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 mind–it’s one

face. “Kelly went to

out a snort and gave Wendy

whole world out there you

he was being rude–after

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

“One of Kelly’s lapdogs. You

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

Chapter 9

+25 BONUS

but before he could fire back,

Mr. Simp. I was just teasing. Don’t tell me you’re the one

been quietly fuming over everything that had just happened, caught Sharon’s

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

used to the real

in their own way. Even the slowest among them could tell now–they were being called out. Their words from earlier were being thrown right back in their

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

a small nod and

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

around at

“Man, those two women must be tired of living. Calling Nate a simp? No way! Nate’s

sentence froze on

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

seem a bit

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

latched on fast. “Yeah, totally!

voice broke

what are you doing out here instead of going into the private

turned around and saw a man and a

tall, handsome, with a calm kind of arrogance. The woman beside him

moment Nate saw them, his whole face lit

step beside them, voice already rising with drama. He began spinning his version of events,

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

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

a woman like that has no sense of duty