Owner of a Broken Heart

by Cheris Hodges

  “Same old thing, boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy buries himself in his work.”

  “Details, please.”

  Clinton sighed. “That’s a story for another day.” “That’s not fair,” Nina said, pouting. “I spilled my guts to you and I can’t even get a sneak peek into your world?”

  “Her name was Ayesha Graham, a beautiful woman. Much like yourself. But she was just about her looks and nothing else. And I’m not going to lie, I was drawn in by her pretty eyes and—”

  Nina threw up her hand. “I get it.”

  Clinton laughed. “I thought I had a prize, people envied me when they saw us together. But I wasn’t enough for her.”

  Leaning against the wall, she watched him thoughtfully. “Not enough? Why not?”

  “Because I’m just a regular guy.”

  “There’s nothing regular about you,” she said as she opened the door. “Let’s go before we’re stuck in traffic for an hour.”

  * * *

  Clinton watched Nina as she drove. After the grilling she gave him in her place, he was sure that she was a great journalist. He hadn’t thought about Ayesha since she broke up with him two years ago. She’d been the kind of woman who women envied and men wanted on their arm. Clinton thought he’d been lucky to have her.

  Ayesha, on the other hand, didn’t think she was lucky at all. Clinton wasn’t enough for her: not rich or prestigious enough for what she wanted. So, the moment a man with the status and the money she wanted strolled into her life, she had dumped Clinton in a heartbeat.

  Part of him wanted her back, but he realized Ayesha wasn’t the one and no one would be good enough for her. And he wasn’t going to try to make her see the light.

  She wasn’t worth it and the right woman would eventually walk into his life. Looking over at Nina, he had a feeling she could be the one. But falling for Nina Richardson would be like jumping into a powder keg with a lit match.

  “What?” she asked when she noticed Clinton’s stare.

  “Nothing. Just wondering if you’re going to turn me into a football fan.”

  “Maybe. There’s nothing like watching the game live.”

  Clinton shrugged. “If anyone has a chance to do this, I’m sure it’s you.”

  Nina laughed. “You’re something else, Clinton.”

  He grinned. “What you see with me is what you get.”

  Nina quickly glanced at him. “And what a nice package you’re wrapped up in.”

  “That’s cute, but I have nothing on you. One day, you’re going to meet the man who can’t live without you.”

  “Is there another man out here like you? Honest and cute? Otherwise, I’m willing to live the single life forever. For some reason I’m attracted to emotionally unavailable men.”

  He laughed. “At least you’re honest about it. They say that’s the first step. But don’t give up on love.”

  Nina snorted. “What are you, my life coach?”

  Clinton grinned and nodded thoughtfully. “I could be. A brother needs a side hustle.”

  Nina pressed the brakes as the traffic in front of her slowed. “You’re funny. But I need a break. Tired of being lovesick.”

  “Sometimes love does seem like a sickness that makes you do crazy things. Trust me, you’re not the only one who’s done crazy shit for love.”

  “For Ayesha?”

  Clinton smiled sardonically, thinking about all of the things he’d tried to do to show his father that he was a worthy son. He worked his tail off in college and it hadn’t mattered. He worked hard with the hotel chain and became the youngest marketing manager in the Southeast. It hadn’t mattered to his father either. Clinton Sr. had wanted to live his NFL dreams through his son. When Clinton showed no interest in sports, it was as if he’d died in his father’s eyes. Still, he did the dutiful-son thing and sent his father one thousand dollars a month so that he could pay his bills that his social security didn’t take care of. Did that matter to Clinton Sr.? Nope. Clinton never received a thank-you note, Christmas card, or birthday greeting.

  “No,” he finally said. “Not for her.”

  Nina shrugged as she pulled into the gravel parking lot marked for media. She reached into her computer case and handed Clinton his pass. “There’s no cheering in the press box.”

  “Trust me, I won’t be cheering unless you plan on standing up and doing a cheerleader routine.”

