Chapter 3.

Gunnar watched Eboni take a deep breath before pacing in front of him. Didn't she know that after their encounter on the porch he needed to put some space between them to keep from getting distracted? He held his bag in front of his body in case a lower part of his anatomy decided to pop up to make a greeting.

Talking to family about his mom would help keep his mind off Eboni and her incredible curves. He had to call his brothers once he heard what Eboni had to say.

"Okay." She looked down to the floor before bringing her attention back to him. "Do you remember the Oceanfront Community Center?"

Gunnar froze. He clenched his teeth hard enough to bring on a piercing headache. He widened his stance to ground himself.

From Eboni's confused expression, her memories of the center vastly differed from his.

"You know what? I get it. I hurt you so you want to hurt me." He secured the strap of his bag on his shoulder.

"What are you talking about?" She took cautious steps toward him.

"Do I remember Oceanfront Community Center? You mean the place where I was arrested for fighting that guy for talking about me and family? Yeah, I remember it. Thanks for the great trip down memory lane." He turned to the back door.

"Wait! I wasn't referring to that."

Gunnar didn't wait for her to continue. He found the remote on the counter that went to the garage door. Thankfully, his mother hadn't changed everything about the house. He pressed the button and heard the familiar whirring outside of the door raising.

He started out the back door, stopped, and turned back to Eboni. "Nice talking to you. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to the garage to shower."

Gunnar hadn't forgotten his manners and remembered the third rule of excusing yourself whenever leaving a room. Even though Eboni had brought up a painful experience, it didn't mean he had to be rude.

As Gunnar stomped toward the two-story detached garage, he recalled the one time he'd gotten arrested. Disrespectful words said about his mother from the biggest bully in his neighborhood had triggered Gunnar's already short fuse. One minute he'd been hanging out with his friends at a special event, the next minute he'd had the boy on the ground and had been on the winning end of the fight.

The police had arrested him at seventeen years old for assault. Thanks to his mother's influence and smart attorneys, he'd received community service and six months of probation.

That taste of fighting and winning had propelled him to go into his sport. In a way, he should thank that bully and the center for his career. He couldn't figure out why Eboni would bring up the place now.

Gunnar stood outside of the opened garage door with his mouth agape. "You've got to be kidding me."

He stared at the hot-pink Mini Cooper that had the word Queen on the license plate. What the hell had happened to his mother's big Cadillac? He didn't mind driving a pink Cadillac. He couldn't squeeze himself into another tin can on wheels. After calling his brothers, he would have to get a rental car.

Gunnar punched the controller on the wall next to garage door. The metal door creaked as it lowered to the ground with the gentle hum of the motor buzzing behind it.

He climbed the stairs to the apartment he'd used when his brothers had gotten on his nerves. His mother had used it for guests. Gunnar never thought he would be a guest in his family home.

A cold chill met him as soon as he opened the door. He wondered if his mother used the place as a meat locker. He exhaled and saw a cloud of his breath in the air. He went to the thermostat and turned the heat on, hoping it would warm up the place in short order.

Sheets covered the furniture. As he removed each sheet, a cloud of dust swirled in the air. He piled the sheets on the floor by the door. He would throw them in the washer after completing his tasks.

Gunnar didn't remember the small kitchen having all stainless-steel appliances. Apparently, his mother had upgraded this tiny apartment. Dark hardwood flooring squeaked under his feet. She'd had each wall painted with all pastel and light colors.

Before making his bed, he called Gideon first. As the middle child, Gid had become the mediator whenever a fight had occurred.

"Calling me so early on a Monday morning." Gideon laughed. "Shouldn't you be on top of some supermodel or something right now after your big win?"

"You would think so." Gunnar opened a closet door and found a stack of clean sheets and blankets.

"Don't tell Mom I said that." Gideon laughed.

Gunnar knew his younger brother realized his crass statement about women wouldn't go over well with their mother. At least Gideon recognized that and chalked up the suggestion as a joke.

