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!”

Bell University? Ha! That’s ‘cause it’d blow your mind–it’s one of the top five

“Kelly went to Bell University? How come I’ve never even

snort and

a whole world out there you haven’t even seen, sweetheart. Try getting out

was being rude–after just

No one even said a word to him, and he just inserted himself into

of Kelly’s lapdogs. You can call

he’s her simp,” Wendy said, feigning sudden realization, the irritation vanishing from her face. “Well,

Chapter 9

+25 BONUS

could fire back,

just teasing. Don’t tell me you’re the one who

everything that had just happened, caught Sharon’s tone

grown man who can’t handle a little ribbing That’s so weak. Makes all you guys

not used to the real world. Let’s

tell now–they were being called out. Their words from earlier were being thrown right back in

Well, he’s pitiful enough–I won’t bother lowering myself

a small nod and turned

tight it looked like it might crack. He stared after them like he’d just swallowed something

glanced around

women must be tired of living. Calling Nate a simp? No way! Nate’s definitely not some simp,

froze on

their words were… weren’t

seem a

guy caught on quick and jumped in. “No, no–Nate isn’t a

latched on fast. “Yeah, totally! A protector!

voice

what are you doing out here instead

man and a woman

tall, handsome, with a calm kind of arrogance. The woman beside him was delicate, lovely–fragile, almost.

moment Nate saw them,

quickly over, falling into step beside them, voice already rising with drama. He

this, she was saying she came out to have fun. Just imagine that–running around like this instead

days. Nothing better to do but fool around. She used to make one medicinal meal a day for Kelly at the very

like that has no sense