Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1) (17 page)

Chapter 21

“Really Gloria, you and Vernon didn’t have to go through all this trouble,” Tam says to my mama. It is the night of our engagement party.

Let’s just say that my parents have gone ahead and done it Texas style. Tam has been nervous all day. I may have gone big with Ellie’s birthday party, but that was a mix of my family but mostly Tamara’s family and friends. This engagement party is going to triple in size. My mama has called in the cavalry, family I haven’t even seen in years.

“Oh nonsense, I can’t have my baby boy find the love of his life and not celebrate that with everyone that is important. This was no trouble at all,” my mama replies. “Now let me get a look at you. You look absolutely lovely, honey.”

My mama is right I haven’t been able to take my eyes off my fiancée. Tamara took my breath away the moment she came down the stairs in the Ivory dress she has on. It has thin straps and is cut into a tasteful v down the front. The dress is fitted in the top, showing off her slim waist and the silky skirts flare out at the waist stopping just above the knee to show off her amazing legs.

Her pretty feet are incased in a pair of navy blue heels with her cute red toes peeking out, just adding to her sexy legs. Her hair is brushed up into a soft neat bun, that is elegant messy as she called it. The studs in her ears only add to the elegance of her look.

Her chocolate skin is glowing against the silky fabric of her dress. I have imagined passing my tongue across her collarbone a few times. I’m honored to have her at my side, even if I am the complete opposite in contrast to her city elegance. I cleaned up pretty well for tonight. I opted for a pair of blue jeans and a white button down shirt with a dark navy blue sports jacket. Just because I know my woman would get a kick out of it I have worn cowboy boots and a cowboy hat as well.

I love the smile that spread across her face as I placed the hat on my head when we went to leave the house. Tam can tease me about my country ass all she wants, but she loves this country boy right down to my cowboy boots.

“Thank you Gloria, you look beautiful as always and this place looks amazing,” Tam tells my mama as she takes in the tent that has been set up in the back yard at the family ranch.

The subtle pinks, blues and purples have the place looking that right amount of both feminine and masculine. I heard Ann gushing to Tam that it was all to be country chic. Whatever they want to call it, my mama and sister have out done themselves. From the smile on my woman’s face I know she loves and appreciates it. I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart that Tam and my family get along so well. They really love her.

Tam and my father have even gone riding together a few times. I have to say I am a little jealous on that front. I have been so busy with the season that I haven’t had much time to get out to the ranch for a ride yet. Little does Tam know but my father has a beautiful mare for her as an engagement gift.

She is going to love her. Daddy spent weeks looking for just the right horse for her. Ellie has been so busy with the new puppy at the house she hasn’t been to the ranch in a few weeks which allowed us to keep Tam’s horse a secret. I love my little girl, but if she gets wind of something than everyone is going to know about it.

That’s why I have kept my own surprises to myself. I hadn’t told Ellie about the puppy at her birthday party until the absolute last minute. I plan to hit Tam with the big gifts tonight. She has pleaded with me not to go overboard and I think the only reason she gave in on having such a large engagement party is because I caved on the size of the wedding.

I wanted to go all out and spoil her, but she wasn’t having it. There will be no princess castle and horse drawn buggy for my bride. Well, the jury is still out on the horse drawn buggy. I think I may be wearing her down on that one. No matter how small she wants the wedding I still intend on making sure she feels like a princess, but as I look around again I can see why she bulked at the huge wedding her mama and mine were in the mist of planning at first.

I can tell you I really caved because she promised me a baby. I’m still grinning like a lunatic and it has been weeks since she promised that we’d start to expand our family sooner rather than later. I haven’t gotten a clear answer on what that timeline really means, but it is something when it comes to Tam. She had flat out told me no many times before.

“Oh my God, a projector, oh Gloria please tell me you and mother haven’t been going through old picture of me. You two do want Brad to marry me right,” Tam teases.

I wrap an arm around her waist and pull her into my chest. “There is nothing they can show me that will stop me from marrying you,” I murmur against her neck.

“You haven’t seen me in braces,” Tam grumbles and I laugh.

“Actually Darlin’, I have. Your daddy keeps a picture of you back then in his wallet. He showed it to me on the golf course the first time we met,” I laugh louder when her face compresses in horror.

“No, he wouldn’t,” she gasps.

“Yeah, he did,” I chuckle.

“Oh Daddy,” she groans into her hands. “Come on.”

“You were adorable, Baby,” I give her a squeeze and her head lifts to look me in the eyes.

“You know it is not good to lie to your future wife,” Tam says placing a hand on her hip, but she has an adorable smile on her lips.

“That’s why I never do,” I smile back at her.

“You two are just so sweet to watch. I couldn’t have asked for a better match for my son,” My mama says wiping at her eyes.

“Come here,” I say pulling her into a hug with us and kissing her cheek. “I always wanted a woman as sweet as you and I got lucky.”

“You got better than lucky,” my mother says cupping Tam’s face. “Now where in the world is my grandbaby. She called me a million times today about this party.”

Tam throws her head back and laughs. “Well she ran into Jess when we got out the car and took off with her. I don’t think we will be seeing her for the rest of the night unless we look for Jess.”

“I swear I am about to nickname that little one shadow,” mama laughs. “Her little heart is going to be broken when Trev lets Jess get serious about boys.”

I splay my hand on Tam’s belly. “Well hopefully by then we will have given her a brother or sister of her own,” I say with a wide grin.

“Bradley,” Tam elbows me.

