Chapter 14
R ival
I'd been in my shop since dawn working on the commissioned dining table for a client in Buckhead. The work kept my hands busy, giving me a needed distraction from dinner with Sailor's family tonight. I did my best to focus on the steady rhythm of sandpaper against wood and the repetitive motion until my phone vibrated on the workbench, breaking my concentration. I glanced at the screen, noticing it was a potential client I was hoping to lock down a job with, which had me pausing to answer.
"Rival Hassan.” I wedged the phone between my ear and shoulder and went back to sanding.
"Mr. Hassan, it's Morris Reynolds. Hope I'm not catching you at a bad time."
"Nah, you’re good. How can I help you?"
"I've been looking at your portfolio and I think you're exactly what we need for our new home. We're finishing a renovation in Virginia-Highland and want custom built-ins for the library and primary bedroom."
"When were you thinking of starting?"
"As soon as possible. The contractors finish next week and we'd like to move in by the end of the month. Could you come by and look at the space? Maybe tomorrow or Monday?"
I mentally checked my schedule. "I could do Monday morning."
"Perfect. I'll text you the address. My wife has some specific ideas she'd like to discuss in person."
"Sounds good. I’ll see you both on Monday.” I ended the call and lifted my eyes when I heard the workshop door. Sailor stood in the doorway, dressed in yoga pants and one of my T-shirts. Her hair was piled on top of her head and she was rocking her glasses. As sexy as Sailor was dressed to humble people in the courtroom, this look was my favorite. Mostly because she was comfortable enough to exist like this around me.
"Were you busy?" Her eyes dropped to my phone and I shook my head.
"Potential client. Custom built-ins for a house in Virginia-Highland."
She stepped further into the shop and examined the table. “This is pretty."
"So are you."
She grinned and ran her fingers over the wood. Since being here, she rarely came into my workspace. The separation was Sailor’s way of keeping her distance from the reality of this marriage.
"I'm about to start getting ready for dinner at my parents'.”
“I’ll be right behind you. What time do we need to leave?"
"Six-thirty. My father hates tardiness almost as much as he hates surprise marriages," she added dryly.
I chuckled because she was really stressing this shit. I was not. "I'll be in soon. Just need to shut everything down out here."
She nodded, lingering for a moment. "It really is beautiful. The table."
"If you play your cards right, Mrs. Hassan, maybe we can get you something custom for your office."
"Maybe.” She turned to leave but paused. "My father can be intense. Don't take anything he says personally."
"I can handle your father, Sail.”
She didn't look convinced but smiled and left. After I was done, I headed back to the house, taking a shower and dressing in a suit which felt like overkill but I was gonna rock with it to avoid making this even more stressful to Sailor.
"You wanna tell me again why the fuck we have to be so dressed up?" I adjusted my tie for the third time, hating this shit more each time I tied it wrong. Give me jeans and a T-shirt any day over this.
Sailor stepped in the bathroom doorway dressed in a form-fitting white dress that hugged her body, raking her fingers through her hair that she’d spent the last hour straightening. Another sign that she was anxious about tonight. Since she’d been here I had gotten used to her curls.
"Because my father expects it. In the Addison household, family dinner means formal attire. Always has." She crossed the room, stepped in front of me, and began adjusting my tie.
"Even when it's just the family?"
"Especially then. It's about standards. My father believes in presenting your best self, even to those closest to you."
"Is that why you're so nervous? Because you feel like you won’t be presenting your best self tonight?"
"I'm not nervous."
"You've changed shoes three times and I'm pretty damn sure you've been rehearsing what to say in your head since you woke up."
"Okay, fine. I'm nervous. My father is going to tear this marriage apart and there's not much to defend."
"You don't need to defend anything. We're adults, Sail. We made a choice to be married."
"A drunken, ridiculous choice that I manipulated you into."
"And I'm choosing to honor it. We're in this together. Whatever happens tonight, know I got you. Fuck your father and I don’t say that respectfully because if he can’t deal with your grown ass making grown decisions then, again, fuck him."
She smiled big as hell. My phone rang and when I glanced at the screen, I groaned.
"It's my mom. I need to take this."
"Go ahead. I need to finish my makeup anyway."
I left the bathroom, answering the call. "Hey, Ma."
"Hey, baby. I was calling to see how things are going with your new situation ."
"You mean my marriage?"
"That's what I said."
That’s not what she fucking said.
I chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Things are good. We're actually heading to dinner with her family tonight."
"So they know?"
"Yeah they know. Her father called yesterday and it all came out."
"And how did that go?"
"About as well as our conversation." I lowered my voice, glancing toward the bathroom. "He basically demanded we come to dinner tonight."
