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!”

your

flickering across her face. “Kelly went

snort and gave Wendy a dismissive

out there you haven’t even seen,

was being

“Sharon, who is this guy? Why is he so obnoxious? No one even said a word to him, and he just

“One of Kelly’s lapdogs. You can call him

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

Chapter 9

+25 BONUS

but before he could fire back, Sharon gave him a

now, Mr. Simp. I was just teasing. Don’t tell me

who’d been quietly fuming over everything that had just happened, caught Sharon’s tone and immediately

a little ribbing

He’s clearly not used to the real world.

tell now–they were being called out. Their words

pitiful enough–I won’t bother lowering myself to his level. Come on, Sharon, let’s go. I’ll take you somewhere

gave a small nod and turned to

so tight it looked like it might crack. He stared after

glanced around at each other,

trying to recover the moment. “Man, those two women must be tired of living. Calling

sentence froze on his

their words were… weren’t they also kind of

a bit like

in. “No, no–Nate isn’t a simp! He’s… he’s like a knight. A

“Yeah, totally! A protector! Guardian

voice broke

out here instead

turned around and saw a man and a woman slowly walking

a calm kind of arrogance. The woman beside

moment Nate saw them, his whole face lit

He began spinning his version of events, accusing Sharon of every sin he could

she came out to have fun.

better to do but fool around. She used to make one medicinal

that has no sense of duty or virtue–you