Ballers: His Game (Ballers Series Book 1)(63)
“I put it all out there on the field this season. Getting that team to the championships was not easy. For them to think after all of that they could disrespect my woman,” he pauses and frowns, shaking his head. “Not gonna happen Darlin’. Not on my watch. I only signed with the team for a one year contract as you know. I had every intention back then to sign on to a longer contract for next season.
“Once I really started to dig into things I realized that the team had problems with our relationship for some time. So I had to make a few decisions. When I first started to feel home sick New York was one of the first teams that tried to court me. They actually offered me more than Texas had, but I wanted to come home to be with my family.
“I made a few calls and they are still interested. When I mentioned that my one condition was that they sign Ellerie as well, since his contract is also up this season, they jumped at it. I’m still young and I want out while I can still play the game with our son,” Brad gives me a sly smile and rubs his hand over my tummy.
“Even if I signed a longer contract here, I wouldn’t have committed to more than two or three more years. I wanted a family and to settle down. I have that now, so my new contract will be a two contract with a one year option.”
“Really Brad, I just never thought about you not playing, you love the game. I didn’t think leaving Texas was an option either. Your whole family is here,” I muse out loud in shock.
“I love the game, but not more than my girls. You and Ellie mean the world to me, which is why I made this choice. I love being here in Texas where my family is but moving to New York doesn’t mean we have to give up our home here. We can come see the family whenever we want. I also want to see you happy. I know your career has been here in Texas so I called in a few favors and I have a surprise for you,” Brad says with a shy smile.
“Well you are just full of those today,” I laugh.
“I have movers coming in while we are on our honeymoon to pack this place up. Trevor and the kids are going to move in here for the time being, until he gets things settled with the divorce. I’ve rented a place until we can find something of our own, but we can take our time with that.
“You are probably going to be pretty busy as one of the new partners at our firm in New York,” he says while watching my eyes closely.
“What?” I gasp and furrow my brows.
Brad smiles. “I talked with Cyrus a bit. He told me he has been toying with the idea of a New York office. After talking with Nico at Ellie’s party I realized he might be onto something with wanting to manage other players. Not to mention I got excited talking to Uri about a venture capital group for athletes that want to expand their portfolios.
“After having a meeting with them all we came up with a New York Office that you and Nico will run, with Uri and Cyrus’s connections and backing. In a year, Ellerie and I will come on as agents,” he says smiling broadly at his accomplishments.
“I don’t even know what to say,” I shake my head with a smile on my lips.
“Say you’ll follow your country boy husband to the big city,” Brad smiles.
“I will follow your big country ass to the ends of the earth, Bradley Monroe,” I say with a big grin on my face.
“That’s what I want to hear. Now come give your husband some of that good *, Tam. I’m starving for you,” he says huskily.
So that is exactly what I do. It was my intention to rock Brad’s world, but he flipped mine inside out. I’m sure our guests were ready to make their way home by the morning. In the moment though I didn’t care, Brad and I had been through a lot and we were coming out on the other side together and stronger for it.
My lesson in all of this was that I don’t have to do it all alone. Brad may be younger, but he is a take charge man. Once he wants something nothing will stop him from having it. I should have known that from the first night I met him. If you would have told me then that I would have taken him home and someday be calling that young rookie my husband, I would have laughed in your face.
Not so much because he was white, but in truth because I Tamara Monroe used to need to control everything. Now I know how to be a boss, but let my captain steer the ship every once in a while. We both make mistakes but the best part is getting to fix them with the support of one another.
Epilogue
I feel when Brad walks up behind me. I sag into his chest as he wraps his arms around me. I have the best husband a woman can ask for. I love my life. It has been almost two years since we got married. So much has changed but our lives could not be happier.
“They are growing up so fast,” I sigh as I watch the twins roll around with their new puppy. Brielle is laying on her back in the grass giggling, while Six licks all over her face.
“Exactly why I am so happy we are having another one,” Brad kisses my neck and rubs my tummy.
“Do you miss it?” I ask. Brad stayed true to his word. He played for one year in New York, brought home a ring for him and Ellerie and retired.
“The game or New York,” he asks.
“Both,” I shrug. The firm in New York has been a big success, but we just moved back here to Texas a few weeks ago. It’s not permanent we just thought we should spend at least the summer here with the family. We will decide how much time we will split between the two in the fall.