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 of the top five music academies in the

across her face. “Kelly went to Bell University? How come

snort and gave

you haven’t

was being

frown deepened. “Sharon, who is this guy? Why is he so obnoxious? No one even said

lapdogs. You

the irritation vanishing from

Chapter 9

+25 BONUS

but before he could fire back, Sharon gave him

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

everything that had just

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

“Be nice. He’s clearly not used to

expression shifted, each 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

gets nothing. Well, he’s pitiful enough–I won’t bother lowering myself to his

a small nod

might crack. He

buddies glanced around at each

“Man, those two women

sentence froze

as their words were…

a

guy caught on quick and jumped in. “No, no–Nate isn’t a simp! He’s… he’s like a knight.

others latched on fast. “Yeah, totally! A protector! Guardian of the

voice broke the

what are you doing out here instead of

a man and

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

saw them, his whole face

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

who I just saw. Sharon! She’s actually here. And get this, she was saying she

too free these days. Nothing better to do but fool around. She used to

that has no sense of duty or virtue–you