  Glaring at him, Nina pretended that she was offended. “See, that’s the attitude I have to deal with day in and day out. You’re lucky that I think you’re cute or I’d leave you standing out here.”

  “Cute? That’s all? Give me credit, I didn’t use the s word,” he joked as they headed for the stadium entrance.

  Chapter 8

  Nina and Clinton cleared the security checkpoint and rode the elevator up to the press box. She couldn’t help but be impressed. Something about Clinton was calming. He seemed to have a beautiful spirit and wisdom that belied his age. Yeah, she wanted to get to know more about this sexy man. But she couldn’t make the same mistake twice—or three times—in a row.

  Nina always believed that men had it easier than women when it came to finding love. They had so many choices and a woman with standards didn’t have many. Would Clinton be more of the same?

  “What’s going on in the pretty head of yours?” Clinton said, noting her silence.

  “More than you want to know.”

  “Thinking about your cheerleader routine?”

  Nina giggled. “You wish.”

  The elevator doors opened to the press box, and Nina put her game face on. She stopped smiling and led Clinton to their seats above the fifty-yard line. From this vantage point, she could see everything on the field.

  “This is the best way to watch football, inside and surrounded by free food,” Clinton said as he helped Nina remove her jacket.

  “Yeah. Unfortunately, it’s not the same for all games. When I cover high school games, it always seems to be cold and raining. The press boxes at most high schools are the worst. Drafty, cold, and wet.”

  Clinton smiled, but Nina could tell he really didn’t care to talk about sports and for some reason, she found that to be soothing. All she and Lamar talked about was sports and that got tiring. Especially when she wanted to talk about her growing feelings for him, but she’d always been afraid to bring it up. Looking over at Clinton, she vowed that she wouldn’t think about Lamar for the rest of the game. She had a job to do.

  “Hello, Nina,” a familiar deep voice said from behind her.

  She and Clinton turned around and looked into Lamar’s smiling face.

  * * *

  The half smile, half scowl on Nina’s face alerted Clinton to the identity of the man standing behind them. Lamar wasn’t what Clinton had expected. He figured that if a man was going to let someone as beautiful as Nina go, that man would look like a GQ model. That certainly wasn’t the case with Lamar Geddings. He was average and that was being kind. He looked as if he spent a lot of time eating on the sidelines, rather than running up and down them. He reminded Clinton of the high school football star who never made it to the NFL after his college career ended, but never lost weight, either.

  This man made you cry? He glanced over at Nina.

  “Oh, you made it?” Nina rolled her eyes at Lamar before turning to Clinton.

  “Come on, now,” he said with a toothy grin. “I’m a Dallas Cowboys man, you know I couldn’t miss this.” Lamar looked at Clinton. “I think you’re in my seat.”

  “No, I’m Nina’s guest, so this is my seat.”

  “Really?” Lamar stated more than asked. He looked as if he was mad about Clinton being in such a prime seat.

  Nina nodded. “There’s a seat for you right behind us.”

  “Who is this guy?” Lamar asked.

  “Clinton Jefferson. Nina and I go way back and she knows what a big Carolina Panthers fan I am, so she invited me.” Clinton extended his hand to Lamar.


  Lamar ignored Clinton’s hand and Clinton turned to Nina, intimately touching her knee as if the two of them had more than a few days of history together.

  “That’s nice,” he said, watching Nina and Clinton smile at each other. Lamar’s face was emotionless.

  Nina slowly rose to her feet. “I’m going to get some coffee. Clinton, you want anything?”

  Loaded question. He shook his head and then Nina walked away.

  While she was gone, Lamar and Clinton silently sized each other up.

  “You and Nina go way back, huh?” Lamar asked.

  “Yes, we’re both from Charleston and I work for her father.”

  Lamar raised his eyebrow. “Is that so?”

  He’s fishing when he’s the one who threw Nina away. What a damned loser.

  “Did Nina tell you I would be here?”

  Clinton shrugged. “Why would she? Who are you, anyway?”

