With that, Brett threw the pic back in his face and walked off.
Brett now had to make sure those pictures were taken down before Madi came in and cleaned that locker out; she would be appalled if she saw them. He’d be sure to hit the complex up when they got back and do just that.
For now, he stroked her hair and told her. “It’s ok. It’s not exactly something you announce to the world… unless, of course, your name is Hunter Thomas.”
“Oh, God, he didn’t.”
“Yup, he did.” The pictures flashed through his head again, and he tried hard to suppress his body’s response as he recalled the sexual look in Madi’s eyes. He’d seen them like that once himself; it had been so long ago, but he’d never forget that night.
“Damn him,” Madi grated out angrily.
“He was just excited,” Brett defended, not sure why he felt the need to justify Hunter’s shady actions.
“That makes me feel worse. Now everyone knows I’m a failure.”
“Hey,” Brett took her face in his palm and brought her chin up. “Stop saying that. You aren’t a failure. You’ve never failed at anything in your life. You’re a fucking champion. Even your team.” Brett trailed off as he said this, all too aware that the team was going to have a tough time this year with Hunter gone. He gulped, aware that he’d brought up a sore subject.
“I’m sorry,” Madi said again.
“I want you to erase that phrase from your vocabulary. If anyone is sorry during all this, it has to be me. But we have to stop apologizing to each other, ok?”
Madi nodded. “You’re right.”
“Now, c’mon, we’re in Cancun. No more tears. No more regrets. The day is stunning, and I wanna go to the beach.”
Madi scowled, looking off and wiping at his wet shirt. “I’m still on my period.”
“Well, I’m sure Val has tampons in a bathroom somewhere,” Brett offered, getting a blush out of Madi. “Besides, we’ll stay longer so you can enjoy it all the more, alright?”
Madi grinned, her mood a little lighter than it’d been in weeks.
“Why don’t you go change, and I’ll make us some smoothies to take out there with us?” he poked at her side, gently tickling her and she laughed.
When she acquiesced, he popped up and made them hearty smoothies with banana, kale, pineapple and mango, adding almond milk and vanilla powder along with some dragon fruit and oatmeal.
Brett ran up and changed into his swim trunks before Madi finally came down, hat on her head, a book in her hands and a towel over her arm. Her tall, tan frame was clad in a turquoise bikini that accentuated her ample curves and a pair of brown leather sandals, and he grinned.
“Damn lady, you are sexy,” he simpered, getting a swat and an eye roll from her. He grabbed the smoothies and out they went to enjoy this amazing Cancun day they’d been blessed with.
“Sexy and bloated and not pregnant,” she grumbled once they’d set their towels down on the sand.
“Hey, I can remedy that if you’d like.” He winked again. She looked at him thoughtfully and his brows went up, then they both broke out into laughter.
Brett couldn’t think of anything more perfect and as he looked down at Madi’s bare belly, he imagined his baby growing there and smiled back at the woman who held his heart forever in her hands.
Madison spent the next three days enjoying the beaches of Cancun and the food that chef Marcel came and made her and Brett for dinner. They spent their mornings working out and at the beach. They’d take long naps after a light lunch and a movie, then swim in the pool before a scrumptious dinner; tonight was fish tacos and Madi couldn’t wait.
Brett elbowed her on the couch as they watched The Predator, one of their favorites.
“There should totally be a female predator. She’d be hot.”
“Eww, gross. What would be hot about a female predator?” Madi wrinkled her nose.
“For one, it would be a bad-ass predator with boobs.”
“I worry about you sometimes, Zeus. I think you need a woman in the worst way.”
“Oh you do, huh?” The grin he gave her made her heart race. “You got someone in mind?”
He’d always been handsome, achingly so with his light brown hair and piercing emerald eyes, big smile, and even bigger body. He was the best features of both Channing Tatum and David Boreanaz… their big brother, on steroids, and with one of the best arms in the NFL.
Brett “Brickhouse” McFadden had stolen her heart long ago. That was until he’d broken it in two one night at a college party.
It’d been a fun night at the frat party at Omega Chi, drinking and dancing with her girls. Madi had decided she was finally gonna go for the gusto and show Brett how she felt after all the years of pining for him but being too afraid to make the first move. What if she was wrong? What if he didn’t feel the same way? She’d gotten tired of waiting and decided she was gonna get hammered—or at least act like she was—and just do it; do what she’d been waiting to do for far too long, what she’d waited on him to do but he hadn’t. Tonight was the night.
“Let’s get out of here,” she said and led him out the door.
He came willingly, and Madi made sure to sway all the way back to Delta Epsilon house, her sorority, so that he’d have a reason to touch her, hold her upright, and get her back to her dorm. She’d paid her roommate off so they’d have the place to themselves, at least long enough to make out, she hoped.
Madi hiccupped and giggled, and leaned into his broad, muscular chest as he opened her door. Brett was strong,
