The Marriage Rival

“Sandy?” I gasp, my hand flying to my chest. “Is that you?”

I could spot the smile anywhere. The same smile that sat beside me during boring lectures. The same smile that laughed at me while I threw up beer in the bush from a sorority dare. Who would have thought beer could taste so vile?

And the same smile that reassured me everything would be just fine when the world felt so big, and I felt so alone.

“Elvis?” She reaches out her hands, but I throw her into a hug, thrown back by the annoying name she called me during our time many years ago. “I had no idea it was you. Haden, I mean, Mr. Cooper, spoke about you but the surname threw me off.”

In the comfort of an old friend, I linger, then pull back, taking a moment to examine her. It has been a good ten years since we last saw each other. Sandy has a

ged well, she’s thinned out since college and not as muscular as she was back then. She dyed her hair from the ash blonde she used to sport in college and surprisingly, dresses rather feminine.

I always remembered her to be a tee-and-ripped-jeans kind of gal. Seeing her in a fitted cream blouse and tailored black pants is something different. She’s even wearing heels—black pumps with a crocodile skin pattern.

Haden clears his throat to interrupt. “So, you two know each other?”

“Back in college.” I grin, unable to contain my happiness. “God, we must have spent like, what? Every day together.”

“Yeah, we did, but then you met that jerk of a boyfriend, Kyle,” she reminds me.

“Young and foolish.”

“That you were, Elvis.”

I cringe. “We can leave that name in the past, please.”

“It was our thing.” She laughs

Haden is crossing his arms waiting for us to finish speaking. He appears unimpressed. I’m not sure why, this will make our working relationship much easier.

“Would you look at the time? I believe Phil is taking you out today, and you will have to accept my sincere apologies. Presley and I have something to attend to.”

“Of course, don’t let me keep you.” She shuts her laptop and collects her things. “So, we have a meeting later, right?”

“Yes, I won’t be too long. Promise.”

Sandy offers a warm smile. “Take your time, I’ll see you this afternoon.”

Haden chose an upscale restaurant for lunch on Melrose. The restaurant serves American cuisine with a French influence. It was fancier than the lunch spots Clint and I frequent, though Clint’s lunchbreaks involve scoping out potential men to add to the ever-growing list he could jerk off to. Most of them straight.

“So, what’s so important?” I push my food around, not really hungry and desperate to get back to the office.

“I’ve been thinking, and I want you to hear me out first…”

Every time Haden starts a sentence like that, something major is on the horizon. Something life-changing. So, I brace myself for what he is about to share. I suspect it has something to do with Manhattan since he had mentioned us going back for a month or so.

“You know I love our house. It’s a great first house. But with Masen growing bigger, our family growing one day, I’ve been looking at potential real estate.”

“What do you mean you’ve been looking?”

“Just seeing what’s on the market.”

I know Haden very well. He has found a place. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already bought a house and placed ours on the market.

“Lex has a broker, and she showed me a place in Hidden Hills. It’s not that far from Charlie and Lex, you could probably walk there. You’ll love it.”

I place my fork down. “Hidden Hills? Firstly, we can’t afford that. Secondly, why didn’t you consult me before even looking? I don’t want to move. I love our house.”

“I just want you to see the place before you say no.”