"Our little secret." Gunnar smiled. As he thought about what he needed to tell his younger brother, he sobered. "Look, need to tell you something. It's about Mom." He threw the set of sheets on the bare mattress and then sat.

"She's in the hospital." The levity left his brother's tone.

Gunnar scratched his head. "How did you know? Is it on that gossip site already?"

His brother laughed. "Mom called me."

Gunnar shook his head. "After she asked me to call you and Thane. I should have known she would have done it herself. When has Mom ever needed anyone to do anything for her?"

"She said she's going to be fine," Gideon said finally.

"They're going to install a stent tomorrow morning. Until she gets better, we're going to have to run her businesses."

"Without question. I'll leave--"

"No," Gunnar exclaimed. "Sorry for cutting you off. I'm sure Mom told you to play your game. She would be so disappointed if you didn't live out your dream."

Gideon sighed. "How the hell am I not supposed to worry?"

"I'm here. I'll watch out for the three businesses." Gunnar tried to make his voice as calming as possible. "I mean the two of them. Thank God, it's winter and everything is closed down at the Oceanfront."

"Got to love being in a resort town." Gideon coughed. "Right after the game, I'll come home to run the flower shop."

Gunnar smiled. "You do have a knack with the flowers."

"And it's what Mom wanted. Remember, she had us sign the power-of-attorney agreements a year or so ago?"

Gunnar had forgotten about that until Gideon mentioned it.

"Have you talked to Thane yet?" Gideon asked.

Gunnar cleared his throat. "I'm going to call him after this. But I've only been able to get his voice mail lately."

"You know him. He's busy with the team and his endorsements."

Good old Gideon. Still playing peacemaker.

Gunnar assured Gideon that after her surgery, he would call both of them with the results.

"Wish I could be there in person to root you on." Gunnar had the tickets his brother had sent him in his bag. "I can't leave Ma. Not now."

"You'd better not." The lightness returned to Gideon's voice. "Win or lose, I'll come straight home."

Gunnar smiled. "You and your team will win. You're the best quarterback in the league."

"Thanks, man. Keep me updated with what's going with Mom."

"Of course." Gunnar disconnected the call and then immediately called Thane.

After the fourth ring, Thane's voice mail kicked on to Gunnar's disappointment.

"Thane, it's Gunnar, again." He tried to keep the growl out of his voice, but his baby brother's attitude wore down on his last nerve. "Calling to let you know about Mom if she hasn't called you already." He thought about leaving a message about her condition and that Thane would need to take care of the clothing shop, but he decided that if Thane wanted to know, he would have to call Gunnar. "Call me back and I'll tell you what's going on." He paused and took a deep breath. "She needs us, man."

Gunnar disconnected the call. Before he did anything else, he fixed the queen-size bed, including covering the four pillows with pillowcases. He walked toward the bathroom that came complete with a full-size bathtub and shower.

Before stepping inside, he braced his hands on the doorframe and thought about everything, about his mother, his brothers, and especially about Eboni.

He dove into his bag and pulled out a roll of tape. He taped up his knuckles on both hands. Despite the slight bit of pain, he needed to work out some aggression.

Gunnar stomped back downstairs to the garage area. He had to thank his mother for getting the smaller car since it now gave him additional room to work on the heavy bag that hung next to it.

The black bag suspended on chains didn't move until Gunnar put his hand on it. The familiar training device felt stiff under his touch. The cold air had hardened the leather. Good. The harder the obstacle, the more it would punish him.

He started punching the sack. The thudding sound echoed off the walls. His heavy panting accompanied the sound of his fists connecting to the bag. His heart pounded, but with the thoughts of Eboni on his mind, he wondered if the workout or Eboni had a hand in his excited state.

"I need to be here for Mom," he said in between punches. "Have to keep my head on straight for her and not think of anything else."

Gunnar curved his body and landed an uppercut shot on the heavy bag. Like when he'd trained on the bag as a teenager, he attempted to get out all his pent-up feelings. Then he would take his shower, change, and go to the salon. With it being Monday, it wouldn't be open.

