FALSE START (Gods of the Gridiron Book 2)

by Shanna Swenson

  Frank sighed. “I guess your folks stayed home today?”

  “Yes, sir. Momma’s sick with a sinus infection, but Dad said to give him a call if any of us needed anything. So, please don’t be afraid to ask.”

  “That’s mighty kind of Drew. I tell ya, everyone has been so gracious amid all of this.” Frank teared up a little. Jerry reached over and patted his shoulder, then walked over to the bar to make another drink—this one for Frank, who took it obligingly. The men sat in companionable silence once again. Finally, right before Frank was about to get up, Brooke came to the landing of the stairs.

  “Brett, I’m sorry to interrupt, but… Madi, she’s refusing to take the Valium. Again.” she yelled down at him.

  Jerry sighed, and Frank looked over to Brett who nodded, “Ok, I’ll be right up,” he hollered back.

  Brett grabbed his drink, slung it back and downed it, said his goodbyes to Frank, and headed up the stairs.

  He wasn’t entirely out of earshot when he heard Frank say, “So… how long’s Brett been in love with my daughter-in-law?”

  He heard Jerry laugh humorlessly and reply with, “Hell, I reckon for as long as he’s known her.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  “No, Momma, I already told you I don’t want it! Please don’t argue with me,” Madi whined as Brett came through the door. He watched as she pushed the pill and water glass away.

  “Madi, you are the one arguing with me.”

  “Brett!” Madi stated, relieved. She turned her back on her mother as she crawled under the covers.

  Amelia huffed in annoyance and walked away from the bed. She pulled Brett back out of the room and closed the doors, making sure Madi was out of earshot.

  “She has to sleep! She hasn’t slept in three days,” Amelia whispered and put her arms up in defeat.

  “I know, Millie, I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”

  Amelia handed over the pill and glass, shaking her head. “I don’t understand why she’s acting like this. I mean, I guess I really can’t understand, can I?”

  “It’s alright. Y’all go on home and get some rest. I got Madi.”

  She looked relieved. “Thank you, Brett. I can’t thank you enough. I don’t know what we would’ve done without you.” She reached up on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek.

  “You know I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” he confirmed.

  “Well, we love you. Let us know if you need anything, alright?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I sure will.” He nodded as Amelia fetched Brooke, who was cuddled up against Madi whispering something into her ear. She kissed the back of her sister’s head and rubbed her back, then hopped up to join her mother.

  “Bye, Brett,” Brooke said, kissing his cheek as her mother had. “I know you’ll take good care of her.” She winked, and Brett rolled his eyes playfully.

  “Shut up, Brooke,” Madi yelled from the bed. “You’re such a perv.”

  “Me?” Brooke feigned ignorance. “I didn’t say anything!” She smiled like the cat that ate the canary.

  “Yeah, sure. I know what you meant…jerk.” Madi turned over and slanted her eyes at her younger sister. “I love you, Momma.”

  “I love you too, baby. Please get some rest.” She came back over to kiss her daughter.

  It was another few minutes before everyone got their things, said their goodbyes, and headed out.

  Finally, Brett was in the house, alone with Madi.

  “God, can you believe my mother is trying to shove pills down my throat?” Madison sat up in protest, crossing her arms over her chest. “I wish she would stop treating me like I’m a child! And, before you say anything, I know; she just means well. But you know how I feel about that crap.”

  “Yes, I know. I’m not going to argue with you about it. I’m just going to crumble it up in your food and not tell you.”

  She opened her mouth in shock. “You wouldn’t dare!”

  “Wanna bet?” He arched his eyebrow. They had a hard stare-off for what seemed like an eternity. Finally she narrowed her eyes.

  “Fine.” She reached her hand out. “Give me the stupid pill! But I’m only taking it this one time so don’t even think of asking me again.” He didn’t mention the fact that he didn’t even ask the first time. He just let it slide and handed it over, watching her swallow the pill. “What? Yes, it’s gone, I took it.” She opened her mouth to show him. He wanted so badly to laugh, but he didn’t have the energy to do so. She flipped back over on her side, her back to him, and pulled the covers up to her chin.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “Nope.”

