Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(52)
“Brad, can’t we work things out,” Tiffany asks sweetly just as security walks up behind her. I nod my head at them and she turns to notice the two broad men ready to escort her off the premises. “Oh my God Brad, seriously? We have been friends for so long. Are you really going to throw me out?”
“See that she leaves the property and does not come back,” I snap.
B
“He just took off with her and said nothing to me,” I finish in a hushed whisper to Ann.
Ann opens her mouth as if to say something but closes it quickly. I freeze as large arms wrap around my waist. “Mama wants us up front,” Brad says with no explanation of where he has been. I turn in his arms and glare at him. “We’ll talk about it. I just don’t want to ruin the night.”
I just nod and follow him as he leads us to where the rest of the family has gathered. Donna is there with a smug smile on her face once again, as she clings to Trevor. He looks none too pleased with her as usual. Brad steers us clear of them, but I can feel tension rolling off of him. I’m not sure what to think about it.
Ann stands between Sam and Trevor and whispers something to Trevor that makes him frown and snatch his arm from Donna’s hold as he turns to glare at her. The stupid smile on her face melts a little as panic starts to rise in her eyes. Trevor puts as much distance between them as he can without making a scene.
I am pulled from watching their interaction by Bradley squeezing my hand. I look up at him and he gives me a weak smile before placing a kiss to my lips. Vernon and Gloria join us with Brielle hanging from her grandfather’s hip. He is telling her something that has her quiet amused as she giggles in his arms.
“Okay everybody,” the DJ calls out. “It looks like we have the whole family here now. I’m getting the head nod that we can start this little show.”
The projector lights up and I feel myself relax as pictures of Brad as a little boy come up on the screen. Everyone aws and ahs at the pictures and then a few of my baby pictures come up pulling the same reaction. I smile when my pictures are followed by Brielle’s. I love that they have included her in this moment. When Ann asked me for Brielle’s pictures I had no idea it was for this.
The crowd roars with laughter as a picture of the three of us hits the screen. Brad and Brielle are making silly faces at me and I am laughing to the point of tears. I remember that day. We were all at dinner over Ann’s. It is just dawning on me how much time we spend with Ann and her family. I have really taken these people in as family, which means Bri is as attached as I am.
This fact stings as uncertainty tries to creep in. Looking at the three of us we look like the perfectly happy family, but how long will that last? What am I signing up to put my daughter through? I could forgive Brad for breaking my heart, but never for breaking Brielle’s. She loves her father so much.
As my thoughts start to stray the pictures disappear from the screen bringing me back from my reverie. I look around to see the confused faces of Ann and Gloria. A rumbling voice rings out through the room instead of the soft music that had been playing with the video.
It’s Brad’s voice. I could never mistake his voice. I look to the screen to see him shirtless lying in bed. At first he is all you can see and hear, but then a female voice joins in.
“Babe, do you love me,” the woman says.
“Of course I do,” Brad says in return.
Tiffany comes into view as she lays her head on his shoulder. “It will be just like you promised. We will always be together. Nothing can keep us apart,” Tiffany says while looking up at him longingly.
“Yeah baby, just like I promised. No matter what I will always come back to you. This is only temporary. When I get my head cleared we will be together. I just need some time, but you know I have never loved anyone the way I love you….”
The rest of his words are lost on me. Brad and Trevor both have run to the projector trying to cut it off. I can hear Brad shouting. “Turn that f*cking thing off.”
It doesn’t matter. I have heard enough and so has everyone in this room. I feel stupid and embarrassed beyond belief. Brad told me he never loved her. I remember asking him. I remember his words, but the words on that screen tell me something else.
Brad is a liar. I am barely holding onto the tears that are threating to spill over. I back away from everyone, ignoring Vernon and Gloria calling my name and start to run. I don’t know where I am running to, I just run.
I can’t breathe. Why is this happening to me? I finally have to admit to myself how much I have really wanted this with Brad. However, I have not signed up to be humiliated or to ruin my career. I have been so stupid in really thinking about changing my life for him.
I choke on a sob as I think about how I was considering being a stay at home mom and giving Brad the baby he has been asking for sooner, rather than later. I often regret the time I have missed with Brielle as I have built my career over the last four years. Even without Brad I could afford to take a break. I just thought it would be better to do it with him and for our family.
This ranch is huge and Brad drove so I don’t have keys to just take off. I know Bri is in good hands. When I get far away from here I’ll text Ellerie to drop her off to me once I find a hotel to stay in. We rented out my old place just last month. Maybe my parents will take Brielle for a few days while I figure things out.
I look around frustrated and see the stables. Thinking of the horse Vernon gifted me with this evening, I head there. I snort as I think of the car Brad gave me. I would take off in it but it is blocked in by everyone else.