"Got to get things together. Have to keep the family together." Gunnar huffed between each word.

He fought through the pain of his tightening back. He got on the balls of his feet, as much as he could in his heavy boots, and he hopped around the bag, throwing jabs as he kept moving. He felt the burn in his butt and thighs, and he liked the sensation. The feeling meant that he pushed his body.

When he thought of his body, Eboni's form came to mind, or rather her new figure. He wished he hadn't seen her again, not here, not now. Too many memories came flooding back.

"Can't. Think. Of. Eboni." His punches became harder, like he wanted to put his fist through the bag. "Can't. Think. Of. Her. Body." His body trembled. "Work. Then. Go." Sweat rolled in his eyes. If he kept up this intense pace, he would have to go outside to cool himself off. "Stay strong. Don't think of touching her. Don't think of--"

Gunnar turned to the side door when he caught something in his peripheral vision. Eboni stood in the side doorway. She stared at him with her arms crossed over her chest. Her breathing matched his, heavy and ragged.

"Don't think of what?" She stepped into the garage and closed the door behind herself.

Gunnar kept himself on the other side of his punching bag. He wanted to claw off his sweatshirt to relieve the heat. He feared with his recent monologue that he'd exposed himself enough today.

"I want us to talk about the center." Eboni stalked him, never removing her stare from him.

Gunnar had almost forgotten about her stubborn streak. He knew she wouldn't give up without a fight.

She now stood close enough for him to catch that sweet scent again. His senses went into overload.

"I'm going to shower and change." He walked over to the stairs. "I'm a little sweaty right now." He climbed up the bottom two steps and turned to her. "I'm going to get a rental and then go over to the salon."

"It's closed."

"I know. Best time to look at it and get a lay of the land, so to speak." He stared into her eyes and felt hypnotized. "We can talk on the way and in the salon."

He waited for her to respond. Her simple nod satisfied him.

Gunnar excused himself and climbed the stairs to the apartment. If he planned on working with Eboni, he had to do two things--keep things businesslike and keep his distance. If he could do that, he might have a chance.

Eboni glanced at Gunnar as he drove his big Hummer to his mother's hair salon. She thought she'd caught him smiling a couple of times in during the drive. Being in the large vehicle must make him happy.

"I'd forgotten about your arrest." Eboni had to bite the bullet and get Gunnar in a good mood before she relayed her plan.

He glanced at her but said nothing.

She kept talking until she could crack him. "I remember the good times there. Remember the dances?"

Gunnar shook his head. "I attended, but I didn't dance." He glanced at her.

"That's right. You did kind of have that white-boy dance thing going on." Eboni laughed. When he glared at her, she continued talking. "Have you improved since then?" She smiled.

He redirected his attention back to the road. "I do my dancing in the ring now."

"I don't watch your fights." She shook her head and settled back into her seat. "I can't. To see you like that." She pointed to his face. "How can Queen stand that?" Eboni remained quiet for a moment before she said, "Oh, because she doesn't watch your fights either, and you haven't been home."

He regarded her for a moment as he stopped at a traffic light. "I understand. To me, it's just work."

"Not to me. Seeing you fight one time up close was enough." She couldn't tell him why the entire fight bothered her.

Eboni balled her gloved hands into fists to ward off the cold. When she saw Gunnar driving down a side street, she turned to him.

"Why are you going this way?"

"It's the main road going to Press 'N Curl."

Eboni shook her head. "Not anymore." When she caught his confused expression, she explained. "There's been a ton of construction. They rerouted the main road. No one comes this way unless they live out here."

Gunnar gazed around the area and must have seen what Eboni had noticed for years. With traffic rerouted, businesses in the area had either collapsed or dwindled. Homes looked dilapidated with faded paint jobs, broken-down cars in driveways, and lots of for-sale signs all around.

Stray dogs and cats ran in front of the vehicle as it rolled through the neighborhood.

"Mom never told me about this." Gunnar kept scanning the area. "How's business?"