by Tina Martin
ACCIDENTAL HEARTBREAK
Book Two of the Accidental Series
Tina Martin
Copyright @ 2013 by Tina Martin
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written consent of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and products are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events is entirely coincidental.
Visit the author’s website at: www.tinamartin.net
Book Cover Design by Dynastys CoverMe (www.dynastyscoverme.com)
*PLEASE NOTE: This novel is the second book of The Accidental Series. The first book in the series is, Accidental Deception.
Accidental Heartbreak
Chapter 1
August 2010
“Carter,” Terrance said, then tossed back a shot of Tequila. After squeezing a lemon wedge to his mouth and shaking off the burn in his throat he continued, “You look real pitiful right now, dawg. Real pitiful.”
The men were sitting at the bar, one o’clock in the morning, at their favorite night spot in Uptown Charlotte, one of those restaurant-by-day, club-by-night joints. The hip hop music was cranked up extremely loud, to the point where Carter could feel the vibration of the beat through his bones. And with the additional noise of loud, rowdy patrons (his best friend Terrance included) it’s a wonder he could hear his own thoughts. He couldn’t focus on them, though. Every time he tried, someone bumped into him. Or Terrance said something stupid. Or a woman was trying to hit on him.
What am I doing, he thought. He didn’t want to be here. Not tonight. Not any night for that matter, but to appease Terrance, he met him at the place, still rocking his business attire – a black Michael Kors suit tailored specifically for his frame with a white shirt and purple silk tie. He longed to be at home, lying on the couch in sweats, relaxing after a long day while thinking about the only woman who was special enough to have successfully dug through the layers of concrete that barricaded his heart from the rest of his body.
Shayla Kline.
He hadn’t seen Shayla in roughly two months since deciding to cut ties with her. Early into his decision, he’d been on the fence about it, wanting to see her some days, then glad he made the choice to move on with his life on others. His indecisiveness bothered him so much, he sought out Shayla’s therapist, Dr. Westbrook, for advice. But he didn’t like the doctor’s suggestion – that he tell Shayla who he really was – that Jacob, her deceased fiancé whom she was in love with once upon a time, was his brother.
He often wondered why it was so difficult for him to say the words. He’d never been in a predicament like this before, never had a problem with articulating his thoughts to anyone – to upper management, his direct reports, even his Mother. But yet, he failed to find the strength to tell Shayla one simple thing, all because he didn’t know how she would react to the news. And because he’d fallen hopelessly in love with her.
It wasn’t intentional and it wasn’t supposed to happen. Love wasn’t his thing, but when he’d found Shayla on the sidewalk that day in February of this year, something in him changed, permanently. She was sick and frail and he knew she needed help. So he stopped, spread his coat over her and gave her CPR. A couple days later, he found out that she used to belong to his brother, Jacob. And Jacob, who had committed suicide last year, left word for Carter to take care of her. And it was during this process, the nurturing and caring for her, that he fell for her.
He often asked himself why. Why did he fall in love with her? Maybe it was due to the fact that she kept the memory of his brother alive. Or perhaps it’s because he never spent more time with any other woman than he spent with her. It could’ve been the innocence of her that he found so refreshing. And he’d let his guard down. He let her in to navigate unchartered territory – his heart.
Too bad he had to let her go. It didn’t matter that Jacob was deceased. He still deserved to be respected. And he’d specifically asked Carter to take care of her.
Terrance looked at Carter through his glossy eyes, wondering why he hadn’t responded to him.
Carter was zoned out, tossing all of this Shayla business around in his head, trying to think about what any other guy would do in this predicament. He couldn’t ask Terrance for advice because he hadn’t told him about Jacob and Shayla’s connection or the suicide note. And he didn’t know if he wanted to tell him. Terrance was his boy and all, but he was extremely annoying at times, even had Carter reevaluating their friendship, especially after the things Terrance had said about Shayla.
“Carter, you good?”
Carter wrapped his hand around his glass of Coke and Rum. “Man…I’ve been up since four in the morning,” he grumbled, finally breaking his silence. “I’m exhausted.” What he wouldn’t mention is he was up so early because he couldn’t sleep. He hadn’t had a good night’s rest since Shayla moved out. His mind was constantly occupied with thoughts of her. No matter what he did to forget about her, something always reminded him of the time they spent together, something as simple as her sitting on the couch next to him or standing in the foyer, waiting to greet him after he came home from work.
Shayla Kline.
When he lost his temper that day and told her to leave, he didn’t think she would go. He had expected her to stay and put up with his temporary loss of self control. Maybe the two of them would hash it out and move on with life as they did any other time a disagreement arose.
That didn’t happen.
Shayla had had enough and moved in with Rebecca, the owner of the flower shop in which she worked, a move that surprised Carter. He didn’t think they were close enough to share a living space. But that’s where Shayla ended up, living with Rebecca, and no longer needed to stay with at his place, and something about that pissed him off. He was the one who had helped her and got her back on solid ground and now she was gone. And he was angry.
