Bella
“It’s a one-story home in the same neighborhood your parents live in.” The realtor reads off the address and we agree to meet her there in fifteen minutes. At this point, I would agree to sign a lease to live in a cardboard box if it meant moving the heck out of my parents’ house. You know the saying, once you move out of your parents’ home you can’t ever move back? Well it’s true! Damn true! Listen to whoever tells it to you!
It’s been one week since I have been back in my childhood room under my parents’ roof and if I don’t get out of here soon, I just might kill my father. His hovering and protectiveness has grown to an entirely new level since he found out Marco is the father of Micaela. Every time I’m texting, he’s looking over my shoulder. He’s asked— no, suggested on numerous occasions I stay living here. He’s even asked me multiple times if I’m planning to have sex with Marco in the future! And when Marco and I decided to have dinner with his parents after Micaela’s checkup, he texted me thirty times asking me when I would be home.
Oh! And don’t get me started on the night Marco came over to visit with our daughter and we fell asleep on the couch…with our clothes on…and our baby in between us. You would think we were buck-naked and screwing right there in my parents’ living room, the way he yelled. He not only woke up Micaela but he woke up my brother and sister who thought something was wrong.
Like I said, I need to move out. I may have only been out from under his roof for two years but it was long enough that my wings cannot go back to being clipped. I need to soar on my own, especially if I want to keep the good relationship I have with my father.
Marco insisted on picking me up to check out the house since our cars haven’t been shipped back over yet, and I’m not supposed to drive for a couple of weeks after having a C-section. He still has his car here for when he visits his parents. Since he said the home we are looking at is close by, I left Micaela with my mom.
“Marco, these homes are expensive. I thought we were looking at apartments.”
“Please don’t worry about the money.” Marco gives me a look. We have argued over several of the apartments we have seen. I insisted on finding the places after Marco took us to see a penthouse condo on the top floor of downtown Vegas. Unfortunately, the ones I have found are so tiny, yet so expensive.
I never realized how much it costs to live in Vegas, and with me going to school full time, no longer on scholarship, there’s only so much I can contribute. I have my trust fund my dad set up for me years ago from when my grandfather died, but I am using it to go to school and would like to save whatever is left of it for the future. I’m planning to speak to my dad about maybe hiring me at the gym during the days and hours I’m not in school or training.
“I need to worry because I’m going to be contributing and I would rather not dip into my trust fund.” Marco just shakes his head. We pull up to the house and I see it’s only one street over from my parents’ house. It’s one of the smaller homes in the neighborhood but it’s beautiful. It is all brick and stone and has a huge white privacy fence. There’s no way we can afford this place.
Instead of arguing with Marco, I let the realtor show us around. It has three bedrooms, a den, a living room and family room, an off the kitchen dining room, and a huge back patio. The owners even built an outdoor kitchen out there. I can’t even imagine how much the rent is for the place.
“What do you think?” Marco asks.
“I think we should discuss this alone.” I glance toward the realtor not wanting to have this conversation in front of her.
“How about I let you two speak and I will wait for you outside?” She smiles brightly, leaving without waiting for an answer.
“Ok, so what do you think?” Marco asks again.
“I think we are both currently unemployed. I think I am a fulltime student, no longer on a scholarship. I think there’s no way we can afford this place unless I use the money my dad put away for me. Have you spoken to the UFC about your contract?”
Marco’s eyebrows furrow. “Bella, you are aware up until last year I spent the last eight years fighting in the UFC, right? I am completely undefeated and currently hold the championship belt. Until I was injured I was making enough from my sponsorships alone to afford this place.”
“Thanks for the recap,” I say dryly.
Marco chuckles. “I’m not trying to rub it in your face, Belles. One day you will be a fucking champion. You will have sponsors begging you to sign with them. My point is those fights add up, and since I moved to California, I lived with my cousin Mathias who I split the bills with. Then I rented my own place but was in rehab for most of the lease. I have plenty of money saved up and I don’t expect you to—or want you to—use the money your dad put away for you. What I need to know is if you like this place. Can you see yourself raising our daughter here?”
“Yes,” I blurt out.
“Ok, then.” Marco walks out the front door, with me trailing behind him. “We will take it,” he says to the realtor.
“Perfect! Since you are preapproved we can go over the down payment and all the other specifics. I think we can probably get the closing date set to the end of next month.”
Most of what she says goes over my head but I do understand ‘tend of next month’. Six more weeks of living under my dad’s roof. Ugh!
“What’s wrong?” Marco asks sounding concerned.
“Huh?”
“You made an ‘ugh’ sound. Is this house not what you want?” Hmm… I must have said that last part out loud.
“No, it is! It’s living under my dad’s roof for the next six weeks that I don’t want.” And even I can hear the whininess in my voice. Marco laughs. Laughs! Because he’s living with Hayley and Caleb who couldn’t care less what their son does, meanwhile my dad thinks in four weeks I’ll be turning twelve instead of twenty-one.
“Since I am planning to pay cash for the house and the pre-walkthrough has been done, can you please ask the owners, if they would mind us moving in early, like as soon as possible, since it’s empty anyway.”
“Cash?” The realtor and I say in unison.
“Wait, Marco! Are we renting or buying this place?”
“Buying. My dad looked at the price and details before we came to check it out. He said it will make a great investment for me.”
“I’ll call them right now!” The realtor pulls out her phone and walks a few feet away from us to call the owners. After a few minutes, she comes back with a huge smile on her face. “We are good to go.” She hands Marco the keys. “Let’s go to the office now to sign the appropriate paperwork and do the good faith deposit.”
“Sounds perfect!” Marco takes the keys from her then leans in close to my ear and says, “Welcome home, Belles,” which causes chills to spread throughout my body, making me visually shake. Marco sees my reaction and gives me a knowing smirk.