Forget Me Not. Crystal B. Bright

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СКАЧАТЬ say it.” Gideon shook his head.

      “Say what?”

      “America’s couple.” Gideon bristled at the moniker the media had dubbed his brief relationship with actress Hilary Cox. He paced the floor, waiting for his mother’s next statement.

      “I must admit, you and that little blonde actress are cute together. Matching hair, both with blue eyes and great smiles. Bet you don’t mind that I put braces on you when you were younger, huh?”

      Gideon laughed, but he recalled those years. Girls hadn’t given him a second look. He’d fought wannabe bullies every day on top of that. He hadn’t needed Gunnar’s help to win his fights back then. Gideon could be accommodating, but couldn’t be called a pushover…well, except when it came to his mother.

      “I wish you wouldn’t read that trash. They’re all full of lies.” He moved closer to the shower area to get farther away from the noise.

      “It’s the only way I can find out about your private life. You talk to me every day but never share anything about the special women in your life. I’m your mother. You should tell me everything.”

      Gideon imagined that his mother stood in front of him, wagging her finger at him with its impeccable manicure and, of course, the nail painted fire-engine red. “Mom, I have to keep some things from you. I’m not a boy anymore.”

      Elizabeth made a disapproving noise from her throat. “I know. You and Gunnar are so quick to tell me that.” She paused a moment before barreling on with their conversation. “Will you be bringing Hilary home with you? I would love to meet her.”

      Gideon swallowed before he answered. “We broke up.”

      His mother gasped. “Oh, sweetie. Why didn’t you tell me?”

      “I didn’t think you would really care. We weren’t together that long.” Six months equated to a lifelong relationship in celebrity terms. For Gideon, it meant that the woman he’d spent time with wouldn’t be the future Mrs. Gideon Wells or the mother of his children.

      “What happened?” Elizabeth asked.

      “The separation got to her. She would be off doing movies. I had games and training, plus living in Virginia and not California. It didn’t work.” He turned his back on the group. “Besides, my sucky love life has helped the team. I’m only concentrating on the team and how I play.”

      “You could have made it work if she was the right one.”

      Gideon knew a hint of truth existed in his mother’s statement. As he thought about it, maybe he hadn’t wanted a relationship with Hilary to work. With her, he’d felt more like an accessory, a great piece to have on her arm for red-carpet events. He’d gotten tired of hearing what a striking couple they made. Thinking about that label now had Gideon gritting his teeth.

      “Honestly, that’s not what I was going to ask you about.” Elizabeth lowered her voice.

      Gideon shook his head. He could only imagine what else his mother had read about him in those rags. “Spill it.”

      Elizabeth released a long exhale before she spoke. “Are you hurt?”

      The question from his mother froze him to his spot. No way would one of those fashion magazines littering Queen Elizabeth’s hair salon mention something like that. Gideon felt sure he kept his pains hidden. On instinct, he tugged on his knee pad again, which caused the joint to twinge. He placed his foot down to the floor and walked around to lessen the ache.

      “I’m fine. Never better. Remember, I’m the one you never have to worry about.”

      Gideon recalled the nights of watching how Elizabeth had paced in their home as she’d waited to see if the police would bring Gunnar home or relay some tragic news to her. Thane had needed constant attention. Gideon hadn’t wanted to add to her concern. He wouldn’t be breaking that trend today.

      Elizabeth cut into his thoughts. “I know. But if you are hurting, you know you can—”

      “Don’t get yourself worked up over nothing.” Gideon took a breath before saying, “I apologize for interrupting you.” The pain didn’t hurt him enough to forget his manners. He glanced at the digital clock over the door. “And I don’t have a lot of time.”

      “I know you have to go, baby. We’re cheering for you from Virginia Beach. I love you.” Elizabeth made a kissing sound over the phone.

      “Love you, Mom. Be sure to tell Gunnar not to screw it up with Eboni again.” One of the brothers had to be lucky in love. Gideon remembered how great Eboni had been with his older brother.

      If Queen Elizabeth knew about Thane’s penchant for loving and leaving women, she would pull the young player back home by his earlobe like she used to do when they’d misbehaved as children.

      Gideon disconnected the call. Before he could resume with his team, he had one more quick call to make. He had to hear from Thane. He could go in this game with a clearer mind if he knew his entire family had his back. He knew he wouldn’t hear from Hilary.

      After the first ring, Gideon heard a click before he heard a voice.

      “Gid! How the hell are you?” Thane’s light voice seemed in conflict with the impression Gunnar had given of their brother.

      Gunnar had told Gideon that each time he’d tried calling Thane, he hadn’t gotten an answer. Gideon didn’t know if Gunnar had exaggerated or if Gideon had gotten lucky with scoring a conversation with their youngest brother.

      “Wound tight, Thane. But in a good way.” Gideon shook out his free arm when he started to feel some tingling in it. He couldn’t wait to start this game. It had been twenty-seven years in the making.

      “I hear you. Thanks again for the tickets. With spring training coming up, I couldn’t go. You understand, right?”

      Gideon nodded. “I get it.”

      Like Gideon had his pro-football training, Thane had to prepare for his whole Major League Baseball season starting soon. Then Gideon heard a strange voice behind Thane. The tone and content of the statement didn’t sound like any trainer Gideon had ever encountered.

      “Come back over here, baby.”

      Gideon’s shoulders tightened. Had his brother actually pushed him aside so he could lay up with some woman?

      “Who’s that?” Gideon balled his hand into a fist, stretching the tape across his knuckles.

      “I’m not sure of her name yet, but believe me, she has the lungs of a cheerleader.” Thane laughed.

      Gideon found no amusement in it. Since Thane hadn’t gone back home to help Gunnar with their mother, he would have thought his baby brother would have come to California to cheer him on his most important day ever.

      “I got off the phone with Mom. She sounds good today.” Gideon hoped his message got through to his younger brother.

      “Yeah, I talked to her earlier. She told me she’s having a Super Bowl party at her house.” Thane laughed and then said something that sounded muffled.

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