“Why’d you get up so early?” Terrance asked, looking at his absent-minded friend.
Carter shrugged and decided to make up something just to shut Terrance up. “I had to be to work early for a meeting.”
“You and that job…” Terrance shook his head. “I swear you have more meetings than Barack Obama.”
“Meetings are an integral part of my job function,” Carter said with a straight, serious face.
“Well, all I know is, if I had to get up that early for a meeting, I’d be looking for new employment. I don’t know how you do it.”
“If you were making a hundred and fifty thousand a year, you’d do it.”
“You doggone right I would.” Terrance laughed, as his eyes flit around the club.
Carter didn’t need the job for the money. His Mother had left him plenty in the will – five-hundred thousand to be exact, some of which he’d invested and was due to make excellent returns. He could quit his prestigious position if he so desired, retired at age thirty-five and lived a comfortable, stress-free life. But he wanted the job mostly for status, to be important, to have people looking up to him as a successful black man that made it. That was educated. And on top of that, he was a master at his profession and he took pride in the fact that he’d been responsible for mentoring several associates who moved up the corporate ladder.
“Ay, Carter,” Terrance said, slapping Carter’s arm with the backside of his hand. “You know that woman over there in the corner has been trying to get your attention since we stepped in this joint.”
“Terrance, chill. I didn’t come here for that.”
&
nbsp; “I know. You still thinking about that girl, right?”
“What girl?” Carter asked frowning, as if he didn’t know who Terrance was referring to.
“Shayla. I thought you said she was off limits.”
“She is.”
“Then why are you still thinking about her?”
“Why am I what?” Carter said leaning closer. Sounded like the music had gotten louder.
“If she’s off limits, why are you still thinking about her?” Terrance hollered.
“Who says I’m thinking about her?” Carter countered, though he thought about Shayla so much he felt like he was going insane at times. He’d even asked his aunt, Jacqueline, earlier in the day if she’d heard from her. Jacqueline told him she’d spoken to Shayla briefly one day last week at the flower shop. Said Shayla was looking good. She was wearing makeup now and her hair was done differently. He wanted to ask if Shayla had asked about him but refused. He didn’t make it a practice to sweat a woman and he certainly wasn’t going to start now.
Carter took another sip of his drink. He had enough of pretending. This wasn’t the man he wanted to be. Not anymore. And all he wanted was to see Shayla. Just how different did she look from the last time he laid eyes on her? He could still see her long, black curly hair, her light skin, pink lips and big, innocent eyes. He recalled their long talks. Dinners they’d shared together.
“You know what…I’m out,” he said to Terrance. “You coming or you gettin’ a taxi?”
“Dang, man,” Terrance said. “You leaving already?”
“Yeah. I’m leaving. You riding or what?”
Terrance blew a frustrating breath. He wasn’t ready to leave just yet.
“Tee, you don’t have to ride with me,” Carter fired off, highly annoyed by Terrance and this ordeal. He didn’t want to be here, partying it up, picking up chicks and drinking alcohol. It was juvenile to him now.
“Who I’ma ride wit’ if I don’t ride wit’ you?” Terrance drawled out.
Carter took his wallet from his back pocket and slid out a twenty dollar bill, handing it to Terrance. “Just get a taxi.”
“Nah, nah, nah. I’ll ride wit’ you. Man!”
“You sure, because I’m leaving right now. Not ten minutes from now…right now.”
“Ah’ight, ah’ight.” Terrance said.
Since Terrance didn’t take the twenty, Carter placed it on the bar counter with a few other bills to cover both of their tabs. The two walked out to the parking lot and hopped in his cream-colored Escalade. Carter started the engine and began the drive to Terrance’s place.
Terrance watched Carter silently drive down the road. Carter’s mind appeared to be in a million places, and did he not realize that he just blew through a red light?
“You okay to drive?” Terrance inquired, strapping on his seat belt. He was a little tipsy, but had enough common sense to realize red meant stop and Carter sped right through it.
“Yeah. I had one drink. You on the other hand…”
Terrance chuckled. “You do realize you ran that light back there.”
“No I didn’t.”
“Yes you did, man. Why you think I got this seat belt nice and snug?” Terrance laughed a deep belly laugh, gripping the door handle with his right hand.
Carter glanced at him, then back to the road.
“What’s with you, dawg?” Terrance asked, mildly amused.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you don’t seem like yourself.”
Carter couldn’t get to Terrance’s apartment fast enough. Much to his chagrin, Terrance was a pain to be around at times. And would he ever stop talking?
“I know what’s going on. It’s Shayla, isn’t it?” Terrance surmised. “Tell the truth, Carter.” Terrance elbowed him again.
“Will you stop doing that? I’m trying to drive here.”
“You trying to change the subject. That’s what you trying to do.”
“Do you want to get out right here?” Carter said testily, slowing to a stop.
