The Way Champions Love

by Tina Martin

  Dimitrius had gone outside to call Melanie – making sure everything was okay on their end.

  “I’m good for another round of pool,” Desmond said. “You down, Harding?”

  “Yeah. I’m down,” Harding replied, still holding his pool stick.

  “Then I’ll rack ‘em,” Desmond said, proceeding with racking the balls and then he said, “You break.”

  Harding leaned forward with the pool stick aligned with the white cue ball and hit the ball just right. When the balls scattered, the number nine ball rolled in the corner pocket.

  “Looks like you got stripes, bruh,” Desmond said.

  Harding leaned down trying to hit the eleven ball in the side pocket. He missed.

  Bending forward in search of a good angle to sink a ball, Desmond said, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s obvious there’s some dispute going on between you and Savannah.”

  “Yeah, there is.”

  “You care to talk about it?”

  Harding studied Desmond’s next move when he said, “It’s too complicated to go into detail about.”

  “I know all about complications,” Desmond told him. “Show me a woman, a relationship, a marriage that isn’t complicated.”

  Harding grinned, then sized up the next ball he would sink. “Yeah, but there are levels to the complications. My problems with Savannah are issues I’m sure you’ve never encountered.”

  “Maybe not, but I have had issues. Everything wasn’t always good between me and Sherita, and believe it or not, I almost lost her.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. Really.”

  “But you two look happy and you got the twins…”

  “It wasn’t always like that. Trust me. It was in this very room that my relationship with her took a horrible turn for the worst—when she told me she didn’t love me anymore.”

  “That must’ve hurt.”

  “It hit me harder than anything I’ve ever experienced. And she was pregnant with my babies at the time but I had no idea.”

  “Well, you obviously rectified the situation.”

  “I did, but it’s the knowing how badly I’d hurt her that still haunts me. I wasn’t ready to settle down at the time, even when I knew she was the perfect woman for me. The only woman for me. I tried to fight it.”

  “Why?”

  “I wasn’t ready.”

  “How weren’t you ready? You have everything, man. Your house is immaculate. You live the kind of life a woman can walk right into and be comfortable. I’m willing to bet that if Savannah introduced a man like you to her parents, they’d be highly pleased.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because you have money. Prominence. People know you around here. I don’t have that.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short, my brother. You’re an entrepreneur. You should be proud.”

  “I’m very proud. It took a lot of hard work and dedication to start my business, but to her parents, it’s nothing.”

  “So, is your problem with Savannah or her parents?”

  Sighing heavily, Harding stood the pool stick up beside himself and said, “Both. Well, I can’t say that. It’s with her. Savannah. I don’t know her parents on a personal level. I know her father on a business level because he hired me to do some work at the firm. That’s where I met Savannah.”

  “And they don’t know you’re married to Savannah?”

  “No. She claimed she told them before she came here, but—”

  “You don’t believe her,” Desmond finished saying.

  “I don’t know what to believe. I just know I’m tired of it. I never would’ve imagined my life would end up like this, man. I was like you—I didn’t want to get married either.”

  “Actually, I always wanted to get married,” Desmond corrected. “My problem was, I wasn’t ready for it when I should’ve been.”

  “Well, I didn’t want marriage at all,” Harding admitted.

  “Why not?”

  “I didn’t think I was wired that way. Plus, it’s not like I had a good example with our father. He loved your mother, but I have my doubts as to whether he loved mine.”

  “He must have. He had four children by her.”

  “Yeah, well we didn’t get the benefit of having him around, and I figure if he could play two women, then maybe he wasn’t happy with just one. What’s the point of getting married if one woman isn’t enough to satisfy a man’s needs?”

  Desmond smirked. “You’re all the way out there now, man.”

  “I’m just keeping it real. That’s how I used to think about marriage.”

  “Well, let me just say that Sherita satisfies all of my needs and then some. Now, as for your situation, your marriage is between you and Savannah. Who cares what her parents think? I’m impressed with anyone who makes strides towards bettering themselves and you’ve done that. While it would be nice to have, you don’t need their blessing.”

