Fighter

Ch. 61

We go to the car, get in and drive to the next house. It’s not far, only about five minutes from the first house. It's in another gated community, these houses look a lot like the last house with its stucco facade and long columns. We park at a house with two balconies on the front of the house and large front yard, I can smell the ocean. We walk into the house and I love the décor immediately.

It has a double staircase like the last house. But the floor is Spanish red tiles and the walls are a warm tan color. What I love most is the dark wood staircases and as we walk to the kitchen, I see dark exposed wood beams that make the room more interesting and homey. The kitchen cabinets are an off white color that looks aged and rustic accenting the walls and floor perfectly. I love everything so far, the Spanish look is definitely one of my favorite décors.

"You love it, don't you?" Maddox asks coming up behind me and wrapping his warm arms around me.

"I definitely like it better than the last house. What do you think?"

"I like what you like." He replies kissing my neck.

"No, don't do that, I want to know what you think." I argue.

"I like it, too. I can see you in this kitchen. Having the house open like this is good for watching the baby. Being able to see into the living room while you’re in the kitchen will be a plus."

"Yeah, I will be able to do the dishes and watch the baby play. And the patio doors are all along the wall so I can see him or her play when they're outside."

"Do these doors open all the way?" Maddox asks.

"Yes, they electronically slide all the way open exposing the kitchen to the back patio." Lindsay replies.

Maddox walks to the device on the wall and I feel Lindsay stare. I look over to her and she looks away. Now, she is focusing on Maddox. She walks up to him.

"It should be one of these buttons." She says brushing her chest against him trying to read the wall device.

Maddox moves back but hits the button that controls the doors and they begin to slide open. I watch in fascination. It makes the house look even bigger. There is a built in grill and an infinity pool. I see the ocean when we walk out on to the patio. I didn't realize how high we were, it’s a beautiful view.

"I love the view." I say.

"How many rooms?" Maddox asks.

"Nine bedrooms and each room has at least a half bath attached. The beach house is down that path if you would like to see it."

"Yes, let’s see that too." Maddox says.

"I want to wander upstairs, you go." I respond walking to the front of the house to the staircase. I walk up to the second floor and I look into all the rooms; there's also a theater and a room that was obviously a workout room. I think Maddox will really like that. I find the master bedroom and I go and open the balcony doors and look over the property. I see Maddox and Lindsay walking back from the smaller house down the path. It has the same look as this house just smaller. I see Lindsay pretend to trip and grab onto Maddox's arm, he helps her stand and starts walking again. They are talking about something, I can hear them but I can't make out what they are saying.

I watch Lindsay smile and bat her eyelashes at Maddox but Maddox doesn't notice or he doesn't care, I can't tell which. I, however, am starting to get mad at her behavior. I need to calm down, I can’t get this mad about it. I want Maddox to have a good day.

I hear them coming up the stairs and she is giggling about something Maddox says and I wait for them to come into the room.

"This is the master suite." Lindsay walks in front of Maddox and turns to smile at him. Maddox comes over to me.

"The beach house will be sufficient for a nanny." He tells me grinning. "Do you like the rest of the house?"

"Yeah, I really do."

"Nanny?" Lindsay asks.

"Yeah, we’re expecting." Maddox says going over to the bathroom and looking in.

Lindsay turns to me with narrowed eyes and when I look back at her she looks away with a disgusted look on her face. Such a bitch, I think to myself. At least she knows Maddox is not available now.

Maddox comes out of the bathroom. "Anything else you want to see at this house?" He asks me.

"No, I'm ready." I nod.

We leave and go to the next house which we don't even go into because Maddox says he doesn't like the outside. At first I'm confused by his reaction. When I look at him he leans over and whispers in my ear. "This looks like the house I grew up in. I don't want any reminders of that time."

"Okay." I agree pecking his lips.

The next house was too modern like the first and the last house was just not big enough for Maddox. In the back seat of the car we discuss the houses.

"You like the second. I think we should just buy that one." He says.

"I want you to like the one we get just as much as I do. So, no, let's wait to find something for the both of us."

"I liked that one, too." He says frustrated.

"We can wait and see more houses. There might be one we like better."

"I want to get one as soon as possible. I want to be moved in and settled when the baby comes."

"Maddox, that's nine months away, we can afford to wait a couple of weeks."

"I'll feel better if we found one today."

"Fine then, buy the second one." I say not feeling like arguing about it. I do love the house. But I want him to love it too.

"Really?"

"Yes, really, get that one if you need to buy a house today." I tell him irritated.

"Why are you mad?"

"I told you, I want you to love the house, too. I'm not the only one living there. You need to think about you, too. Which one did you like the best?"

"The first, but I know you don't like that style. As long as you’re there, I don't care what it looks like."

"I care. You need to buy the first one if you like that one. It’s your money, buy the one you like."

Maddox narrows his eyes at me. "I want to put in an offer on the second one today, please." He says to Lindsay.

"Great. We'll go back to my office. Do you want me to drop you off, Hadley, or would you like to be present?"

"Drop me off, please." I say.

"No, I want your name on the house as well."

"I'm tired and don't want you to buy this house. I'm not signing anything."

"You want this house. We're getting it." Maddox says irritated.

"You are such a jackass. Just get the one you like and I'll sign the papers."

"No, you'll sign the papers regardless of the house."

I roll my eyes and look away.

"Your office, Lindsay." Maddox orders.

"Yes, sir." She answers