“Oh please honey. This boy has been talking about another baby since he found out he was a father. I thought his father was going to have to hog tie him to keep him out of your house until you were ready to see where things would go,” my mama chortles.

“Really Brad,” Tam looks up at me with her mouth open.

I shrug and give her a boyish grin. “What?”

Tam just shakes her head and laughs. “Well it looks like guests are starting to arrive. Let’s get you two in place to greet them,” mama says as she starts to push us along.

I happily lead my fiancée to the front of the tent to greet our guests. I am in anticipation for a great night tonight. At least I think I am.

~B~

Thank God I made it clear that I don’t want a huge wedding. This engagement party is so over the top, and to think they put it together in just two months. Between all of the food and all of the people you would think this was some type of party at the White House. Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful to Vernon and Gloria for putting this all together but goodness. I know my mother had a hand in this as well.

I have cousins here I haven’t seen since I was like nine. There is only one important face that is missing, but her other half is here. I think Nico showed up in hopes that Reese would make an appearance. Sadly, she hasn’t reached out to me and I don’t know how to help.

That is just one of the many things that are on my mind tonight. I have been really cautious about letting Brad know what I think is going on. It could be me and my imagination going wild, but I lost three clients this week. Three of my sports clients at that, I have been close with all three so it came as a shock to find out that they dropped me as their lawyer and won’t return my calls.

For one client, Kelley, I was actually in the middle of some major negotiations for him. I go above and beyond for my clients. I get them things not even their agents can deliver on. I have never lost a client. If anything they always bring in more business.

Since Brad announced our engagement I have been getting mixed reactions when I attend his games and hang out in the box seats he provides. A few times I have chosen to sit with friends in their boxes when they offer, just to avoid the team box, with the wives and other team royalty. I would never say any of this to Brad. He is having a great season and I don’t want this on his shoulders. It is bad enough he refuses to wait until after the football season is done altogether to get married.

When, not if, his team makes it to the playoffs our wedding weekend is going to be chaos, which is another reason I opted for a small wedding. I want him to have the least amount of stress possible. He and Ellerie are really making it happen on the field and I don’t want to be the cause for that to change, so I have said nothing about all of this.

That doesn’t mean that my suspicions have disappeared. Cyrus has continued to let me know he has my back. Honestly, the thought has crossed my mind repeatedly. I’ve thought about running my suspicions all by Cyrus but he has been out of town for a few weeks, although he promised he would be back in time for this engagement party.

I wouldn’t bring up any of my suspicions at this event though. So here I stand with a smile on my face like nothing is really on my mind. When I feel like I am holding the weight of the world. A part of me wants to believe that Stacey and the girls are right. I am just looking for the other shoe to drop. But in my gut I know better.

“Where are you,” Brad leans to whisper in my ear.

After greeting guests at the opening of the tent for an hour we made our way to our table for dinner. Everything was delicious and in no time Brad and I were both being embarrassed with speeches from our family and close friends. I was really embarrassed when Brad gave me a ridiculously expensive diamond necklace in front of everyone. It didn’t stop there. His dad gave me a horse and Brad decided the necklace and horse were not enough, so he handed over the key to a Maserati I had my eye on for a little while now.

If I didn’t know that I could afford any of these gifts without the help of Brad, I would have felt some type of way to receive such gifts in front of all these people. As it is, I feel like some of the people that don’t know any different are judging me.

We are now moving around the tent to greet whoever we missed in the beginning. I have drifted off into thought a few times, but I hadn’t realized that Brad noticed. I need to get it together.

“I’m here,” I say as I join the room from my thoughts. “I was just thinking of how amazing the night has turned out.”

“You sure, because you looked like you were somewhere deeper than that. You’re not having second thoughts about me are you?” He says this teasingly, but the look in his eyes tells me that he is only half joking.

I place my champagne glass on a passing tray before wrapping my arms around his neck. “I have not had one second thought since I said yes,” I say and peck his lips. “Well, except for when you put that cowboy hat on this evening,” I tease.

“Oh really, is that right because I do believe I saw your eyes light up. I was thinking I would get you and Ellie matching hats and we could go to the rodeo as one big happy family,” he smirks at me.

I love this man. Does he even know how much? I’m thrown back to the night we met and the easy banter we had while he made me laugh. To think I was trying to pawn him off on someone else.

“While I think Bri would love that, I think you will have a much tougher sell with me,” I smile up at him.

“I’m going to make a country girl out of you yet,” he murmurs against my lips before pressing in for a tender kiss. “I love you.”

“Funny, I was thinking the same thing about you,” I whisper back, breathless from the simple kiss.

“Bradley, I hate to interrupt, but I have someone here that wanted to say hello,” Donna’s annoying voice cuts through our moment. I just bet she didn’t want to interrupt.

Brad releases his hold on my waist and places his hand on the small of my back before turning. When he gets a look at the woman standing with Donna he stiffens and the smile falls from his face. I am instantly on alert. I look this woman over with her platinum blonde hair and tight bandage dress. I know she looks familiar. When a camera flashes from somewhere nearby, I know exactly where I know her from. This is his ex-girlfriend, what was her name, Tiffany. You have got to be kidding me.

Why is his supermodel ex at our engagement party? I glare at Donna, from the smug look on her face she knows exactly who this is and how inappropriate this is. It is taking everything in me not to slap the piss out of her right now. We usually stay clear of each other, because the feeling of dislike is mutual.

It looks like today this heifer wants to turn things up a notch. Before I can say a word, to my surprise, Brad grabs Tiffany and storms off with her in tow. I am stunned and a bit hurt. I blink a few times to make sure this is really happening.