  Lamar narrowed his eyes. “I guess you’re right. Nina and I are just good friends and she’s a really good friend.”

  Grinning, Clinton leaned back in his chair. “Friends come and go but what Nina and I have is forever.” His tone was so convincing Clinton almost conjured memories of him and Nina hanging out together as teenagers in Charleston.

  Lamar rolled his eyes. “So, you’re sleeping with her?” His voice was a near whisper.

  Clinton shook his head. “This isn’t a conversation that we should be having and what Nina and I do is none of your business. After all, she’s just your friend, right?”

  Lamar hopped off his stool and headed toward Nina. Clinton smiled as he watched him approach her. Nina is off-limits. I work for her father and we’re just going to be friends.

  He started to stand up and walk over to them, but he saw Nina storming down the hall to what he assumed was the bathroom. Lamar looked as if he was going to go after her, but stopped and turned around to hop in the line for the pregame meal.

  Draping his jacket over his seat, Clinton stood up and went looking for Nina. He met her as she walked up from the bathroom. Her glassy eyes told him that she was holding back tears.

  “Are you all right?” Clinton wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her cheek. But this wasn’t the time or the place. Neither of them wanted to create a scene and Clinton knew his embrace would do just that.

  “I’m fine.”

  “It doesn’t seem that way to me.” Clinton stepped closer to her so that no one could hear them. “What did he say to you?”

  “Can’t get into it right now. Game is about to start and I need to keep my eye on the action.” She leaned against him briefly and Clinton saw from the corner of his eye that Lamar was watching their every move.

  * * *

  The game moved at a snail’s pace. Nina felt as if the referees and the defensive linemen had conspired against her to keep her in Lamar’s presence longer than she wanted.

  When she’d offered him the pass, she had been looking forward to watching Monday Night Football with him and showing him what her job was really like. At the time, she had been excited about taking him into the locker room to meet his favorite players and the possibility of them spending the night together making love. Now, she didn’t want him near her. But she felt his eyes bore into the back of her head as the game crawled along. Every time Clinton reached for her hand, Nina smiled slightly. But her mind went back to the conversation she and Lamar had had while she’d made her coffee.

  “Why did you bring that dude here?” he asked as she stirred her coffee.

  “Because I wanted to.”

  “Nina, I know what you’re doing. You wanted my attention—you got it.”

  Nina rolled her eyes. “Go to hell. No one wants your attention.”

  He ran his index finger down her cheek. Nina jerked away from him.

  “Don’t fucking touch me.” Her voice was a low hiss. “You just want me in your bed when you feel like giving me some. You want me to get you tickets to games and write about your football program. You want me to be your Internet researcher and . . . This isn’t the time or place for this. Unlike you, I’m working.”

  Lamar smiled. “So, are we going to see each other tonight?”

  “You have some nerve. Knowing how I felt about you, you think that I’m going to go back to being your booty call? Where’s Bae?”

  “Obviously, I didn’t mean as much to you as you claimed that I did. How long was it before you hopped in bed with that square?”

  Nina stormed away, for once not giving a damn about what the other reporters thought of her. Tears stung her eyes as she entered the bathroom. Why did I let him get to me like that? Lamar will say anything to get what he wants and the only reason he wants me now is because I’m sitting up here with Clinton.

  Nina steeled herself and headed back to the media area. There was no way she was going to let Lamar see her sweat, and though she’d half expected to see him standing in the hallway waiting for her, Nina was glad to see Clinton there instead. It spoke volumes about Lamar and what she’d really meant to him: nothing.

  Now turning to her left, she smiled at Clinton and it wasn’t for Lamar’s benefit. “Thank you for being here,” she whispered.

  “Thanks for the invite. And for the record, I’m still not a fan.”

  She giggled softly. “Whatever.”

  “What did he say to you?”