  Harding pressed his back to the wall and listened.

  “Second, with you being the oldest, what kind of example are you setting for Amira, Mordecai and Zoya? Believe it or not, they look up to you the same way Dimitrius and I look up to Dante. And finally I’m going to say this, then I’ll leave it alone. Our father did what he did. We don’t know why. We may never know. All we can do is accept the situation for what it is and move on. I hate that he cheated on my mother. I hate that he cheated on your mother. But he’s gone now. We can use his bad example on what not to do in our own relationships.”

  Harding grinned. “I never looked at it like that, but you make a valid point.”

  “And believe me when I say, the worst thing you can do to a woman is break her heart and cause her to resent you. It’s hard to work your way back in after that. I know. I’ve been there. Every time I think about it, my heart falls to the floor. Work it out with Savannah if she’s worth it. Don’t let this dispute drag out into something it shouldn’t.”

  Harding nodded. “You’re right man. You’ve certainly given me a lot to think about.”

  “All right,” Desmond said. “Now let me finish whippin’ your butt at this game before the brothers are back.”

  “Whippin’ my butt?” Harding grinned. “I only have three more balls to sink.”

  “Yeah, that’s if you can sink ‘em.”

  Grinning, Harding said, “Dimitrius warned me you were a trash talker.”

  “Ay, when you got it, you got it.”

  “Exactly,” Harding said. “That’s how I know I’m going to win.”

  Desmond sank the number six ball in the side pocket and said, “Actions speaks louder than words, bruh.”

  Chapter 26

  She waited for the moment he would open the door…

  Sitting on the bench at the foot of the bed, Savannah had one goal tonight – to get through to Harding before their situation got any worse. Losing her husband wasn’t in her plans, just like being sheltered and groomed by her parents for the rest of her life wasn’t. As it stood, her life was in shambles – a sad state for a woman who once had it all.

  When the bathroom door opened, she saw steam drift out and into the bedroom. Harding loved super hot showers, and he was looking super hot standing at the vanity looking at himself in the mirror with a white towel wrapped around the lower part of his muscled body.

  Savannah got up, walked over to the bathroom and stood behind him, feeling his body heat brush against her face, making her feel warm all over. He’d just finished brushing his teeth when he looked up and saw her.

  Tension mounted at his temples. Even after the talk he’d had with Desmond, he still couldn’t shake the feeling of carrying around suppressed anger for her. “I’ll be out of your way in a minute,” he said curtly.

  “You’re not in my way. I came in here to talk to you.”

  Not tonight, he thought. After a long day, he wanted to hit the sack – or in his case, the chair, or maybe the couch downstairs again. He wasn’t much interest
ed in talking about their marital problems. This problem. That problem. Her parents. Her life. Ugh. He’d talked enough about it with Desmond.

  “Go get some rest, Savannah. I’m in no mood for conversation.”

  “Harding—”

  “We’re going on a hike after breakfast in the morning,” he interrupted her to say.

  Savannah glanced at the clock. She and Emily had arrived back at around midnight and now the time was a quarter ‘til one.

  “Harding, I know you’re upset with me,” she said softly.

  “That’s the understatement of the century,” he said with sarcasm in his voice.

  “Okay…you’re pissed. I get it, and I’ve apologized, but I get the feeling you don’t want this anymore. You don’t want me.”

  “I want you to move on with your life,” he said looking at her via the mirror. He couldn’t even turn around to face her. “You know what I don’t understand, Savannah? We’ve lived apart for two years and you were fine with it.”

  “I wasn’t fine with it.”

  “I couldn’t tell. You made it look normal—like only seeing your husband twice a month, if that, was okay with you, and it must’ve been. You did it for two years and you’d still be doing it had I not finally put my foot down and ended the nonsense, wouldn’t you?”

  “Harding—”

  “Wouldn’t you?” he asked again, turning around to look at her this time.

