Tackling Love - Kathleen Kelly Page 0,48
no.”
A frown creases her pretty brow as Diandra grabs my hand. “Please, Skye.”
Tyson Reed walks over, grinning from ear to ear. He thrusts out his hand, and I take it.
“Congrats, Mr. Reed,” I gush.
“I never doubted them.”
Diandra quirks an eyebrow and puts a hand on her hip. “Really?”
Tyson goes red and shakes his head, then he looks down at me and gives Diandra a sideways look. “Did you tell her?”
“No, I only said I needed to talk to Gray.”
Tyson puts his lips together and puffs out his cheeks. “Good luck.” He looks around the room. “I have a press conference to get to, and you two have a celebration. Have fun.”
Tyson pats my upper arm, kisses Diandra on the cheek, and leaves us.
I cock my head to the side and look into her dark brown eyes, seeing nothing but sincerity in their depths.
“Is Gray going to be upset?” Diandra takes a moment then nods once. “Then why should I let you come?
“Because it’s something he needs to know. And I picked tonight as it’s going to be the best night of his life so far, and it might soften the blow.”
I look from her to the team owner who’s staring at us, and then back again at Diandra. Surely, if it were something incredibly bad, he wouldn’t want one of his star players upset?
“Okay, you can come. I’m supposed to meet Colt and Gray downstairs in a limo. They’ll still be talking to reporters and changing, so it’ll be an hour or so. Do you want to wait here or go wait in the limo where it will be a bit quieter?”
Diandra smiles and looks relieved. “Quieter sounds good.”
“And I can probe you for information while we wait,” I reply with a grin.
We make our way to the limousine, amid much cheering and jostling from the New England Warriors fans.
The big guy who picked me up is waiting next to the car. “Miss Hadley, you found a friend?”
“Yes, I did. This is Diandra Evergrow. She’s a friend of Grayson Moore’s.”
The man nods and opens the door to the car. We both climb in, and I open a bottle of Cristal in preparation for the upcoming celebrations.
“Want one?” I ask.
“Yes, please, might settle the nerves.”
“How do you know, Grayson?”
The smile that was on her face falters when I hand her a glass, and she takes a large gulp.
“We met in college. Gray was playing college ball then, but he got a contract with the New England Warriors. He was moving onto bigger and better things, and I didn’t want to hold him back.” She looks sad, a small frown marrs her forehead.
Diandra catches me staring at her, and she shakes herself and smiles.
“I broke it off. It was my decision. At the time, Gray was not happy. Tyson helped me. He made it so Gray was too busy, too worn out, and surrounded by his teammates that I became a memory.”
“What did you need help with?”
Diandra puts the glass down and looks serious, she moves forward on the seat. “We have a son.”
My mouth drops open as I watch Diandra smile. “What?”
“I know. I should have told him, and I was always going to, but he’s been chasing tonight for so long, and Gray has done so well for himself, I didn’t want to complicate things.”
The glass partition between the driver and us comes down to which I jump at the intrusion.
“Ms. Hadley, they’ve just sent word that’ll they’ll be another half an hour. Do you two need anything back there?”
“Something for shock,” I reply.
“I’m sorry?”
“Exactly how much alcohol is back here?”
“It’s fully stocked, Ms. Hadley.”
“We’ll be fine, then,” I say as I nod at him.
The glass partition goes back up slowly, and I’m left staring, once again with Diandra.
“A son?”
“His name is Dawson. He looks just like Gray.”
“And you never told him?”
“No.”
I finish the rest of my glass of bubbles. then lock eyes with her. “Did you come out of the woodwork now because he’s worth more money?”
Now, it’s her turn to looked shocked with her mouth hanging open and her eyebrows raised. “What? No, no, no! I don’t want money. That’s the last thing I want, you have to believe me.”
She seems sincere, but a child?
A child she never told Gray about?
I’m questioning whether I should even have her in the limo. I don’t want to upset Gray or Colt.
“I promise you, I don’t want money from Gray. I have my own accounting firm in New York.”
“But you do