Page 19 of Protecting Player #73 (Portland, Settlers #1 | Gridiron Warriors)
Brea
T oday is my second day off in a row, a rarity since beginning to work for the Settlers.
The team has meetings and video reviews to go through before traveling to Vegas for their next game.
A trip Adeline and I are also going on. We’re making a girls’ weekend of it.
I’ll be on the sidelines with the media tents, so I can still catch footage of the game, which is why I’m out shopping today to find a better long-range lens for my camera.
That thing about Vegas, though… I never did answer T.K.
’s question at my parents’ house last night.
Or rather, demand. He’s mentioned several times wanting to wife me, but I’ve always laughed and brushed him off.
However, last night was a palpable need for him.
And it’s more than about sex. He wants me to be his in every way possible.
What I haven’t expressed to him is that I want the same.
Hopefully, going to the Vegas game should be enough of an answer for him, which means I also need a wedding dress.
Excited nervous energy causes my giddiness, and I quickly locate the lens I need before exiting the store and searching online for the nearest wedding apparel boutique. I then text Adeline to meet me there if she could.
The dress shop is only a few blocks away, so I walk since it’s such a gorgeous day. Unusual for this time of year in Portland, so I feel pretty lucky.
As I wait at the corner to cross the street, someone stops next to me. Nothing out of the ordinary. However, the woman reaches up to grip one of my braids, forcing me to look at her and take a step back.
“Excuse me.” My eyes narrow because she seems familiar, but I’m not sure why.
“I was just admiring your…style.” It’s not a compliment. “Not many girls could pull this look off.” There’s a cautioning gleam in her eyes.
The light changes, and I begin walking. She keeps pace with me but remains a step or two behind. “You know you really are beautiful. I can see why he likes you.”
I nearly stop dead in my tracks to ask what she’s talking about, but it’s not until we’re a few storefronts down from my destination that I finally confront her. “Is there something I can help you with…?” I’m hoping for a name.
“Erika.” She smiles sweetly, and my heart drops to my toes.
“Erika Morris?”
Her smile brightens while her eyes…they don’t reflect any sort of happiness or excitement.
“That’s me. I must say, Brea, the camera doesn’t do you justice. We do have a problem, however, because you’re stealing my man.” She says it like she believes it, and, in her delusion, it’s true.
“I’m going to need you to leave me alone.” I won’t entertain her craziness, but I’m not going to antagonize her either.
Her head tilts to the side like she’s studying me, and I don’t know whether to flag someone down for help or walk away. The problem with Erika is that she’s unpredictable, and I don’t wish to get murdered because I make a wrong move.
“Brea.” She reaches for me, but I shift away before her fingers touch my arm. “I only want to have a woman-to-woman talk. T.K. is mine. He has been for a long time.”
“Is that why you shared intimate moments with the press? An effort to ruin his career?” Just thinking about it makes me angry. Not out of possessiveness, though I am, but because she could have killed his career in its prime.
A humorless laugh spouts from her mouth, and it sounds a little unhinged, so I take another step back, closer to a business’s front door. “Ruin him? I would never. But your Little Miss Innocent act is getting tiresome.”
“Brea!” Adeline parks her car in front of the shop we’ve stopped at and waves from her open window.
“I almost couldn’t make it. That boss of mine likes to yap my ear off during my lunch breaks.
” Her eyes shift from me to Erika and back, and she seems to know more than I do.
“Who’s this?” My friend approaches us, and Erika finally takes a step back. “Are we shopping together?”
“What are we shopping for?” Erika asks, her attention on Addy, so I quickly glance back and notice an antique store right behind us, and lie my ass off.
“Antiques. My mom collects old vases, and her birthday is coming up.”
Addy nods along and moves to open the door, the tinkling bell alerting the owner of our presence.
“Just leave him alone, Brea,” Erika warns before walking off.
“What was that about?” Addy murmurs as we enter the store, dresses forgotten for the moment.
“She was warning me off of Tate.” Something I should have expected but didn’t. “I might have to get a restraining order.”
“Probably a good idea. Have you told T.K. yet?” I nod as we amble through the aisles, spotting a vase I think Mom will love. At least it wasn’t a total lie. “How’d he react?”