  “Maybe. I don’t know. What I do know is, I needed time to ease my parents into this, and—”

  “Well, now you don’t have to. See how things worked out in your favor?” he said sarcastically, then left the bathroom.

  She followed.

  Standing next to the bed, he dropped his towel and stepped into a pair of boxers.

  Seemed like an eternity since she’d seen him naked – his Adonis-like body was always appealing to her, dripping with sensuality – his toned chest, the definition of his abs and the part of him that made him fantastically male had her breathing different. When was the last time she’d touched his smooth, caramel skin? Felt his delectable, yet full lips or his large hands holding her possessively still?

  Walking up behind him, she wrapped her arms around his torso and rested her head on his back.

  Harding closed his eyes, folded his bottom lip underneath his teeth while feeling himself giving in. Feeling arousal firming parts of his body. He couldn’t. He wanted to, but dang…

  “I’m fighting for you, Harding, but you’re not fighting for me.”

  “Has it occurred to you that maybe I’m tired of fighting?” he asked, gripping her wrists and unlocking the tight hold she had on him.

  “I need you not to give up on us.”

  “It’s too late for that, Savannah.”

  “No,” she said, tears shimmering in her eyes as she struggled to hold on to him.

  “I gave up on us when I realized you really didn’t want us.”

  “I’m telling you—I’ve been telling you—that’s not true.”

  “It is true, and I’m done,” he said confirming his conviction. “I’m sorry, Savannah.”

  Savannah, still in tears, held on to him but she didn’t feel a thing radiating from his body. He was cold, emotionless, and she knew he meant what he said. She lowered her arms to her side and walked back to the bathroom, closed the door and hunched over the vanity, allowing herself to cry. It was over. It was really over.

  Chapter 27

  The dark, oversized sunglasses on her face could hide the redness and puffiness around her eyes, but it couldn’t soothe the pain in her heart. It, along with her spirit was broken.

  Rocks and gravel crackled and crumbled underneath her shoes as she lagged back behind the group, suddenly feeling like she wasn’t a part of the family. If Harding wanted a divorce, then, technically, she wasn’t a part of the family. She was an outsider. Harding’s pending ex-wife. A woman who didn’t belong. Why did she bother to go on the hike?

  Dimitrius and Harding led the group down the trail. Amira and Sherita were carrying on a conversation while Melanie, Zoya and Emily were busy chatting it up. Walking behind them was Dante, Desmond and Mordecai.

  Then it was her – Savannah – all alone at the back of the group. Through blurred vision, she watched Harding turn around several times to look back at her, but why? He made it clear it was over between them, but yet, he took the time to check on her from time-to-time. Then again, maybe he wasn’t checking on her at all. Maybe he was just turning around to be turning around. Whatever the case, she didn’t care. It was chilly this morning, and the cold was making her teary, bloodshot eyes hurt. And her feet hurt, too. She looked fit, but she was anything but. Stressed out for the last few days and not focusing on her pregnancy was beginning to take a toll on her body. By her own estimation, she was about two months pregnant. She’d started taking prenatal vitamins after her first missed period, but she needed to get some stress off of her back and find a doctor for an official checkup. That’s if she survived this hike.

  “Hey, are you all right, Savannah?” Amira asked, jogging backward to her.

  “Yeah. I’m fine.”

  Dante turned around, glanced at Savannah and continued on walking. He already knew Emily was okay. He was walking right behind her the entire time. But Savannah…obviously the situation wasn’t improving between her and Harding. Harding was at the front of the group. Savannah was way at the back.

  “Are you sure?” Amira asked. “This hike is a killer.”

  Yes, it is, Savannah thought. She was using muscles that laid dormant for some time. Now, they were all sore and overworked. How was she going to survive the hike back to the car?

  “Savannah,” Amira said.

  Dante turned around to look at Savannah again.

  “I’m fine,” Savannah said between breaths – the ones she could actually catch, that is.

