Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(33)

“She so beautiful,” she sobs in my shoulder. Ann is five nine so she is not that much shorter than me. “God Brad, I can’t believe she is only four. She is amazing and she absolutely adores you.”

“I adore her too,” I chuckle. I am trying to hold back my own tears.

I’ve battled in the beginning with whether or not I should be mad at Tamara for not reaching out to tell me about Ellie. I know it is more my fault than hers. I knew we had unprotected sex and I still chose to leave without a word.

I had never had sex without a condom before or after Tamara. It wasn’t like I made a habit of going around jumping into bed with just anyone. I should have thought of all the repercussions of my actions. I know I owe Tamara way more than what I had given her that night.

Seeing Brielle with my family now shows me how many people my poor choice really hurt. I’d do anything to fix that now. I know I plan to spend the rest of my life making up for the time I lost with Ellie.

“Daddy, guess what,” Ellie squeals when she looks over at me. “Papa…he said I can call him Papa since I call Grandpa Byron, Pop pop. Papa said that I have my own pony and he’s going to teach me how to ride it. Daddy, I always wanted a pony!”

I groan. My dad gives all the kids their own horse. I wouldn’t think Brielle would be any different. I just don’t know what Tamara will think of our daughter horseback riding.

“Baby, that’s great but we’re going to have to ask your mama if that’s okay first, Sugar,” I say softly.

“Oh,” Ellie says as her little face falls. She looks down at her hands in her lap and furrows her brows. Suddenly her face brightens and her head snaps up. “She’ll be okay with it Daddy.”

I laugh. “Oh yeah, what makes you so sure,” I ask.

“Mommy used to ride horses when she was a girl,” Ellie says proudly.

“How do you know that?”

“I saw pictures and she has trophies and ribbons. There in her room at Nana and Pop pop’s house. Mommy used to be a dancer too Daddy. She has ballet slippers in her old room. I go to dance too but I have to wait until Uncle Eli finishes with football work to start again. Auntie Stacey used to take me when Uncle Eli couldn’t but she is in Europe now modeling. So I have to wait until Mommy finds a new after school sitter who can take me or wait for Uncle Eli to finish winning the Super bowl.”

We all laugh. She sounds so sure Ellerie will win the Super Bowl and being on the same team with him now I hope she is right. Ellie is just full of information. I know Tamara has a nice body and stays in shape but I didn’t know she danced. I also didn’t realize she knew anything about horses. I will definitely have to get her out to the ranch. I haven’t had a girlfriend that could handle a horse since high school.

“Oh Brad, maybe she can join the girls dance school and I could take her. Trev’s girls go with mine,” Ann says excitedly.

“Really,” Ellie beams.

“Whoa guys, thanks Ann, but you guys have got to stop promising her stuff that I’m not sure her mama will be okay with. I’m in enough trouble as it is,” I sigh.

“Oh Brad, I’m so sorry. Her excitement is just so infectious,” Ann giggles.

“Tell me about it. I already promised to come to her house to swim in the pool,” my brother Trevor chuckles.

I throw my head back and groan. I draw a hand down my face and sigh. “Ellie baby, whatever everyone here has promised you today we are going to have to run it all by your mama. Now if she says no to any of it you can’t give her a hard time about it like you did this morning, you hear me,” I say gently. “That tantrum you threw this morning can’t happen again.”

“Okay,” Ellie whispers. “I just wanted to wear my pins to show Miss. Cynthia and Mrs. Jenny. They always talk about how pretty Mommy is and how nice her jewelry and clothes are. I just wanted to be pretty like Mommy.”

“Sugar, you’re just as pretty as you’re mama with or without those pins,” I tell her warmly.

“Really Daddy,” she says with a toothy smile.

“Yeah baby, you are.”

“Mommy’s so pretty Uncle Eli’s friend, Mike wanted to marry her,” Ellie beams proudly.

I rock back on my heels at her words and Trev lets out a low whistle. “Sounds like you have a little competition,” Trev chuckles and raises a brow.

“Shut up,” I growl.

My head is spinning. Tamara said she hadn’t been with anyone since me. She told me she wasn’t dating. I had never thought there was anyone else to worry about. I never thought she would lie.

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” Ann chirps. “I saw the paper and the pictures on the news. She looks like she is completely in love with you.”

“Pictures in the news?” my mother bristles.

“You can’t tell me you didn’t know they were out there,” Trev snorts.

“I wasn’t thinking. I should have known better, I should have thought about protecting Ellie. I messed up,” I mutter.

“Speaking of which, why isn’t she in school? Is that why you’re in the dog house, because you kept her home today,” Trevor asks.

I sigh, “No, the reporters ambushed Ellie at day care and Tam had to be in a meeting. I was the only one that could get to Ellie.”