part ten 😋
ExHusband!Price x f!reader
@rosiesghost we were totally on the same page with John and Nadia 🤭
“So, why did the two of you split up? John found someone younger?”
You nearly choke on your water, caught off guard by Nadia’s bluntness.
“Just teasing.” Nadia chuckles softly, taking another sip of her wine. “Younger than you? He’d ‘ave to rob a cradle.”
From the patio, the two of you watched John and the three children kick a football around in the backyard.
Your youngest struggled to keep up due to her age and size. John was quick to help by lifting her from under her armpits, helping her get a good kick in.
“Actually, it was you," you confess, a slight blush creeping up your cheeks. Nadia looks at you curiously.
"He wouldn't tell me where he was going when he would come here to visit you and Theo. I thought he was cheating."
Nadia almost frowns a bit, looking back to John and the kids. “And now that you know the truth?”
You sigh softly. “I don’t know… I still can’t move past you. I can’t stop thinking about John cheating on you, and abandoning you and Theo.”
Nadia sets her wine glass down on the table between the two of you. “John and I… We weren’t in love, you see.” She starts carefully. “We just had a drunken one night stand, and I fell pregnant with Theo… John proposed just to do the right thing, but it wasn’t what either one of us wanted.”
You sit quietly, absorbing her words. The revelation leaves you stunned. You had no idea...
"We were unhappy for a long time," Nadia continues, her gaze distant as if reliving those moments. "We talked about seeing other people for a while, but John said he couldn't bring himself to do it. Even though there were no feelings between us, he couldn't date around while married. And then he met you."
Nadia smiles to herself as she explains the situation to you. You glance over at John, memories of your first meeting flooding back. John kept insisting that he wasn’t right for you, that you should just forget about him.
Unaware of your eyes on him, John uses the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his face. You get a glimpse of his toned, hairy abdomen and that hint of a v-line that still lingers despite him getting softer with age.
“Can’t deny that he’s sexy, though.” Nadia murmurs, a low whistle escaping her lips.
You chuckle and nod in agreement.
The conversation lulls for a moment, both of you lost in your thoughts. The children’s laughter echoes from the yard, and you see Theo twirl your youngest around, her giggles filling the air.
"Do you ever regret it?" you ask quietly. "Leaving him, I mean."
Nadia pauses, considering your question.
"Sometimes. Not because there’s any feelings,” She explains briefly. “He was a good husband, though, and he’s a good father... But I know it was the right thing to do. We deserved to be happy, and so did Theo. And you deserve that, too."
You take a deep breath, feeling a weight lift off your shoulders. “You’re right.”
“I have a couple pregnancy tests under the sink in my bathroom.” Nadia mentions casually.
“I’m sorry?” You look at her incredulously.
Nadia gestures to your glass of water, with her wine glass.
The drive back to the rental for your last night before heading back to the states is quiet. The soft hum of the engine and the rhythmic sound of the tires on the road are the only sounds filling the car.
The children, exhausted from their last day with their big brother, are fast asleep in the back seat. Their heads bob slightly with each turn, tiny bodies relaxed in the safety of the car.
You glance over at John, his profile illuminated by the passing streetlights. He looks deep in thought, one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting casually on his knee.
After a few moments of comfortable silence, you gather your courage. "Nadia told me about your marriage to her... how it really was."
John's grip on the steering wheel tightens slightly, but he keeps his gaze on the road. "Yeah? What’d she say?
“She told me about how the two of you weren’t really together… just married for Theo’s sake.”
John nods, still watching the road.
“I wish you would have just told me.” You sigh. “I wish you would have trusted me with the truth. Trusted that I wouldn’t have judged you for that.”
“It wasn’t about trust,” John explains. “I just… I wanted our relationship to be about us, our future, not my past.”
You stare at John, frustration starting to resurface. "There is no future without a past, John. You can't just compartmentalize parts of your life and expect it not to affect everything else."
John glances at you, his expression conflicted as he rubs a hand over his mouth and beard. "I know. I fucked up, alright? I was scared. Scared that you'd see me differently, that you'd think less of me."
"John, I already see you differently because of the lies," you say softly, your voice trembling.
The silence in the car is heavy, the air thick with unspoken emotions. You can feel the distance between you widening, even as you sit mere inches apart.
John finally breaks the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I really am. I never meant to hurt you.”
You close your eyes, trying to steady your breathing. "I know you didn't. But it doesn't change the fact that you did."
John pulls into the driveway and parks the car. He turns to you, his blue eyes filled with regret. "I haven’t cheated. I haven’t abandoned my family. Yes, I hid things from you but I came clean.” John takes a deep breath. “How do we fix this?“
“I can’t talk about this right now.” You shake your head, turning to open the passenger door.
John stops you, his hand grabbing yours.
“We made a promise to each other to talk everything out, not fight.” John’s voice was stern as he locked eyes with you. “If you’re going to just walk away again… I’m going to take that as you wanting to end things for good.”
You turn to look at the children, still peacefully asleep in the back seat. The sight of them, so innocent and unaware of the turmoil around them.
"I want to fix this," you say quietly, turning back to John. “I want us to be together again, but-“
“Then we’ll be together again.” John insists.
“It’s not that simple…” You nearly whisper.
“It’s always been that simple with us.” The corners of John’s mouth twitch into a smile. “You found me at a bar and decided we’d be together. I took you on our first date and decided to make you my wife just a year later… It can be that simple. Just say the word, lovey, and I’m yours.”
You study John’s face for a moment. Everything he said is true, whether you want to believe it or not.
“I want us to be together again.” You confirm.
“You mean that?” John’s grin widens, his grip on your hand tightening slightly.
You nod, your own smile growing.
John moved to cup your face, leaning closer to plant a kiss to your lips, but you pull back.
“Wait- Before we get too far, have my own secret that I need to confess.”
John’s eyes flicker between yours, his expression shifting from elated to confused.
You reach into your bag and pull out a little blue-and-white box and hand it to him.
John studies it, then looks up to you.
“Y’r fuckin’ with me.” He mutters, eyes practically twinkling.
“You didn’t even look at it yet.” You roll your eyes playfully.
John tilts the box to the side, letting the pregnancy test slide out and fall into his hand.
“When did you take this? How long have you known?”
“I’ve had a feeling for a while… I took the test at Nadia’s.” You blush.
John tosses the test to the floor of the car and cups your face again, peppering you with kiss after kiss, murmuring a few I love you’s against your lips.
Your oldest, pretending to still be asleep, opens just one of his blue eyes and peeks at his parents giggling and kissing in the front seat.
He reaches his little arm out to gently shake your youngest awake.
“Kissies.” Your oldest whispers, pointing a finger to the front seat.
Your youngest’s little hands fly to cover her mouth, muffling an excited squeal.
