Brett kissed his two fingers, tapped them on his chest where his heart was, and pointed up to Heaven as he looked up. Madi closed her eyes against the tears that came, and applause exploded around them. Brett approached her, pulled her in for a hug and embraced her, then kissed her cheek. “I love you, Sunflower.”
She sniffled and pulled back. “I love you, Cap.”
She approached the podium, looking through her thick tears onto the faces before her. “How can I follow that?” she asked with a laugh and got one out of everyone else. “Seriously though, I want to thank all of you—this team, my friends and family—for all your love and support in this difficult time. Hunter would’ve been very appreciative and glad you’ve all come together like this for him. He—” she sniffled. “He, uh, loved being the center of attention. Although,” she laughed again through her tears and looked up, “you didn’t have to do it like this, love.” Her eyes fell back to the audience. “I miss him. I miss his funny, crazy side and even his sarcasm. He had a gift for being a goofball and was full of boundless energy. Anyone who knew Hunt, knew he never ran out of that.” Everyone laughed at that. “He loved this team. He loved this sport. He loved you all.” Madi glanced around at all the faces that held back tears, like she did. “This means so much. This memorial to the man and football player he was. May his spirit forever live in all of us. His free, loving, benevolent spirit; a spirit that shown so brightly. I pray his soul is at peace. I pray we continue to remember him. And again, thank you so much for being here and showing what Hermes meant to you. God bless you all.”
The commissioner and her father approached her with a trophy-like statue in the shape of a player catching a ball. Madi took it, shook the commissioner’s hand, and thanked him then hugged her father. She turned with the trophy and held it up, getting a round of applause that roared through the crowd.
Soon, the trophy was being taken from her to be cleaned—it would go on display at the complex. People began to separate into groups, talking, dancing, and milling around the beautifully decorated banquet hall with ribbons, bows, and drapes of crimson and gold.
Madi moved to speak to her girls, Brooke, Val and Sky, who oohed and aahed over her dress and her speech. Having them there made her heart happy; their friendship meant the world to her. After more drinks and talking, she was pulled into a dance with Travis, then Linc, TJ, Pax and finally Lang. She was starting to get tired and eager to exit the hall, especially when Langley’s hand came up to cup her cheek.
“You look amazing tonight, Madi,” he murmured as his big brown eyes gazed into hers.
“Th—thank you.”
“You do. I hate that we have to have this party under these circumstances, but I’m glad to have an excuse to see you in a dress like this.”
Madi glanced up at him sharply.
“Sorry, but it’s true. You’re a very beautiful woman, Madison.” His eyes, usually puppy-dog like and playful, were now roving her flesh—more bare than cloaked at the moment—in unabashed approval; it gave her the creeps.
Madi gulped. How much had Langley had to drink? She looked around. Where was Brett?
“Madi, I’m gonna be forward for a minute: I’m here for you. I know you’re lonely without Hunter.” Langley’s hand moved down Madi’s uncovered arm, and she shivered, feeling her gut tighten in alarm. “Given the chance, I can make all of you shiver, angel. A woman like you doesn’t need to be alone. You need a man, a man with only your pleasure in mind.”
Madi cringed as Langley’s hand began to move down her waist. She glanced sharply around. Where the hell was Brett—or Travis? Or Linc? Trepidation inched up her body, seizing her heart as Lang’s plump lips hovered at her ear.
“It’s no surprise that I want you, baby girl. Let me show you.”
Oh my God! She could feel the head of his erection poking into her thigh and attempted to pull back. Her eyes caught Brett’s suddenly, and they said everything without her speaking a word.
Zeus moved through the crowd quickly, a stealthy QB breaking through the line of defense. His eyes held hers and darkened as he took in the scene before him.
“Is there a problem here, Lang?” he growled, taking charge and jerking Madi away from Langley’s surprised grasp.
“Uh no, man. We were just talkin’.” Lang looked to Madi with a smirk. “Everything’s good here.” He winked and briskly walked away.
Brett gently pulled Madi to him, attempting to keep the order and not make a bigger scene than he already had. Her hands moved up and around his neck, and she stared back into the green pools of solace that eased her heart in that moment. She loved the feel of his big arms around her as he held her, the power of his presence. He was larger than life and had always had a formidable force about him. He wasn’t the biggest man on the team, nor the tallest, but he was the captain, the alpha, the backbone of the bunch; and he’d shoved his dominance in Lang’s face tonight. It had been relieving and—to her surprise—arousing all at once.
“Madi, what did he say? What did he do?” Brett’s lips curled angrily.
Madi’s head reeled as she tried to calm her breathing. If she told him, Brett might literally kill Langley. “He’s just had too much to drink, I think. Let it go, Cap. Let’s enjoy the dance.”
Brett’s snarl reverberated through her ears. “I don’t like other men touching you… gazing at you like he was.”
Her eyes snapped up to his once again, and he held her gaze, realizing what he’d just said.
He softened the fierceness on his face and leaned his head down next to hers, his nose running the length of her jawline. She shivered. “He’ll never get that chance again, I promise you, Sunflower.”