  “Madi,” he groaned.

  “What? I’m not hungry.”

  “What if you just tried to eat a little something?”

  “Like what?”

  “Hell, I don’t know; the fridge is full of all kinds of foods: good food, church food—the stuff that you and I don’t get to eat often. Chicken casserole, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese—”

  “Stop. You had me at church food.”

  “Ok, so you’ll eat?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank you. Now was that so hard?” He came over on the other side of the bed and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be back up in a few minutes.” She had a pout on her face as he walked away, but he still didn’t feel as if he’d won. He might heat up the food, but that didn’t mean she would actually eat it.

  Brett headed down the stairs, noticing how empty and barren the large foyer felt; its cathedral ceiling echoed the lonely sound of his footfalls. He entered the vast kitchen and turned all the lights on, as much to fill the bleak space as for the necessity of the light itself.

  He pulled several dishes out of the fridge, plated the feast, and started the microwave. The smell of hearty food warming up hit his nostrils, and suddenly, he was hungry too. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten.

  The last several days were kind of a blur. He remembered getting Madi home from the ER, then everyone and their brother being there in the house. So many people, so many tears—so much food being brought in. That was the southern way. Someone died and they brought you fried chicken, casseroles, and pies.

  Then there was the funeral home and even more food. Brett sure wasn’t going to complain.

  Once dinner was to temperature, he grabbed the plates and headed upstairs. When he entered the room, Madi was sitting up in bed with a photograph in her hand. He stopped, taken aback by the look on her face.

  “I can’t believe he’s really gone.” She gazed at the photo, a single tear streaming down her cheek. “It’s all like a bad dream. I keep waiting for him to just walk through the door at any minute.”

  He sighed and set the plates down on a small table centered between two arm chairs angled in front of her bay window. He grabbed the photo from her hand and replaced it on the nightstand.

  “Dammit, Madison, we’re going to eat,” he growled, more annoyed than angry.

  She looked at him, aghast. He grabbed her face in his hands and sat next to her on the bed.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh, I just...” He looked down. “Madi, it should have been me.”

  “What?” Her shocked intake of breath drew his eyes up. “How can you say that?”

  “He was a husband, your husband. And me, I’m—” Brett shrugged, at a loss for words.

  “Look at me,” Madi stated sternly. Brett’s eyes were blurry from tears as he looked up into the beautiful greenish-blue eyes of the woman he’d secretly been in love with for over twenty years. “Do you honestly think it would have been easier for me if it’d been you instead?” Brett nodded, feeling a tear fall from his eye. She shook her head, her face crumpling. “No. It wouldn’t have! You’re my best friend, Brett. I love you! And I’m just so thankful that I didn’t have to lose both of you.”

  With that, they fell sobbing into each other’s arms where they stayed for a time. He finally pulled his face from her shoulder and noticed which pi
cture she’d been holding. It was a photo of the three of them, taken at Madi and Hunter’s wedding. He looked back at Madi. She wiped at the tears, her face blotchy from crying.

  “I’m so sorry,” he said earnestly.

  “Please don’t be. It wasn’t your fault. I know you think it was, but it wasn’t. Just please, don’t ever say that to me again. Please?” He nodded in agreement then pulled some tissues from the box on the nightstand.

  After they’d attended to their wet faces, Madi said, “Wow, that smells so good.” They had forgotten about the food, but now that she mentioned it, it did smell good. Brett’s tummy growled in response. He moved to grab the trays, setting Madi’s plate before her.

  “Man, this medicine makes me feel like I’m drunk...only worse.”

  “Good, let’s eat so you can get some much-needed sleep.” That goes for both of us, he thought.

  Brett placed his own plate on a tray and dug in. He’d loaded them down with chicken casserole, mashed potatoes, green beans, mac and cheese, and coleslaw. Each bite was even better than the last, and they laughed about how sick they would be in a few hours. Truth was, that was definitely bound to happen. Despite that football season was over, Brett still trained daily and tried to eat his usual diet that didn’t include any of these “cheat” foods.

