Brett and Hunter met their sophomore year in college, at UGA, where they played football together. One day he was chumming it up with the charismatic wide receiver, the next the bastard was dating the woman of Brett’s dreams. And Brett could say nothing, for he’d never had the guts to tell Madi how he felt and by the time he’d finally gotten up the nerve to do so, it’d been too late.
Madi had been drawn to Hunter, like everyone else—hell, like Brett had been too. Hunter was like a flashlight in the darkest night; there was something about him that people just flocked to. His humor had been genuine, his smile bright, his aura all-consuming. He’d been one of those people that no one could dislike, it simply wasn’t possible. And Brett soon found himself being the third wheel, constantly. Although Madi and Hunter had never made him feel that way, it was still what he’d been. The forgotten best friend, the unrequited lover, the man who suffered in silence while the woman he loved gave her heart away to another.
Now Brett was the man left to pick up the pieces of that woman’s heart. And he was to blame for Hunter’s death. Brett wondered again if he would ever stop having nightmares of that day, ever stop reliving the fear, pain, and loss he felt as his best friend died in the bed next to him.
The flashback hit him again, a memory as sharp as the day it happened:
“You have to swear to me, Brett. Swear,” Hunter rasped, his voice strained, as it became increasingly difficult for him to breathe. Brett could hardly hear him over the incessant beeping of the machines around him. Hunt’s bloody, battered body lay atop a gurney in the trauma room of the ER. Brett sat next to him in a chair that was much too small for his big frame, Hunt holding his hand like it was his lifeline instead of the IV tubing running into his arm.
“Swear what, Hunt?”
“That you’ll take care of the woman we both love.”
Brett’s eyes came up to his best friend’s, a mixture of regret, uncertainty, and hesitation.
“I know, Brett. I’ve always known.” When Brett didn’t respond, Hunter continued, “And yet, I didn’t care. I was gonna have her no matter what… Now look what it’s cost me.”
Brett gulped. How had he known? Brett had never told anyone. Not even his parents knew…well, maybe they’d known, but it hadn’t been because he’d told them.
“But it’s your turn now. You have a second chance, buddy. To do what I couldn’t. Love her like you were always meant to. The way I failed.”
“No, Hermes, you—”
“Hermes! Ha!”
Travis “Ares” Redmond, had pegged Hunter “Hermes” when he’d joined their team back in late September. Brett had gotten the name Zeus for the “thunderbolts” he’d been throwing.
“I’m a sorry excuse where my wife is concerned, and you damn well know it!”
Brett almost crumpled at the sorrow on Hunter’s face and the tears in his brown eyes.
“Dammit, Brett, you know that what I did was all a huge mistake, right?”
“I know, brother, I know. It’s—”
“Don’t let her find out, please? It will crush her.”
“I’ll do my very best.”
“Swear?”
“I swear, Hunt.”
“It was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, and I regret it like hell now. I’d do anything to take it back. She—" Hunter was sniveling now, the pain of his regret palpable. “She didn’t deserve it, Brett. You were right. Madi’s been the perfect wife. I was a fool. I—"
“Shh, hey, I know, man, I know. It’s ok. Let’s not worry about the things we can’t change, huh?”
The last thing Brett wanted was for his best friend’s dying words to have to be groveling. He gave him a big smile and gripped his hand tighter.
“I promise I’ll take care of Madi,” Brett assured.
At that, Hunter grinned big. “It was always supposed to be you, Brett.” Hunter squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and a tear ran down his bloody cheek. “Give her children. She wants a boy, you know?”
Brett sucked a deep breath in, remembering that Hunter and Madi had been unsuccessfully trying to have a baby for the last six months. They’d both been tested to find out what the problem was but no answers had come. Hunter had been excited to tell his teammates about it, making jokes in his typical “Hermes” fashion, but Madi was under the illusion that it was a secret. Hunt really sucked at keeping secrets.
Brett’s reverie was interrupted as Madison came down the stairs, dressed in a blue sweater dress and leggings with leather riding boots. She’d donned makeup, coral lipstick, and left her hair down in waves that framed her face. She looked downright edible, and Brett cleared his throat.
“You ready, Sunflower?” he asked, calling her the nickname he gave her when they were just children. She’d always loved sunflowers. She nodded and he moved in front of her, taking her face in his hands. “I’m sorry if I was harsh.”
She shook her head. “I needed harsh, I think.” He gave her a smile and released her, pulled her arm through his as he moved to the garage door, set the alarm, and guided them to his GMC Sierra 1500 Denali.
Madi moved to the passenger side and he took the driver seat, turning the radio onto a soft jazz station. They rode in companionable silence before he turned down Main Street and onto the road to one of the best restaurants for country food in town—Sanders House.
“We can’t eat here,” Madi stated in shock as he pulled into the parking lot.
“Don’t worry.”
They’d learned the hard way long ago that they couldn’t just waltz into a place without unwanted