She gasped as she sought his eyes—emerald spheres that held hers in limbo. They were full of promise, and she gaped up at him. What was he saying? Her world spun. She’d had too much bubbly tonight—that or her emotions were just getting the best of her. Hope filled her but dread also; she feared more heartache coming her way. She’d always loved him, but couldn’t take rejection from him again.
“Take me home now, Brett.”
He nodded and did as she asked, taking her back to his house.
The next morning Madi had a dozen missed calls and thirty text messages on her phone, but it was the call she got from her sister that woke her up.
“Are you up?” Brooke hastily said.
“I am now, thanks to you.” Madi grumbled and tried to orient herself as she sat up in the guest bed of Brett’s house.
“Don’t turn the news on or check Facebook. In fact—don’t even look at your phone right now!”
“Why?” Madi huffed even as she pulled the comforter from her hips, getting out of bed.
“Are you sitting down?”
“Brooke!”
“Ok, so there’s this very credible picture of Hunter with two women taken last year…”
“Vegas!” It all came back to her: the way he’d acted after returning from the trip, Brett’s distance. Something had happened during that trip—something bad—and Madi’s nauseous gut was telling her she was about to find out.
“Yes. I’m on my way to you right now. Just hang tight for a second, ok?”
“Brooke, what does it say?” Madi whined; her heart couldn’t take any more heartache, disappointment, anguish. “Just tell me, please?”
“Are you sitting down?” Brooke repeated again.
“Yes!”
Madi clomped into the kitchen, looking out into the pasture at Brett’s beautiful roan bay horses. She pulled out one of the bar stools at the island and sat down, feeling her stomach clench before Brooke muttered the words, “He had an affair, sister.”
CHAPTER NINE
Brett laughed at Travis as he made fun of the defensive player from the tape once again; TJ, Quil, and Lang joined in. They’d just come from their showers. They’d had an early morning offensive meeting and a workout, and were dressing in the locker room when Travis stopped moving, frowned, and stared
at something behind Brett.
Brett turned and was surprised to see Madi standing there in gray shorts and an old Gladiators t-shirt. Her hair was up in a bun, tears ran down her red face, and she had a newspaper in her hands. Brooke stood in the doorframe behind her.
“Madi?” Concern ripped through him as he approached her. “What’s wrong?”
“Please, please tell me that you didn’t know?” she pleaded, her face crumpling.
“Know what?”
Madi shoved a newspaper at his bare torso. “This!”
Brett swallowed hard as he jerked the paper from his stomach, and Madi folded her arms across her middle. All he needed to see was the headline, “Deceased NFL Star, A Vegas Playboy?” and the picture—Hunter with the two girls from the casino on either of his arms taken in the hallway on the way back to his room—and he knew his worst nightmare had just come to life. His face dropped.
She shoved his bare chest but didn’t budge him, not an inch. “You knew!” she shouted and jerked the paper from his hands, shoving it into his face. “He cheated on me, and you fucking knew. How could you not tell me? You’re supposed to be my best friend.”
“Madi, I—”
“No, don’t you dare! Just answer the fucking question.”
Madi was really mad; she never swore, and she’d said the F-word twice now.
“Did you know?” she growled out.
Brett gulped and closed his eyes briefly. With his nod, he sealed his fate.
“I never want to see you again.”
Brett went to grab for her, but she pulled his hand from hers and swatted it away.
“Don’t touch me! You don’t ever get to touch me again.”
The words bit into his heart like a giant set of fangs, stealing the life from him. He watched her beautiful face contorting in anguish that he couldn’t heal, for she’d found out the one thing Hunter never wanted her to know—and for damn good reason.
She stalked out of the locker room. Brooke gave Brett a sad smile and followed.
Now, Brett was once again left to pick up the pieces of Hunter’s mistakes. And this time, he wasn’t sure he could fix this one.
“Man, talk about wrong place, wrong time.” Travis clapped Brett on the back.
Brett looked at Travis, feeling completely dejected.
“Let’s go hit up a bar. Looks like you could use a few beers.”
Brett threw his shirt over his head, and he and Trav grabbed their gym bags and headed out.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as Brett pounded on Madison’s door—when ringing the bell five times in a row didn’t get him the result he wanted.
Brooke answered looking unhappy and anxious, her green eyes peering hard into his.
“Hey,” he grumbled.
“She doesn’t wanna see you,” Brooke stated without conviction and moved to let him enter.
“I know, but ask me if I care,” he smarted back, the booze gushing through his veins.
“I figured you didn’t, just wanted you to be aware in case—”
“What are you doing here?” Madi’s angry voice called to him, echoing in the marble-tiled foyer.
“I need to talk to you. You don’t just get to turn your back on a twenty-year friendship without hearing me out.”
“I have nothing to say to you, besides something you don’t wanna hear.” Madi’s red face contorted in anger.
“You don’t get to talk. I do, dammit, and I have lots I wanna say.”
“Start with, ‘I’m sorry, Madi, for being the worst best friend in the world.’”
“You wanna do this? Here, in front of your girls?” Brett pointed to Sky and Val who stepped up behind Madi.
