Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(32)
“Oh Brad, you don’t have to worry I will insure the staff remains professional,” Cynthia assures me gaining some composure and pushing her shoulders back.
“Thank you again,” I say to her as I slip my shades back on. “You ready baby?” I ask Ellie. She gives me a bright smile and nods her head. “Put your face in my neck Sugar and keep it there until daddy gets you safe in the car, okay?”
“Yes,” Ellie says then buries her face into my neck.
My security surrounds us and we are off, heading straight for my truck as the men shield us with their bodies as best they can. I’d bought Ellie a seat just for my car yesterday. It broke my heart the day she wanted to ride with me and I wasn’t prepared. Something in my gut told me to put her seat in place this morning before I took off.
Once I have her strapped in, I place her bag inside and get in behind the wheel. I sigh as some of the stress lifts. I pull out my phone and text Tam right away. I sit thinking of where to go from here. I don’t have a key to Tamara’s place and Ellerie won’t be available for a while. He was supposed to pick Ellie up at four and drop her home and unlock the door for me to watch her until Tam gets home.
I haven’t asked Tam for a key or anything because I want to respect her space and her need to take things slow. I sigh because there is only one solution. I need a shower and a change of clothes. Tamara is going to be pissed, but what else am I supposed to do.
“Sugar, how would you like to go meet some people important to Daddy?”
“Yay,” Ellie squeals.
Well, decision made we’re going to meet the family.
Chapter 14
“Mama,” I call through the house, as I walk through the front door carrying a groggy Brielle inside. She’d fallen asleep on the ride over.
“In the kitchen Brad,” she calls back. I walk in the kitchen to find her hanging halfway out of the pantry. “Is everything okay, you’re home early?” She steps out of the pantry and stops in her tracks.
One hand flies to her heart and the other goes shakily over her mouth as she sucks in a breath of air. Her eyes fill with tears as she just stares at Ellie. I can’t stop smiling. I am so proud to finally have my mama meet my little girl.
I sit at one of the breakfast bar stools and place Ellie on my lap. My mother quickly washes and dries her hands on a towel. She walks around to stand before us keeping her eyes on Ellie the whole time. Ellie watches her with curious eyes.
“Ellie, this is your grandma, Grandma Gloria,” I say gently.
Ellie’s face lights up and she smiles that beautiful smile up at my mama. Ellie looks back and forth between us then clasps her hands with her own little revelation. “I have another grandma in New York, her name is Nana. She’s my mommy’s mommy. Are you my daddy’s mommy?” Ellie asks with wonder.
“Yes honey, I am,” my mama chokes.
“Oh, it’s so nice to meet you. My name is Brielle Nicole Hathaway. My birthday is July 14th, I’ll be four this year, my favorite colors are blue and purple, I love to read and write and I know my address but I’m not supposed to tell that to strangers,” Ellie gushes, she blushes then peeks up at me. “But Grandmas are not strangers, right Daddy?”
“Not anymore, Sugar,” I croak.
Ellie beams and turns back to my mama holding out her little arms for a hug. “I love hugs,” Ellie says coyly.
“Oh honey, I love to give them,” my mama says folding Ellie into a tight embrace.
“That’s a good one.”
I laugh when my mama finally releases her.
“Oh Brad, she is everything you said and more,” my mama says with trembling lips. “She has your eyes and your dimples. Oh I have to call your father. He went to go riding at the ranch. He’ll turn back around. I know your brother and sister will want to be here too. I’ll call them right away. I’ll cook up something special for tonight.”
I don’t have the heart to tell her no and I know this is just getting me deeper in trouble, but I can’t see that smile on her face crushed. She already has the phone in her hand dialing before finishing her thought. I shake my head and chuckle to myself.
“Mama, I need to shower and change, can Ellie sit here. Maybe you can make her a turkey sandwich. She’ll tell you how she likes it,” I say as she waits for the person on the other end to answer.
“Sure honey…Vernon hold on,” my mother says as my father answers on the other end, “go on Brad, us girls will be fine.”
I stand placing Ellie on the stool I’d been sitting on and push her closer to the island. She looks so cute with her legs dangling and a smile on her face. It is hard to believe that just a couple of hours ago she was so upset. Mama is already on to her next call as I exit the room heading upstairs to my room.
Dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a button down shirt rolled up over my elbows I make my way back downstairs. I am looking through my text messages as I hear the laughter rising toward me from the kitchen. I reply to Tamara and send the message. As I look up I see the kitchen island is full of my family, including my baby at the center of everyone’s attention.
Daddy and mama flank her sides, as my brother stands with his hip propped up against the counter and his legs crossed at the ankles. Ann is leaning on the counter with her elbows, beaming at Ellie until she notices me in the room. Ann pops up and rushes over to give me a tight hug.