Forget Me Not (27 page)

“Even about your knee and being put on the injured list?”

Gideon glared at her. Janelle swallowed hard but returned his stare with a lethal one of her own. When the doors opened, he continued holding her hand. He led her to the cafeteria area.

He placed a tray on the rails in front of Janelle and allowed her to get her food first. He followed after filling his plate with a large salad, a couple of sandwiches, and a large bottle of water. She started to feel guilty getting a chili dog and fries until she saw Gideon’s massive plate of food.

He found them a table at the far corner of the room. She froze when she saw him praying before he ate his food. She hadn’t seen a lot of people, especially men, doing that nowadays. She couldn’t hide her smile.

“Didn’t know you were really religious like that. It’s nice.” She shook some pepper onto her fries before dipping one into a pool of ketchup.

“To be honest, I haven’t prayed before a meal in a while. Today, I asked God for a favor.” He picked through his undressed salad. Before taking a bite, he continued unburdening himself. “Before I called you, the OR nurse let us know that Mom is doing okay. They’re halfway through surgery. I’m hoping she’ll make it the rest of the way.”

“We’re all thinking about her and praying for her.” Janelle put her hand on top of Gideon’s, which seemed to calm him.

He took a deep breath before he smiled and ate a forkful of his salad. “I normally don’t like eating in public. I’m a homebody.”

“Really? I’m kind of surprised to hear you say that. I would have thought you would be one of those guys who likes to go out to clubs and stuff.”

He snickered. “Me? Do I look like the dancing, bottle-service type of guy?”

“No. But you don’t look like you would be happy being holed up in your house either.”

He shrugged. “I partied enough in college. I don’t need that life anymore. Now I value my privacy. I love playing football. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do since I was a kid. The money is great. I like the fact that I can be a leader.”

“You could have gone into the military if you wanted to lead.” She took a bite of her hot dog and followed it with some water when the bland flavor hit her throat. Damn hospital food.

“Tried. Mom freaked out when I told her I wanted to go into the Marines. She cried for days. It killed me. So I told her I’d changed my mind and I played all through high school and college. I got offers from several teams all over. I decided to pick a team close to home.”

Janelle stared at the man across from her. She’d had no idea about Gideon’s protective nature.

“It’s true.” He wiped his hands and glanced around their seating area before he continued. “A couple of weeks before the Super Bowl, I hurt my knee. I didn’t tell anyone. I thought with enough ice and rest before the game, I would be fine. I wasn’t. Word got out about it, and the other team came right for me. They tried taking me out.”

She dropped her fry and covered her mouth. “This is why I can’t watch football. I can’t imagine people purposefully being cruel to one another. It’s barbaric.”

“Then you definitely don’t want to follow my older brother in his sport. He’s an MMA fighter. His matches can get pretty brutal.”

She shook her head. “So what happened with you?”

“I saw a doctor after I got home. He said I didn’t tear my ACL, which is a good thing. But I banged it up pretty badly. He recommended surgery. I opted to go for a knee brace.” He finished off his salad.

“You need the surgery. That’s the only way you’re going to get better.” She kept her voice low. She’d learned since Gideon had come into her life that everyone around them had the potential to overhear him and run to the media.

“Now you sound like a mother.” He picked up one of his large sandwiches and took a hefty bite.

“I knew Queen Elizabeth was a wise woman. You should listen to her.”

“I did when she told me to go see you if I needed help.” He smiled. “Best advice ever.”

She laughed until she noticed him getting serious again.

“I have a hard time asking for help. I don’t like doing it.” He shook his head.

“Why?” She dipped another fry in ketchup and ate it. At least they’d fried the fries and not baked them. She liked her greasy foods whenever she could indulge in them.

“I never want to be perceived as weak. When you’re a kid and you get passed around from one home to another because no one really wants you, that chips away at your soul a little. You start to feel like you’re worthless. I hated that feeling. So once I got with Queen, I made sure to always be self-reliant. I wanted people to need me. I never wanted to need anyone.” He dropped his food and held Janelle’s hand. “I need you.”