"I see." Another pause. "And your wife, is she treating you well?"
I smiled at the protectiveness in my mother's voice. "She is. It's an adjustment, but we're figuring it out."
"Figuring what out? How to survive a marriage that shouldn't exist in the first place? Baby, I've been patient and trusting like you asked, but you still haven't explained to me why you married a woman you barely know."
"Ma—"
"Don't 'Ma' me. I want to know what you were thinking. Are you sure she’s pregnant? Are you in some kind of trouble?"
I smirked, shaking my head. “Nah, nothing like that. It's complicated."
"For all of us. I need some clarity, Rival. I'm your mother. I deserve to know why my only son got married without so much as a damn phone call."
I stood and moved closer to the window to make sure Sailor couldn't hear me. "I care about Sailor. I have since I first met her. The marriage happened fast, but it was intentional for both of us."
“Intentional?"
How could I explain that I saw something in Sailor from the day I met her? She was a woman hiding behind walls I wanted to break down. Someone I was drawn to in a way I couldn't make sense of no matter how hard I fucking tried.
"I saw an opportunity and I took it. I know it sounds crazy, but I believe this can work. I want us to work."
My mother was quiet for so long I thought the call had dropped. "You really care about this woman."
"I do."
"I want to meet my daughter-in-law."
"You sure about that?"
"No," she admitted, then laughed. "But you're my son, and if you believe in this marriage, I need to at least meet the woman you chose."
"I'll talk to her about it. Thanks, Ma."
"Don't thank me yet. I'm reserving judgment until I meet her."
I chuckled, already knowing. “I respect that. I have to go. I love you.”
“Love you too, baby.”
After we hung up, I stood there for a moment, processing. My mother wanted to meet Sailor. That was a step in the right direction but we needed to figure this shit out one family at a time.
Sailor emerged from the bathroom and smiled. "Everything okay with your mom?"
"Yeah. She wants to meet you."
Her eyes widened slightly. "She does?"
"Don't look so surprised. She's protective, not unreasonable."
"Unlike my father," Sailor muttered.
"Speaking of, we should get going. I damn sure don’t want to be late and give him another reason to dislike me."
"He doesn't dislike you. He doesn't know you. My father’s issue is with me and my erratic decision to marry you for dick."
I smirked and arched my brow. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
She grinned and shrugged. "No, but at least you're starting with a clean slate. I am one bad mistake away from being voted off the Addison Family Island."
"A clean slate as the guy who secretly married his daughter. Yeah, tonight is going to be fucking amazing."
"Don’t let him intimidate you. He respects people who stand their ground."
"I can handle your father, Sail. I'm more worried about you."
"I've been dealing with him my whole life."
"Exactly, and you still have that look in your eyes when his name comes up.”
“What look?” She frowned.
“Like you're preparing for battle."
"Because I am, but you’ll see.” She sighed. “Let's just go. No point in delaying the inevitable."
W hen we pulled up, I glanced at the house then back to Sailor, amused. “This is exactly what I expected."
A bold expression of money that mirrored the man who purchased it.
"It's just a house.” Her tone was dismissive. but she toyed with her wedding ring while she stared at her childhood home. She was nervous as fuck and I didn’t like that. She also didn’t move, so I did. I got out, rounded the car, and opened her door. I extended a hand, which she reluctantly accepted. When she was on her feet, I pulled her into me, shut the door, then caged her between me and the car.
“You wanna leave?”
She nodded and I kissed her. “Then let’s go.”
She exhaled and shook her head. “I can’t do that. You don’t deserve this. I made this mess but you’re the one dealing with the consequences. We’re married, right?”
“Yeah, we are.”
“Then it’s time for me to be an adult about this.”
“You sure?”
She nodded again. “I’m sure.”
I kissed her again then stepped back so she had space to move. When we reached the front door, Sailor paused, taking a deep breath. I placed my hand at the small of her back and kissed her neck.
“I got you, Sail.”
She nodded and reached for the doorbell, but before she could press it, the door swung open.
"Sailor, and you must be..."
"Mom, this is Rival Hassan. My husband." Sailor's voice was steady, chin lifted slightly in defiance. "Rival, this is my mother, Shonda Addison."
"Mrs. Addison. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Same, however, I most certainly didn't expect to be meeting a son-in-law like this."
"Mom," Sailor warned.
"It's a fair observation, sweetheart." She stepped back and motioned for us to enter. "Your siblings are already here and your father is collecting himself."
As we stepped inside, I heard voices from somewhere deeper in the house. Sailor tensed and stepped closer to me before she caught herself and pulled away.
"Into the lion's den," she muttered under her breath then plastered on a smile as we followed her mother toward the sound of voices.