  Brett was surprised to see that he’d quickly finished his plate, and Madi had made a good dent in hers.

  “Thanks, Brett. That was so good. I’m full now.”

  He smiled, grateful she had finally eaten something. “I’m glad you enjoyed it; it was good. I’m gonna go shower now and get out of these damp clothes. You get some rest. That’s an order, Sunflower.”

  She nodded, and he took the plates away.

  Brett felt refreshed after taking a hot shower and getting into some warm, dry lounge clothes. The shower washed away some of the stress he’d been feeling and relaxed him; but as he dressed, brushed his teeth, and dried his hair, he felt the weight of the day’s events taking their toll. He was suddenly so very grateful for the luxury of leisureliness. It was just him and Madison in the house now. It was nice not to have to cater to everyone else, run to fetch something, entertain, and plaster on a smile in the midst of all the crushing sadness. He could take his time to grieve for his best friend Hunter now—not that he hadn’t grieved, but funeral homes and funerals were overwhelming. Now was the real tough part, especially for Madi. Getting back to life…without Hunter.

  He exited the bathroom of the guest room, the room he always used when he stayed over, then headed back to Madi and Hunter’s room to check on her. He ever so slowly opened the door and saw her curled up on her side facing him, snoozing away. Good, the medicine worked, he thought. Just as he was closing the door, he heard a sleepy groan and her eyes shot open.

  “Don’t leave me.” She pouted sincerely.

  “I wasn’t going to,” Brett lied. “I was gonna go put the dishes in the dishwasher.”

  “It’s ok. Maria will be here tomorrow.” She patted the bed beside her.

  He sighed internally and cut the hall light before coming back to join her under the covers. He crawled in, facing her. This marked the fourth night in a row they’d fallen to sleep together—the few hours they’d gotten over the course of the last several days. The first night, Madi had been completely inconsolable; he’d held her all night on the couch as she came in and out of her grief. The second night, her family had gone home to rest and she’d finally gone to her bed but hadn’t stayed as she couldn’t stand being alone. She’d crawled into the guest bed with him, where she cried again most of the night and couldn’t sleep so they’d watched TV instead. The third night, Amelia had finally gotten Madi into her own bed, only for her to come get Brett in the middle of the night when Madi had a breakdown.

  Saying that it’d been awkward for him to sleep with Madi would’ve been an outright lie. It should have been awkward for him, but it wasn’t—not in the slightest—which made him feel even worse about it. He was sleeping with his best friend’s wife, who was also his best friend, but he was ok with it. Damn, I’m gonna burn in Hell, he thought.

  As childhood friends, they’d shared the same room—and a few times, the same bed—when they were younger. Brett remembered them coming to sleep in each other’s beds when their parents went to sleep. They’d wake up together and were scolded for doing so. But they kept doing the same thing on into high school and college, too, when they’d stayed up too late at parties or were just hanging out and simply never parted ways. They were best friends; it was bound to happen on occasion.

  This was all a comfort thing for Madi so she wasn’t alone. It didn’t have to do with anything sexual…at least for her, anyway…at least that’s what he thought…at least that’s what he told himself… I’m truly going to burn in Hell.

  “Brett?”

  “Yeah?”

  “What are you thinking about?”

  The fact that I’ll wake up with a raging boner spooning you. “Umm, I was just thinking about Hunter.” Rhetorical Liar!

  “Me too. Thank you for staying with me.” She reached her hand out and stroked his arm. He smiled to himself and took her hand in his, stroking the backside of it with his thumb.

  “Of course, Madi. Where else would I be?”

  “I mean sleeping with me. I don’t want to be alone. I can’t stand the thought of it. I know eventually I’ll have to but…I’m sure it may seem a little weird for you. I don’t mean for it to.”

  Is she reading my mind?

  “I mean, I’m sure you probably want to sleep in a bed by yourself. I’m sure you’re used to sleeping alone. I bet this is difficult for you.”

  Yeah…not!

  “You can tell me the truth; I won’t be mad if you don’t want to sleep with me.”