Her heart thudded under her ribcage. “Oh, wow.” She’d longed to hear those words from someone. To hear them from Gideon Wells made her feel like she could slay dragons.

“I’d like another chance to have a proper date.” He curved her hand around and kissed the back of it. “No tricks. No stunts. Just me and you. Would you like that?”

Janelle nodded. “Sounds lovely. Will it be at your house again?”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t have to be. Understand that when I go out in public, I’m usually hounded by fans. I was kind of hoping for some quality alone time with you, but I’m trying not to be so controlling.” To punctuate that idea, he smiled. “I’m trying to relax.”

“Good. Then I’ll plan it.” She rubbed her hands together.

“Really?” He picked up his sandwich and took another bite.

“You don’t think I can arrange a good date, do you?” She gave him a suspicious glare.

“I don’t know how you can top a hundred roses and a gourmet meal cooked by yours truly.” He moved in closer to her, lowered his head, and whispered, “Then there’s that other thing we did.”

Janelle giggled and put her hand to the side of his face. “That other thing was really nice.”

He held his hand up like a Boy Scout. “I promise. I’ll be on my best behavior. I couldn’t control myself last night.”

“Or this morning.”

“I’ll do better next time. I don’t want you thinking I only want you for one thing. Well, two things.”

She felt her eyebrows coming together. “What’s the second thing?”

“That award-winning hibiscus you’re growing.”

That got a big laugh from her. “It hasn’t won yet. When it wins, you can have it.”

“Really? What else comes with that?”

Her eyes widened. “I need to sweeten the deal more?”

“You never accept the first offer. Besides, I know there’s more you want to give, right?”

Janelle licked her lips and parted them to respond when a flurry of flashbulbs stopped her. She turned to find diners in the cafeteria had their phones aimed at her and Gideon without shame. She put her hand up to block the sudden lights and cover her face.

“Hell. Excuse my language.” Gideon sat back. “I wish that guy would just leave me alone.”

Janelle lowered her hand and looked into the sea of people who suddenly turned their attentions to them. In the middle of the group sat Jules. All the sudden, she felt like a snake had slithered around her body and wrapped around her neck to choke her.

From what Gideon had said, sounded like this nuisance had been following Gideon around for a while. Had Janelle led Jules to Gideon?

She turned to Gideon. “I shouldn’t have come here. You alone would have been fine. With me it’s now a story.” She started to stand when he held her hand.

“They would have done this anyway. Finish your meal. If you want to wait with me to see what happens with my mom, I would like that. Or you can—”

“Suddenly, I’m not that hungry.” She put a balled up napkin over her food. “Thanks for lunch. Let me know what happens to your mother.”

“And the date?”

Unable to answer, she shook her head as she darted out of the cafeteria area. The only way she could keep Gideon happy and maintain her integrity would be to stay away from him. Now she felt like her slimy ex who’d dumped her after a wonderful evening.

* * * *

Gideon sat beside his mother’s hospital bed. Although he faced her, stared at her motionless body while she slept, his mind remained on Janelle. He’d seen the pure fear in her eyes when the diners in the cafeteria had photographed them. He’d gotten used to it after all these years. He knew it would be a lot to ask of her to accept the pitfalls that came with being with him. He had hoped she would.

Gunnar stretched as he sat on the couch that doubled as a bed. Eboni rested her head on his chest and had her legs curled up next to her. Gunnar squeezed his fiancée and reclined his head back.

Gideon took that opportunity to get up from the chair and make his way to the drowsy duo. He tapped Gunnar on his shoulder. “Hey, take Eboni home and you two get some sleep,” he said in a whisper.

Gunnar shook his head and slowly opened his eyes. “No way, man. I’ll stay here all night with you.”

“No use for both of us to stay. Mom will sleep all night. Victor said he’ll run the flower shop while I’m gone. One of you should be at the hair salon. Go home.” He patted his brother’s knee. “I don’t have anyone to go home to.” He didn’t mean to get morose.

Unlike his big brother, he wouldn’t be lucky in love. Not this time around.

“Where’s Janelle? Did she leave?” Gunnar asked.

