Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1) Read online

  “Truth hurts,” Alee speaks up.

  “I don’t think I can blame her,” I say as I watch my friend walk away.

  “Oh no honey, I was talking about you. It hurts to see how much that man really loves you and yet you are still trying to find reasons why you should run,” Alee says knowingly.

  “When are you heifers flying out again,” I grumble and head off after Reese and Vita. I can hear them cackling behind me.

  Chapter 20

  The party was a huge success. I got to spend some time with my girls, my baby had the time of her life, and my man put on display what Brielle and I mean to him for everyone to see. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, but some of the things the girls said have been playing in my head all evening, almost to the point of distraction.

  I guess that’s why I have found myself wondering where everyone has gone. One minute the girls were all helping me gather gifts the next I am looking around and everyone is gone. I had been in deep thought about the speech Brad gave as we cut the cake.

  “Thank you everyone for coming out to share our little girl’s day. I have come home to Texas to find that my world has been here all along. The things I thought I couldn’t live without are no longer a priority to me, because what I can’t live without are my two girls.

  “I find myself to be a lucky man and as soon as she’ll have me I plan to lockdown my future with the woman I love more than life itself. I want to create more beautiful little girls and some handsome boys,” everyone laughs at that last remark and Brad kisses Brielle’s cheek as he holds her in his arms and then pulls me closer to kiss the my top of my head. “So thank you all again for making this a wonderful and special day for my family.”

  I was left stunned by his speech. I have gotten over taking things slow with Brad, but that doesn’t mean his words didn’t shock me a little. We have gotten so close in the last few months. He knows me better than most people in my life. It is like our bodies minds and souls have become one and in sync with one another.

  Truthfully, these days when I try to find a reason that we shouldn’t be together I come up empty handed. Brad has really stepped things up. He may make little mistakes here and there, like letting Bri manipulate him without checking with me first. But I can’t fault him for that. He spoils us both as much as I will allow him and it comes from his heart.

  The man breathes to see us happy. That in itself brings a smile to my face. I never knew I wanted to be cherished this way until Brad started to show me just what I really want in a relationship. I never thought about it before because it wasn’t a priority, now it is like second nature to want to be loved the way I know only Brad can love me.

  I look around and wrinkle my brows. How did I not see everyone leave? The lights have even grown dim. Where is everyone? Was I really that deep in thought? I spin in a circle and my brows draw in deeper.

  Suddenly, soft pink and red lights come up giving the gardens a soft romantic glow. I laugh to myself. This must be the staff’s way of telling us it is time for us to go. I turn back to the bag of gifts I had been filling, but the air fills with music. I look around confused at first.

  When I realize that they are playing a country version of Falling Slowly. I laugh to myself. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard a country version of a song I like, since moving here to Texas. I shrug and turn back to the bag once again, but this time I stop as I see Brad standing with a white rose between his teeth and a small white and grey Pitbull in his arms.

  Brielle has been hounding him for a dog for weeks since seeing the puppies one of the dogs at the ranch gave birth to. I eye the dog warily, but burst out laughing when the puppy actually looks like he is pleading with me with his big blue eyes, just like the man that is holding him is doing.

  “What are you up to?” I say with a smile. “I thought we agreed that Bri would get a puppy when she could care for it. Like in six or seven years from now,” I chide.

  Brad pulls the rose from his mouth and hands it to me. “Yeah, well I started to think about how often I’ll be leaving my girls without me and this little guy started to sound like a good idea,” Brad shrugs.

  The puppy is adorable. As Brad scratches his neck around the collar while talking to me, the puppy looks between the two of us. He is so cute. I don’t have the heart to be upset or to deny wanting to keep him.

  “Will you dance with us,” Brad asks with a little boyish grin on his lips.

  How can I resist? I throw my head back and laugh as Brad steps closer to me. I wrap my arms around his waist and place my head on his chest. When he wraps the arm holding the puppy around me the little pup starts to push his little cold nose into my back and paw at me.

  “Easy Six, we want her to like you,” Brad says to the dog.

  I laugh again. “Six?” I lift my head to look at him and lift a brow. “Why in the world have you named the dog Six?”

  “It was my number when I met you,” Brad says with a smile. “I won a ring with it. I figured it would bring me luck tonight.”

  My brows draw together and I give him a curious look. “Why would you need luck tonight?”

  “This song, it says what I don’t know how to say about the night I met you. I saw you and even though I didn’t know you I wanted you. I let silly words fool me and I didn’t know how to react to you then. You have pointed me home again Tam.

  “I have found where I want to be for the rest of my life. I can be content on our ranch with our children and our dog as long as I have you there with me. What I am saying is that I am hoping that Six here brings me luck because,” Brad pauses and releases me as he gets down on one knee.

  I lift a shaky hand to my lips as they part in shock. Brad lifts the puppy up toward me and I notice for the first time that there is a huge rock dangling from his collar. “I want to ask you to marry me, Tamara. I don’t want anyone else. You are it for me. I want you and Ellie to finally have my last name,” Brad says, as his eyes blaze with the love I know he has for me.

  “If I say no do I get to keep the puppy,” I tease as tears leak from my eyes.

  “Tam,” Brad growls.

  “Yes, of course I’ll marry you,” I laugh.

  Cheers and hand claps come from out of nowhere and our family starts to pour out of their hiding places. Even my friends are here for this. I can’t believe he planned all this without me knowing. I mean Bri can’t hold water.

  “We have a puppy mommy,” Bri squeals excitedly as she runs up and throws her arms around her father’s neck as he releases the string that has the ring attached to Six’s collar.

  “Yes, we do,” I say as I give Brad the eye.

  “Good boy,” Brad coos to the dog as he pets his head and grins widely at me. He hands Bri the puppy and pulls me to him for a searing kiss before placing the huge diamond ring on my finger. Once the ring is on my finger the weight of it brings me to reality.

  I just agreed to marry this man. He is going to be mine for the rest of my life. I almost want to pinch myself. Somehow I think our trial has really just begun.

  Everyone gathers around to congratulate us and get a look at the ring. I don’t miss the sour look on Donna’s face as she stands off to the side. Whatever her problem is she can shove it. I won’t let anything ruin this moment for me.

  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.