  All I have ever wanted was to sleep with you. And be with you. And love you…

  “Brett?”

  “Madi, it’s really ok. I promise.” To reassure her, he cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. “Now, please get some sleep, ok?”

  Madison nodded against his hand, and he adjusted himself in the bed, pulling the covers up to his chest. Brett could see her face bathed softly in the glow of the dwindling daylight. The sound of the rain outside was soothing—no longer torrential as before, just soft and steady. He watched Madi’s eyes as she gazed back at him, taking in her soft red-glazed, blue-green eyes and the dark circles beneath them. She’d never looked more exhausted than she did now. She licked her plump lips and gnawed softly at them, deep in thought. He followed the line of her straight, pert little nose, admired the definition of her brows, the set of her cheekbones and the subtle jut of her chin.

  Brett studied her, the woman he’d been head over heels in love with for as long as he could remember. The woman he’d loved since he was just a child, before he’d ever even known what love was, before he’d had a chance to know a woman’s heart or her touch, he’d felt an immediate connection and spark with this amazing woman laying next to him. Everything in her being sang to every cell in his body, his mind, and his soul, and—upon first touching her and seeing her—he’d known it. He remembered telling his father that he’d met the girl of his dreams and his father just laughing and ruffling his scraggly hair at the notion. He’d been dead serious though. From that moment on, he’d never loved anyone else. He’d truly tried to let her go and move on once she had married Hunter, but he’d never succeeded in doing so.

  “What is it, sweetheart?” he asked finally, before she chewed her lips off.

  “I’m just so lost. What am I supposed to do now?” Madison whispered. He just shook his head, indicating that he didn’t have the answers. “This house is so big…and quiet without anyone else in it. I can’t stand the thought of being here alone.”

  “You won’t be alone, Madi.” He brought the hand he was still stroking to his lips and kissed her knuckles ever so softly. “I’m here. For as long as you want me to be.”

  She gulped, tak
ing in the meaning of his words. “But, Brett, you have a home of your own…a life of your own.”

  “Madi, you’ve always been my life. You’re my family, and you always will be. As far as my house goes, I can sell it. It’s just a house.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that.” She sighed.

  “Then we’ll sell this one,” Brett offered, and Madi smiled weakly in return. “Let’s just take it one day at a time. Nothing is set in stone. There’s no rush. You’ve had a very rough week, and you need to get some rest now and take care of you. Everything else can hold off until you’ve had some time to grieve.” He pulled her gently into his chest, tucking his chin against her scalp and wrapping his bulky arms around her, completely enveloping her tall, curvy frame. His lips grazed her hair line, kissing her there. Ever so gently, he began stroking her back with his hands. “I’m not going anywhere, Sunflower, you know that. Please don’t worry about being alone.”

  Brett could feel her silent tears falling onto his skin as he continued to stroke her back. He tried to absorb her grief and at the same time dissolve his guilt, even though he knew there was nothing he could do to change what had happened. He felt if Hunter had been the one driving his own vehicle, he would still be alive to be here with his wife. Hunt would be the one here comforting her and holding her, and taking in the sweet, floral scent of her hair, those golden swirls of curls that fell over Brett’s arm, tickling him. He couldn’t help but bury his nose into that heavenly aroma and breathe her in. She was like a drug to him, and he closed his eyes and sighed, savoring her fragrance across his nostrils and his tongue. His groin responded to the stimulation, and Brett cursed to himself. Now he had something else to feel guilty about. He truly was going straight to Hell…

  It seemed like hours had passed before he finally felt her breathing slow and her body still, succumbing to sleep. He peeled her from his numb arms and settled her just a little farther away from him so that his nocturnal movements wouldn’t wake her. She stirred ever so slightly as he rearranged her head on her pillow, her cheek hot and red from its contact with his chest. Her hand innately sought him out. He moved a little closer and tucked her hand into his as he kissed her cheek and bade her a whispered good night. She just moaned in response. Success! He’d finally gotten her to sleep. Now, hopefully it would last longer than it had the last few nights.