“He was big mad. He wasn’t thrilled that I hid it from him, but he understood why. Things got…heated.” My cheeks flush, burning up to the roots of my hair, and when Adeline turns to glance at me, she smothers a laugh with her palm.
“A good heated, then,” she teases, and I glare at her.
“Hey, better than him taking his anger out on you. Are you getting that?” She points to the vase in my hands.
Its white and blue marbling looks stunning and is Mom’s favorite color.
After sending a picture of it to Alex, letting her know what I found, I head to the register when my phone dings with her response.
As we walk out of the shop, Addy offers to store the vase in her car, and I look around to make sure Erika isn’t lurking somewhere. I’d hate for her to attack me in the dress shop and ruin my excitement.
I respond to Alex with a promise to meet her at our spot tonight–a cozy fifties-themed diner specializing in desserts that are good for nobody’s waistline.
A craving hits hard for one of their loaded cookies and cream milkshakes with a sour cream donut on the rim and too many calories for someone my size, but I can’t resist the temptation.
“Everything okay?” Addy must notice the dreamy look on my face. Those shakes really are my weakness.
“Yes, I’m meeting Alex at the diner tonight.” Addy knows all about our diner tradition. It was something we started when we were younger and promised to continue for as long as we could.
It was her salvation when she ended her relationship with Brayden, allowing him to pursue his career.
She continues to hide her feelings for the man, but I think, for her, he will forever be the one who got away.
Her sacrifice is why she’s been so career-driven all these years, and it has worked in her favor, as she is one hell of a sports agent.
I wish she could find that type of love again.
She was overjoyed with him; her love shone brightly.
“Just once, I wish you’d take me there.” Addy pouts at me with a wink. “We need our traditional spot. We’re like sisters, too.”
“I agree. But I think it needs to involve cheeseburgers or pizza.” We laugh upon entering the bridal store and are greeted by a woman a few years older than us, with a radiant, welcoming smile.
“Ladies! Welcome. My name is Nia. How can I help you today?” Her genuine attitude immediately puts me at ease.
“I’m getting married in Las Vegas this weekend, and I need a dress.”
“Wait….” She pauses to stare at me. “You’re Brea King. You run the ReelShotz page for the Settlers!” Her excitement is apparently contagious because even Addy gets bouncy on her feet.
“I am.” Matching her enthusiasm, I explain my style and that I don’t want traditional, I want something unique to me.
“Got it. I like the vision, and I think I have just what you’re looking for.
Do we need a matron of honor dress, too?
” Addy is about to shake her head no, but I quickly jump in with an enthusiastic yes, and mention the sister of the bride, as well.
Because once I tell Alex tonight, she’ll initially put up a fight but will no doubt show up for me.
Thankfully, I know my sister's dress size and style preference. After Nia settles us in one of their bridal suites, she proceeds to bring out two dresses for me, as well as similar ones for Addy and Alex. Addy immediately says yes to her dress and tries it on.
The seafoam green dress has a sweetheart neckline with long open sleeves that cinch at her wrists.
The fitted bodice then flows out to just above her knees.
As Addy spins, I’m delighted that the back is open to about her shoulder blades and is joined together with a heart-shaped clip for a hint of dazzle.
“You’re stunning,” I say to my friend. The color is perfect on her.
Nia holds up a dress. “For your sister. It’s similar in design but with three-quarter-inch sleeves and more amethyst in color.
” I nod my head because Alex will look perfect in it.
“There are matching shoes with or without heels, as well.” She points to another section of the store, and Addy skips on over to take a look.
As I’m left alone to peruse my choice of dresses, I’m immediately struck by the beauty of the first one I see.
The strapless, sleek, and sexy sheath gown has a sweetheart neckline that showcases the bust. Designed with floral lace and intricately embellished rhinestones shimmering throughout the figure-hugging silhouette, leaves me breathless.
The sheer corset bodice features exposed boning that falls to a basque waistline and a hip-high slit with a sheer open back, making it the perfect chic, romantic bridal style I’m looking for.
The detachable choker is a bonus. T.K. will love it.
“I’ll take them all, with matching heels for each.”
My excitement about the weekend grows higher and higher with each passing minute.