“Hell, I have no shame left. The whole world has seen everything I have to offer now. So, go ahead. I got nothing else to lose, Brett.” Madi’s cry rang out through the high ceiling, making his ears hurt.
“We should go,” Val murmured and grabbed Sky’s arm. Sky nodded and turned to Madi, a pained look on her face.
“We all should. Brooke, c’mon.” Amelia’s stern look pierced Brett’s eyes with daggers. She stopped and looked up at him. “The only reason I’m not stopping this is because I know there are things that need to be said, things that need to come out into the open. Tell her what you need to tell her.” Amelia’s brows went up in finality.
Brett didn’t confirm what he would or wouldn’t say. He was buzzing and ready to unburden his heart. But whether he did or didn’t tell Madi how he felt—how he’d always felt—wasn’t why he was here. He needed to tell her what happened in Vegas.
When all the girls had left, Madi looked up at him from her perch at the table centered between the two staircases. Her lips quivered, her fists clenched at her sides, and in a flash, she moved forward. He thought she would come into his open arms, but instead she slapped him as hard as she could across the face. His head snapped to the right, and if it weren’t for all the drinks he’d consumed, his jaw would’ve stung from the blow.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as he looked back at her, his heart breaking in two at the disappointment and anguish smearing her face.
“Madi, I’m so sorry.”
“How, how could you not tell me?” Her rage battled with her pain, but he held his ground. If she needed to hit him to get it out, then that was better than her ignoring him.
“I wanted to. I was going to but…”
“Was it really two girls? Two!”
Yes, it’d really been two. Yes, it had really happened. Yes, Brett had threatened to kill Hunter when he’d seen him with them.
“What happened?”
“Hunt,” Brett called as he watched his best friend walking out of the casino with a girl on each arm. “Hunter!”
Hunter’s face was red, as if he were embarrassed—and his snockered ass should be.
“What the hell are you doing?” Brett frowned.
“Havin’ some fun. We’re in Vegas after all, right, brother?” Hunt smirked. But Brett’s eyes narrowed as he took in the two sluts all over Hunt, clad in mini-skirts and tube-tops.
“With these two?
“They’ve promised me all the amazing things they can do. How can I pass up the opportunity to have a threesome?” Hunter laughed then held his hand out in a gesture of truce. A threesome? Why hadn’t he done that shit before he’d gotten married. “I’m being selfish, sorry. I guess you can have one of ‘em. I don’t mind sharing.” Hunter thrust a brunette his way, but Brett pushed the girl away with his forearm and gripped Hunt’s collar.
“Have you forgotten who you’re married to?” Brett growled.
“Oh, don’t give me that religious crap about holy matrimony. I’m a football star. You should be surprised I haven’t cheated before now. I’ve had ample opportunities.”
Brett literally snarled thinking of how much he’d pined for Madison Thomas, and here her sorry-ass husband was throwing her love aside like it meant nothing—all for one night with two skanky whores.
“You’re forgetting who her father is, too. And who I am. I’m her best friend. Do you honestly think I’m just gonna let you walk out of here without telling her what the fuck you’re up to?”
“Yes. Yes, I am.” Hunt pulled Brett’s hands from his collar and threw his chin up. “You wanna know why, big shot? Because I know your dirty little secret. You think I’m oblivious to how you feel about my wife? No. I’ve hidden in the shadows the last six years watching you ogle her like a love-sick puppy and guess what? I don’t fuckin’ like it. Not much I can do though, huh? Or is there? Hmm.” Hunter smirked, the grin of a hunter catching his prey in a snare. “If you so much as think about outing me, I’ll make you out to be no better than some sick stalker. You won’t be able to walk down the street. I’ll ruin your reputation so bad you’ll be jerking off for the rest of your life because no woman—or man, for that matter—will want to be anywhere near you. So, you go right a-fucking-head and you call Madi. But if I go down, your sorry ass is going wi
th me, friend.”
Brett continued to eye the man he suddenly hated with everything inside him. “What makes you think she’d believe you, even if you did?”
“Because I’m her husband! Who do you think she’ll believe?”
Brett shook his head, feeling his blood pressure shoot up so high his ears could’ve blown smoke. “You son of a bitch. You’ll regret this. Go ahead and have your fun, but this is so far from over. I swear if it weren’t for hurting Madison, I’d fuckin’ kill you right now.”
“Idle threats, Brett. You’re all talk and no action…which is why you’re not with Madi right now. Let me know when you grow a set, and I’ll meet you outside. Until then, get the fuck out of my face.”
Hunter shoved him away and gave him a final devious smile before grabbing the arms of the women. Brett watched him head down the hall, unlock the door to his room and enter it, all the while debating on whether he was gonna let the bastard live.
He slammed his hand against the wall. “Fucking Hunter.”
He knew this was going to come back and bite him in the ass, but God help him he could never jeopardize how Madi saw him. The fear that Hunt would make Brett’s love for Madi out to be something crude outweighed everything else. He prayed no one ever found out about this…especially Madi.
FALSE START (Gods of the Gridiron Book 2) Page 11
