Side Chick Era... Over

Loving Mom 9

Chapter 9

Sharon turned her head and saw a young man approaching with a few rowdy friends in tow. He walked with the kind of swagger that came from never being challenged–arrogant, untamed, and always playing to an audience.

She recognized him instantly.

Nate Hendricks. One of Carter’s bros, and one of Kelly’s many.

orbiters.

From the very beginning of Sharon’s relationship with Carter, Nate had looked down on her–mocking her at every turn, never missing a chance to sneer. After Kelly came back, he was the most eager to stir things up, practically acting as Kelly’s personal messenger.

If Kelly so much as sneezed, Nate would be the first to call Carter, urging him to rush over. He’d even told Sharon more than once that she should step aside and make room for Kelly.

Now, he stood in front of her, a smirk tugging at his lips, eyes gleaming with ridicule.

“Well, welk Shouldn’t a housewife be home learning how to be a good little full–time wife–how to keep her man from straying? What are you doing here, showing your face in public? That’s not exactly the mark of a good housewife.”

Sharon could host a formal dinner or make a perfect bowl of soup–graceful in the parlor, capable in the kitchen. She was so flawless that it was almost irritating.

Once Nate found out, he’d slapped a nickname on her-“Housewife.”

And from that point on, everyone in Carter’s circle followed suit. Whenever they saw her, they called her that.

His tone now was deliberately grating, his posture smug. Wendy’s brows drew together in a frown.

Sharon’s expression chilled.

Nate, far from backing off, let out a low whistle and looked at her with mock alarm.

“Oh no, don’t tell me you’re mad again? Come on, Housewife. Don’t tell me you can’t even take a joke?”

His buddies jumped in immediately.

“Yeah, seriously. You’re Carter’s wife–you’re supposed to be gracious. Don’t be so petty, you’re making him look bad!”

“And really, Nate’s not wrong. You are just a housewife, aren’t you? Taking care of the husband and kid.”

“Exactly! How could someone like you even compare to Kelly? She graduated from Bell University!”

it’d blow your

toward Sharon, surprise flickering across her face. “Kelly went to Bell University? How come I’ve never even

let out a snort and gave

there you

he was being

even said a word to him, and he just inserted himself into

Kelly’s lapdogs. You can call

Wendy said, feigning sudden realization, the irritation vanishing from her face. “Well, that explains it. No wonder he’s so gross.

Chapter 9

+25 BONUS

but before he could fire back, Sharon gave him

just teasing. Don’t tell me

over everything that had just happened, caught Sharon’s tone and

handle a little ribbing That’s so weak. Makes

He’s clearly not used to the real world. Let’s not stoop to

could tell now–they were being called out. Their words from earlier were being thrown

lapdog gets nothing. Well, he’s pitiful enough–I won’t bother lowering myself to his level. Come on, Sharon, let’s go. I’ll take you

nod and turned to

might crack. He stared after them like he’d just

glanced around at

out a dry chuckle, trying to recover the moment. “Man, those two women must be tired of

froze on his

yeah. Harsh as their words were… weren’t they

a bit

a simp! He’s… he’s like a knight. A

fast. “Yeah, totally!

then, a soft voice broke

are you doing out here instead of going into

turned around and saw a man and a woman

a calm kind of arrogance. The woman

moment Nate saw them, his whole face lit

already rising with drama. He began spinning his version of events, accusing Sharon

believe who I just saw. Sharon! She’s actually here. And get this, she was saying she came out to have fun.

but fool around. She used to make one medicinal meal a day for Kelly at the very least, it should’ve been

has no sense of duty or