Thankfully, miraculously, Belinda appeared and was able to bribe Millie out of Tiana’s arms with promises of maraschino cherries in her Sprite. Once she was five-year-old free, shehelped Pops stand and was planning on slipping out the entrance when Brock cut off her escape route.
“Where are you going? Aren’t you here for dinner with my family?”
She felt Pops tense beside her. “Boy, you better?—”
“I’m not feeling well.” Tiana stepped so that she was positioned slightly in front of Pops. “I need to go home.” It wasn’t even a lie. Tiana felt like she was going to pass out.
“My family has been dying to see you. They went to all this trouble. You can’t just bail. You left me. I thought it was all water under the bridge. I thought you’d be happy for me.” His voice was loud and carried across the restaurant.
Gianna stood beside Brock, her face a practice in neutrality, but Tiana recognized her expression. It was clear she was uncomfortable with his behavior, but she knew she couldn’t say or do anything. She looked like she wished the ground would swallow her up, but she was trying desperately not to let even a hint of that show, otherwise, he would make her regret it.
Most of Brock’s family had gone into the room reserved for the dinner, leaving only one uncle and a cousin at the bar waiting for their drinks.
Tiana smiled widely at both Gianna and Brock. “Congratulations to you both, I wish you all the happiness.” With that she turned her body in the direction of the exit to take a different route, and when she did, Brock’s hand landed on her forearm, impeding her continued movement.
“Don’t be like this. There’s no reason why we can’t all have dinner together.”
For the first time since her ex arrived at the restaurant, Tiana looked him dead in the eyes. Something was going on. Something she didn’t know about. He had a cockiness, a swag to him that made her nervous. He only ever had that energy when he was fucking someone over and they had no clue, whenhe had the upper hand and his opponent was none the wiser. Hell, half the time they didn’t even know they were in the game. Everything was a game to him, not just his profession as a football player. Friendships, business, even love. And he always wanted to win.
Him showing up at the dinner announcing his engagement was not the upper hand, because that would be showing his cards. Something else was going on. If he was Moriarty, then the game was afoot.
“Son, you better take your hand off—” Pops began to say.
“Sorry I’m late.” Tiana felt a familiar arm snake around her waist and pull her backwards, causing Brock to release her arm.
Her entire body instantly relaxed into the safety cocoon of Niko’s broad frame. Then melted when he pressed a kiss to her cheek. Once he’d greeted her. He shifted their positions so he was angled just in front of her, edged between her and Brock. It wasn’t obvious but strong in its subtlety.
“What did I miss?” Niko said cheerily.
“We’re engaged.” Brock lifted up Gianna’s hand.
Tiana could see by the glint in her ex’s eyes that he was baiting Niko, waiting gleefully for Niko’s reaction. Little did he know, they’d both been aware of that information for over a week.
“Wow. Congrats, guys!” Niko beamed as he shook Brock’s hand and then pulled him into a very aggressive one-arm man hug where he ‘patted’ him on the back with so much enthusiasm it vibrated off the walls.
He then hugged Gianna, and from where Tiana was standing, it looked like Niko whispered something in her ear, but she couldn’t be sure. Gianna froze and quickly pulled away from her ex.
“Brock, we’re waiting for you guys.” Mrs. Bartlett stated as she joined the group, and at that time his uncle and cousin finished up at the bar and joined them as well.
“Oh, hello!” Her ex-MIL’s face lit up when she saw Niko.
Tiana stepped forward to make introductions, but Niko beat her to it.
“You must be Mrs. Bartlett. Tiana has told me so much about you.” Niko held out his hand and shook Mrs. Bartlett’s. Tiana could see that his charm, or maybe it was just his dimple, definitely worked on her. She got flushed. “Hi, I’m Niko Costas.”
“And will you be joining us for dinner?” Mrs. Barlett asked with a smile.
“I’m actually not feeling well,” Tiana explained to her former mother-in-law.
Niko’s eyes shot to Tiana, she could see the instant worry in them. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just tired,” she assured him.
His eyes were very serious, and she tried her best to telepathically convey that she just wanted to leave and not discuss it there.
Not missing a thing, Niko turned his attention back to the group and said, “It looks like we’ll have to take a raincheck. I’m gonna get these two home, but hopefully we’ll get a chance to see you before you leave,” he directed at Mrs. Bartlett. “I know how much your family means to Tiana.”
Hearing Niko say those things to her ex’s mom made her heart nearly explode in her chest. She’d mentioned several times over the week how much Brock’s family had meant to her, and, even though they weren’t really dating, for him to say that to her meant the world.
