he could do on the road to earning back the trust he knew he’d lost.