Gideon nodded. Instead of telling him the full truth, he said, “She does have her own business to run. You two go. I’ll be fine here.”

“Are you sure?” Gunnar held Eboni closer.

Gideon nodded. “You’re still not
a hundred
percent. You’ve got to take care of yourself. I’ll go home whenever one of you comes back tomorrow.”

Gunnar stood slowly and helped Eboni to her feet.

“Where are we going?” Eboni leaned against her man, still with her eyes closed.

“Home. Mom’s house.” Gunnar kissed her forehead as they headed to the door.

“Is she okay?” Eboni opened her eyes and peered over at Queen Elizabeth in repose.

“Surgery went great. She’s sleeping. Hopefully they’ll remove the intubation tube tomorrow.” Gideon walked his brother and his future sister-in-law to the door. “I’ll stay. You two go and get some sleep.”

Eboni, while still holding Gunnar’s hand, strolled over to Gideon, got up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks so much, Gideon. Had I told Gunny that we should go because he’s still not all the way healed, he wouldn’t have done it.”

“Hey, I listen to you.” Gunnar pulled Eboni close to him.

“See you tomorrow.” Eboni waved to Gideon before leaving with Gunnar.

Gideon stood by his mother’s bed and stared at her. She’d made it through this surgery. If she could do that, he shouldn’t have a problem with having his knee repaired. The idea of going under that knife didn’t bother him. He worried about his place on the team. He worried about his job.

The door opened again and a nurse stepped through to get his mother’s stats. She turned to Gideon. “She’s doing great. Blood pressure is normal. Heart rate is fine. Her
oxygen is a little low, but that’s normal.”

Gideon nodded, not sure how to respond.

“I can bring you blankets, sheets, and pillows.”

“That would be great.” He grinned because he didn’t want to show this stranger his worry.

The nurse walked out of the room and within a couple of minutes came back with an armful of pillows and linens. “There’s a community refrigerator down the hall. If you need ice cream, please help yourself. There’s also an ice machine and water dispenser if you need some water. And coffee and tea stations all around the floor. Is there anything I can get for you, Mr. Wells?”

He shook his head. “I’m fine. Thanks.” He accepted the items she carried and tossed them on the couch where Gunnar and Eboni had been.

“If you need anything, or if your mother needs anything, hit the
C
all
button. We’ll be in and out all night checking her stats, so I hope you’re a heavy sleeper.”

“I doubt I’ll do a lot of sleeping, but thanks for the warning.”

When the nurse left the dimly lit room, Gideon sat on the couch and leaned his head back. Instead of torturing himself wondering about Janelle, he pulled out his phone. He didn’t want to talk in case the noise woke up his mother. He didn’t know if he could use the phone in the room. Although he hated it, he decided to send her a text message.

“Get home OK?”

At one in the morning, he doubted Janelle would be awake. He mainly sent the message so that she knew she stayed on his mind.

When he didn’t get a response, he transformed the couch to a bed and placed a sheet down first. He put the pillows at one end so that he could face his mother. Then he removed his shoes and sat at the same time his phone alerted him of a new message.

He sprang from the couch, which sent a sharp pain from his knee up to his head. He winced before picking up the phone.

“Got home fine. Thank you. How’s Queen?”
read the reply.

Gideon couldn’t help but smile that she had responded and asked about his mother.
“Out of surgery. Resting.”
He sent the message and then thought about something. He quickly added,
“I’m here alone. Very quiet here. Come on up.”

He waited for a reply. He stared at his phone for over five minutes before he got a response.

“Don’t think that’s a good idea. Sleep.”

“Shit.” Gideon peered up and hoped his mother hadn’t heard that.

“Good night.”
The final message she sent came quickly after her rejection.

He could do nothing but relent.
“Good night. Still holding you to that date.”

No reply came.

Anger built inside of Gideon the more he thought about Janelle and the whole situation. He would never be classified as a quitter. Never in his life. He didn’t think Janelle would hightail it and run when she didn’t like the situation. He needed to do what he always did—come up with a plan of attack. He couldn’t let this woman go.