“I’m planning to propose to Skyla soon. Any ideas, Ms. CEO?” Travis asked as Sky walked inside to go to the restroom.
“Already?” Brett asked, surprised.
“Yes, already! Dammit. Y’all know that woman has me all kinds of crazy. I am not letting that sexy little spitfire get away before putting a ring on it. Beyoncé warns about that, you know? And don’t say, ‘She already has a promise ring.’ That’s not enough.”
Madi giggled. It was adorable how Travis had gone from suave, I-need-nobody, bad boy Travis Redmond to swooning, love-struck Ares; it was endearing. There was hope for mankind, after all.
“Well, you know I’d say do it from the heart and not be extravagant, but I know you,” Madi quipped.
“Yes, you do. And you know I gotta make it big and show-boaty. I was thinking of doing it at one of the games.”
“Dude, seriously?” Brett scoffed.
“What?”
“That’s so cliché.”
“I don’t care. I want it to be in front of millions… What?” he asked, looking at Madi.
“You know Sky isn’t gonna like being the center of attention like that. The courtroom is one thing, but millions of fans is quite another.”
“You also know how insecure she is. If I do it that way, she has no doubts as to my love for her,” Travis reasoned.
He had a point. “Alright then do whatever you want. She’s gonna love whatever you cook up, Chef Ares.”
“Uh, that’s why I asked for advice. You’re a woman, you know these kinds of things.”
“Alright, well, think more on it and get back to me with some ideas,” Madi whispered before Sky came back into ear shot.
“So, you guys wanna scuba tomorrow? There’s a shipwreck just down the beach a-ways?” Brett asked just as Marcel brought over another delicious-looking batch of grilled fish tacos topped with jicama slaw, chipotle mayo, and mango salsa. Everyone dug in and moaned aloud, savoring the sweet and spicy melding together in beautiful harmony.
“Jeez, Marcel! I love this man right here, but you’re giving me serious doubts about matrimony.” Sky licked the juice running down her fingers and moaned again as she bit into her taco.
“Hey!” Travis pouted and got them all laughing. “No fair, Aphrodite,” he whimpered into her ear and began whispering, getting giggles as his big hand moved over Sky’s bare arm.
Madi smiled at the love they shared and how they seemed so in tune with one another. Had she and Hunt been like that? Had their attraction to one another been that hot? She wasn’t sure and the realization that her memories were starting to fade away hit her gut hard. She couldn’t remember the taste or touch of Hunter’s lips on her own. She couldn’t remember exactly how he smelled; she couldn’t remember the feel of his hands touching her. She gulped her last sip of the margarita down and stood to go make another, getting looks from the three of them as she did so.
“You ok, Mad?” Travis asked.
Madi nodded her head even as Brett stood. “I’m fine. I’m just gonna make another margarita.”
“I’ll do it.” Brett began to take the glass from her but she pulled it away and shook her head.
“I got it. It’s fine. You sit, finish your taco.”
Madi turned, heading back through the screen door and into the kitchen. She poured some ice into a shaker and began measuring out tequila, triple sec, and Grand Marnier. She was adding the lime and fresh sours when she noticed Brett watching her from the doorframe. She gulped as he took a step forward, and she shook the shaker.
“You ok?”
“Sure.”
She wouldn’t be ok for a time, she knew. She was going to have to get used to her new normal, living the life of a twenty-eight-year-old widow. As Brett had told her time and again, it was going to take time, one day at a time. Time. Time. Time. It was all about damn time. Time was a thief. An enigma. Something that was relative; it could never be borrowed, some had too much of it and others would never have enough. It was never on anyone’s side, and it healed all wounds. Time, to Madi, was an unmet promise. If she never heard the word again, that would be just fine with her.
“Does it bother you having them here?”
“No, why would it?” Madi frowned, not understanding why Brett would ask her that.
“They remind you of what you lost.”
“Everything reminds me of what I’ve lost. I’m not envious of their love, Brett. They have something most people only dream about. I’m happy for them. Very happy.”
“Me too. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want it, too.”
The future. He was speaking to her about the future. Why? He’d never seemed interested in talking about marriage and children and all that before. Why was he doing so now?
“You’ll find it, Brett. I’m certain. You’re handsome, you’re affectionate, you’re giving. Any woman would love to have those qualities in a partner.”
“You’ll have love again too, Sunflower. Don’t give up on it.”
She frowned again, not understanding why he was saying these things. She cleared her throat as she poured the final margarita into her glass and took a sip. “So, you wanna go scuba-diving tomorrow?” she asked, wanting to steer the subject away from serious things.
“It might be cool to explore a shipwreck, don’t you think?”
She grinned and nodded. “Maybe we should take a run in the morning after all these, huh?” She pointed to the drink and Brett nodded.
“I’m down.”
“I don’t mean to be a spoilsport, but I think I’m gonna go take a hot bath and go to bed.”
“You aren’t a spoilsport. Enjoy your bath. I’ll
