The Marriage Rival

“I am saying no.”

His eyes tighten as he bares his teeth. “C’mon, don’t be a bitch.”

There is no winning with Haden. Our marriage is all about him.

“Great, now I really want to see it,” I argue back. “It’s all about you, isn’t it?”

He throws his napkin onto the table, rubbing his temple to cue his aggressive behavior. “It isn’t about me. Goddammit, Presley, it’s about our son. I want him to have more space, a nice pool to practice in. I want space for our parents to visit.”

My anger toward him begins to digress. Averting my eyes, I lower them toward the table. My hand is sitting beside the fork, and on my hand, my wedding band glistens against the sun shining through the large window. If his intentions are purely for his son, then I shouldn’t be the so-called bitch getting in the way of that.

“Fine, I’ll see it. But that’s all I’m agreeing to.”

With a satisfied smile, he calls the waiter for the check, pulling out a black American Express card.

“When did you get a black Amex?” I question, taking the card in my hands and examining it. I know they’re rare, and I believe, only by invitation.

“A week or so ago.”

“Oh, and you never mentioned it.”

“You were…” he pauses. “We were busy, you know?”

Of course. I decide, after an already eventful day, not to question the card or how he got it. When it comes to finances, I rarely get involved because it isn’t my passion like Haden’s.

“I promise you won’t regret looking at the house,” he tells me, grabbing my hand and kissing my knuckles. “In fact, I bet my whole life you’ll fall in love with it.”

Eleven

Presley

We drive up the semi-steep driveway stopping just shy of the three-car garage.

Haden turns the engine off while I sit quietly, admiring the outside of the house. On the drive over, Haden didn’t say much aside from the home being Hamptons’ inspired in a quiet cul-de-sac in Hidden Hills, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

It is still daylight, and surrounding us, aside from the house, is a manicured lawn with perfectly landscaped gardens. A few trees surround the front entrance, giving the property some privacy.

“The gardens are so pretty.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, two cars pull in behind us. I recognize the beaten-up yellow Jeep with an eager-looking Gemma in the front and equally excited Masen in the back. The black Porsche, beside her, must be the broker.

Both Haden and I exit the car, Masen running straight to Haden for a hug. I wait patiently until he breaks free, then runs off to the front door. I ignore the pang, knowing his excitement over the house rules his four-year-old mind.

Lex’s broker, Carolina, is top of the league as far as brokers in Southern California. The second she gets out of her car, I spot the longest of legs, tanned with a silky glow. I hate to admit that I like her white midi-dress with the gold buttons down the middle. She is rather thin with a large bust, and upon removing her sunglasses, she has the skin of a twenty-something-year-old.

She greets Haden, flicking her platinum-gold hair to the side in a flirtatious manner before shaking his hand. He introduces me, Gem, and Masen before requesting to take us into the home.

As soon as the front door opens, my jaw almost completely drops. Masen has run past me at full speed with Gem on his tail.

The ceilings are high with gorgeous timber beams running across. It gives the house so much character and reminds me of an old church back home in Virginia.

“The house has six bedrooms, all of them with baths plus a spacious master suite,” Carolina tells us, leading us through one of the living rooms, past the breakfast room with the vaulted ceiling and into the kitchen. “We have a center-island kitchen with open-beam ceiling, copper-accented range hood, professional, stainless steel appliances and wine storage. A chef’s dream.”

The kitchen is gorgeous. I can easily imagine myself cooking dinner here, barefoot with a glass of red while listening to an audiobook.

“Before I take you out back, I’ll show you the rooms upstairs.”

Each room is large with plenty of space for all our things. The master is more than spacious, boasting its own private sitting area and small balcony looking out toward the canyon.