Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(50)

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.