  Before she could answer, a murmur rippled through the press box. The Carolina Panthers’ star wide receiver had just caught a forty-two yard pass from the backup quarterback, which was heavily defended by two Dallas Cowboys’ cornerbacks. This had been the spark the home team needed with their star quarterback sidelined with an ankle injury. Secretly, Nina was not sad that Cody Cameron had gone down in the first half.

  Nina scribbled down some notes and mouthed later to Clinton.

  At the end of the game, Nina bolted to the elevator to get to the locker room. Clinton told her that he’d wait for her in the press box, but much to her chagrin, Lamar followed her.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered in her ear. “But I’m not the only one who was seeing other people.”

  “Whatever.” Nina didn’t look at him and she prayed that her heart would stop racing. Anger and reporting didn’t mix.

  “Listen, I didn’t think we were serious like that. Clearly, you’re making a point. I get it.”

  Rolling her eyes, she clutched her iPhone tightly. “I can’t talk to you about this right now, and you’ve made it clear that you want to dip you dick around town, so let’s stop pretending and stop the bullshit.”

  Before he could respond, the doors of the elevator opened. Nina jumped off quickly, pushing through a throng of her male colleagues. Lamar, close on her heels, grabbed her arm. “Listen,” he said. “I never made you any promises and I never told you that we were going to be a couple. So I don’t get why you’re mad all of a sudden.”

  She nodded. “That’s true. But I’m not doing this right now. I’m working and I know where we stand. Maybe you need to let go as well.”

  Lamar furrowed his brows. “We had a misunderstanding. But let’s move on. I don’t see why things have to change.”

  “Again, we’re not doing this now or ever. It’s over and I’m over it.”

  “Then meet me later and let me explain what . . .”

  She shook her head as the media relations representative walked out of the locker room and beckoned the media inside. Nina tore away from Lamar, ready to do her job.

  The entire time Nina worked the locker room, she felt Lamar watching her. When she talked to the star of the game, a rookie wide receiver who’d caught the winning touchdown, he was just inches from her. While she interviewed a talkative middle linebacker who’d sacked the quarterback three times, he was standing near the trainer’s table watching her. Nina couldn’t remember the last time that he’d shown this much interest in her. Hell, they hadn’t been out on the town in months. Once she finished her interviews, Nina turned to leave the lock
er room.

  “Nina,” Lamar called as he jogged to catch up with her. “What time are you coming over?”

  “Around never-thirty. I’m so much better than this. To hell with you.” Stomping away, she smiled as she thought about the confused look Lamar had to have on his face.

  Chapter 9

  Clinton didn’t quite know how to take Nina when she walked into the press box with a smile on her face. Had she and Lamar made up? She walked over to her chair, pulled out her laptop, and began typing.

  “Is everything all right?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said. “I’ve got to get these stories written.” Nina started typing rapidly and ignored Clinton as she flipped through her notes. Then she slipped her earbuds in and replayed what he assumed was interviews with the players.

  Clinton stood up and stretched. Figuring Nina needed to be left alone in order to meet her deadline, he walked over to the wall of televisions and watched the highlights of the football game. He still didn’t understand the obsession with a child’s game. To him most professional athletes were just overgrown kids who needed a good spanking. Anytime a pro team stayed in a hotel where he worked, the players acted as if the world revolved around them. He felt as if Lamar had that same attitude. There was no way that Lamar could do better than Nina. She was beautiful, smart, and sexy—the total package. He would be hard-pressed to find a better woman. But Nina could easily find a better man.

  Clinton poured himself a cup of coffee and dumped in a few packets of sugar. Nina looked beautiful when she was focused.

  Lamar walked up beside Clinton. “You’re still here?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? Nina and I rode together.”

  Shaking his head, Lamar smirked. “You do know that all of this is because of something I said that she didn’t agree with. Once she decides to forgive me, you’re back to the long-distance-friend zone.”

  “That’s what you think?” Clinton laughed.

  “What?”

  “Nothing, but I think you ought to leave her alone,” Clinton said. “She’s over you and maybe you should try to get over her.”

  Lamar rolled his eyes. “Whatever. I can have her anytime I want.”