“Nah, nah, nah. I’m just playing wit’ you, Carter. Lighten up, man.” Fifteen seconds hadn’t even gone by before he added, “So you trying to have a thing with Shayla or what?”
Carter frowned. Why was Terrance pushing the issue? He was the one who told Carter that Shayla wasn’t on his level because she used to be homeless. She wouldn’t fit in with his lifestyle he said. So to shut him up, Carter answered, “No, it’s not Shayla. I haven’t laid eyes on her in two months.”
“Just because you haven’t seen her doesn’t mean you don’t think about her.”
Carter stopped in front of Terrance’s apartment complex and put the truck in park. Seemed every time he and Terrance got together, Terrance always had something to say about Shayla. Shayla this, and Shayla that. Shayla was a cool girl, but she wasn’t right for you. Shayla was waiting for me to teach her how to play cards and you kicked her out. I wonder what Shayla had to do to get the keys to the Lex? Fed up, Carter looked over at him sitting in the passenger seat and asked, “Why are you always bringing her up around me?”
“’Cause I know you like her. I saw the way you were looking at her that night I was over at your crib.”
“Do you realize how long that was ago?”
“I’m just sayin’—”
“And aren’t you the one who said she wasn’t good enough for me? That it would be difficult for me to introduce someone like her to my colleagues? That she wasn’t on my level because of her past?”
“Dang. Did I say that, ‘cause I don’t remember saying—”
“Yeah, you said it. You called her a bum so many times I lost count. Said she was using me. So if you think so negatively of her, why do you keep talking about her, Terrance?”
“Because I know you like the girl, man.”
“Okay! I like her. Now will you stop talking about her?”
“Why you gettin’ all in your chest? I was just joking.”
“Well it ain’t funny, Terrance,” Carter snapped. Enough was enough. “That’s your problem. You think everything is a joke.”
“Listen, man—”
“No,” Carter interjected. “You listen. How are you going to tell me Shayla ain’t good enough for me, but every time I see you she’s your main topic of conversation?”
“Ah’ight. My bad,” Terrance said, palms up. “I’ma say this though, and I won’t say anything else about her.”
Carter sighed. “Tee, just say whatever it is you have to say so I can go.”
“If…if you like the girl, then nothing I say or anybody else for that matter should sway your feelings for her.”
Carter turned his face away from Terrance to look out the driver door window, staring off into the darkness.
Terrance continued, “And I don’t know what all happened with her leaving and everything, but I do know it’s affecting you. Even though you try to hide it, I see it, man. I may not be as smart as you and I don’t make six figures a year, but I do know when something is wrong with my boy and something is definitely wrong with you.”
Carter thought for a moment. He couldn’t deny his mood had changed for the worse since Shayla left. He felt the transformation within himself and heard the grumblings at work from his colleagues. Terrance was right. Tipsy and all, he was right. He glanced at Terrance and said, “Well, we can’t have everything we want, can we?”
Terrance smirked. “So says the man who has everything he wants.”
“I don’t have her?”
Terrance opened the door and stepped out of the truck. “Then go get her. It’s not like you can’t.” He pushed the door shut and walked up the sidewalk to his apartment.
Carter drove off, turned on the intermittent windshield wipers when it started to drizzle. He remembered that night he found Shayla walking down the road in the rain, the night that started the downspin of their friendship – the night she thought he was with another woman. But she had been mistaken because he hadn’t b
een with another woman since he laid eyes on her and had no plans to be.
Chapter 2
“I’m so glad we were able to get together for dinner,” Jacqueline told Shayla as she sat across from her at Landmark, a restaurant on the East side of Charlotte near Jacqueline’s home. They were eating garden salads, sharing a booth that gave them a view of the cars passing on Central Avenue.
“Me too,” Shayla told her, though she didn’t mention she had been worried that the two of them would never speak again, especially after things had went sour with Carter. And speaking of Carter, she wanted so badly to ask Jacqueline about him. His name had been hanging on the tip of her tongue but she couldn’t bring herself to speak it. Besides, Carter wasn’t thinking about her. Who was she compared to the women he usually dated? Compared to the woman who’d stopped by his house that night in the tight red skirt?
“So how are things at the shop?” Jacqueline asked. “You looked pretty busy the last time I was there.”
“I was. It’s been crazy…we’ve been having lots of orders for weddings.” Shayla took a sip of water. She looked up at Jacqueline, studying her for a moment. She was a beautiful woman in her sixties but you wouldn’t know her age unless she came right out with it. She took care of herself and her skin was very taut and glowy.
“I’m glad that little shop is doing good. I’ve been going there for years, honey.”
Shayla smiled and turn towards the window, watching cars drive by. She thought about Carter. Was he happy she moved out? Was it easy for him to go on and live his life like the four months they lived together never happened? Didn’t mean a thing? Was he and Genevieve still involved or had he moved on to the next woman? Surely he had by now.
“I thought I saw a help wanted sign in the front window,” Jacqueline said. “Another person in there would help you guys out a great deal.”