  “Maybe we should sit down a minute,” Amira said when she saw Savannah holding her temple.

  “Ye-yeah…I’m…I’m...”

  “Whoa,” Amira said, grabbing Savannah by the arm.

  “What’s wrong?” Dante asked, immediately coming to their aid.

  “Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine,” Savannah said.

  “You’re not fine,” Amira told her. “You almost fainted, Savannah.”

  Dante gripped Savannah’s left arm and said, “There’s a bench. Come on. You need to sit down for a minute.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  “Yo, Harding, wait up, man,” Dante said in an irritated tone. He couldn’t believe Harding was so far ahead of Savannah. She was sitting down, could hardly catch her breath and he had no idea.

  Harding turned around and saw Savannah sitting on the bench, holding her head. Immediately, he jogged over to her and dropped to his knees. “What’s wrong, Savannah?”

  “Nothing’s wrong,” she said snippily. “I’m fine.”

  He moved her hands away from her head and nudged her face up with his index finger. “You don’t look fine. Here. Drink some water.” He handed her his half-full bottle.

  “I don’t want any water,” she said embarrassed. Everyone was circled around her now – people who were supposed to be her family but right now she felt like they were his family. Harding’s family. And she couldn’t understand why he was on his knees in front of her, offering her water and looking like he genuinely cared about her.

  “Maybe you should try to drink a little water, Savannah,” Dante said. He was the only one who knew she was pregnant and she knew it was the reason he wanted her to hydrate.

  “Just drink a little, Savannah,” Harding added, nearly placing the bottle in her hand.

  Humiliated, Savannah slapped it away so hard, the bottle flew to the ground, water spilling out.

  Harding stood up and said, “Whatever. She’s fine. Let’s keep on walking.”

  “Wait, Harding,” Mordecai said, not fond of his brother’s uncaring attitude. “Why don’t we head back? As a group?”
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  “That’s okay, Mordecai,” Savannah said. “Y’all go ahead. I’ll catch up to you guys later.”

  “We’re not leaving anyone behind,” Dante said, beyond upset by Harding’s dismissive attitude when it came to Savannah. He said he loved her, but his actions were blatantly cold and callous. “We’ll wait here with you, Savannah.”

  Savannah shook her head and stood up quickly, preparing to head in the opposite direction – back to her car – and that’s when everything went black. Dizzy, she fainted, and this time, no one was able to catch her.

  “Savannah!” Zoya yelled.

  When he heard his sister’s scream, Harding turned to see Savannah laying on the ground. Frantically, he rushed to her side where Dante, Desmond and Mordecai already were.

  “Savannah,” he said dropping to his knees, lifting her head and holding it securely in the bend of his forearm. “Savannah.”

  Her eyes opened slowly. “Wha…what happened?”

  “You fainted,” Harding said.

  “We need to get you to a hospital, asap,” Dante said.

  “Does anything hurt?” Zoya asked.

  “I’m…I’m fine,” Savannah mumbled.

  “I’m taking you to the hospital,” Harding said. “You need to get checked out.”

  “No, I don’t. Let go of me, Harding,” she said pulling away from him.

  “Savannah—”

  “Let…me…go!” she yelled between efforts to free herself from his grasp.

  Harding complied. “You need to see a doctor. You’ve never fainted before, Savannah.”

  “Then, I’ll take her to the doctor,” Zoya said. Obviously, she doesn’t want to go with you.

  A few hikers were approaching – a Caucasian couple with a Labrador. When they saw everyone huddled around a woman on the ground, they stopped and asked, “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes,” Desmond answered. “We’re good. Just a little over-exertion, but nothing water can’t fix.”

  “Okay. Just thought we’d ask.”

  “I appreciate that. You all be safe.”

  The couple continued along and Dante said, “Come on, Savannah. Let’s get you up.” He took one arm and Harding held the other until Savannah was standing on her own two feet. “Zoe, you take Savannah to the hospital. We’ll all go back home and wait for you two,” Dante said.