Chapter 1 The Shitty Husbands Club #2
“Great, I would’ve fit right in.” I had dropped out of college after getting pregnant with Jesse.
Bryce had promised at some point I could go back and finish my degree.
But life got in the way. Plus, what would I do with a sociology degree as an account manager for a hotel management company?
I waved off the server, who came by with a plate of appetizers.
I couldn’t drink away my problems if I ate spicy noodle cups.
Cameron plucked a plastic cup full of pale noodles from the silver tray. “What’s with the food? You hate Thai food.”
“It’s Bryce’s favorite.” Everything about this night was Bryce’s favorite.
The guests, the attention, the color. Everything revolved around him.
I’m surprised he even invited me. Why did he?
I replayed the last couple of days for a hint to why.
Nothing stood out. No new hobbies or fad diets.
There was no way Bryce would do this for us, right?
Cameron followed my gaze to Bryce. “Why don’t you just leave him? He’s selfish, self-centered, and a narcissist, and you could do much better.”
I tore my gaze from the man I had promised to love through stupid hobbies and apparently infidelity.
“Can I put that in the divorce decree? That I deserve better?” I hadn’t told many people about Bryce’s affairs.
It was easier to hide them in the closet with the Christmas decorations and mismatched gloves and winter hats.
I doubted anyone would believe me anyway.
They all saw the perfect Bryce. The one who threw his wife an anniversary party.
The one who told everyone he was still in love with his wife.
Not the one who smelled like cheap perfume and sex on Thursday nights.
Cameron scoffed. “Yes, it’s called irreconcilable differences. Jesse isn’t a child anymore; he can handle his parents getting divorced. Besides, you aren’t getting any younger, girl. You need to get out there and find some fish before your watering hole dries up.”
“Wow, that was profound, thank you. You should put that on a T-shirt.” It always came down to age for women.
Apparently, somewhere on my body, there was a use-by date.
The magical date that meant I was useless to anyone I hadn’t given birth to.
And according to Jesse, my usefulness came down to washing his clothes and providing gas money.
Being a wife and mother should be rewarding, or at least that was what all the women’s magazines said.
I was still waiting. Waiting for the award that I’d done it right: been a good mom and wife.
“Well, the truth hurts sometimes.” Cameron set the half-eaten cup of noodles on the table.
“Don’t you and Mr. Wonderful have dinner reservations?” That was enough of Cameron’s truths for one night.
Cameron checked his watch. “Yes, we do. Matt got us a table at Kinkade’s. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. What else could go wrong tonight?”
“Careful what you wish for. Text me if you need anything.”
Cameron made his way over to this week’s Mr. Wonderful.
He had this incredible ability to fall in love every week.
He would glide into work on Mondays, bragging about the fabulous weekend he had spent on the North Shore.
Or the earth-shattering sex he had with the bartender of some club.
And when the earth-shattering sex stopped or the fabulous weekend became mundane, he moved on.
Something I had never learned to do. I just kept waiting.
Waiting for Bryce to be better, for Jesse to not need me, for something to make me happy again. A new job would have helped.
“May I buy the blushing bride a drink?”
I turned to see my best friend since the fourth grade, Kerri, holding a glass of champagne. “There isn’t enough booze in the bar to make this night better.”
“Well, here’s to trying.” Kerri clicked her glass to mine. “Looks like Paige went all out. A room at the Carlson Towers, Thai food, and an open bar. Who’s jumping out of the cake?”
This party had Paige written all over it. Paige was that friend we were all stuck with. “Hopefully not my mother.” Kerri and Sara were the only two friendly faces I saw in the crowd. “Who are all these people?”
“According to Paige, one hundred and twenty-five of your closest friends and family.” Kerri smiled. “I’m surprised you even showed up.”
“I didn’t have a choice. By the time I found out, all the invites had been sent.” That and Bryce had reminded me I had a duty to show up to his party. Sara, my friend since high school, pushed her way through the crowd.
“Christ, why did I think fucking spandex would be a good idea?” Sara pulled at her waist. “I feel like a sausage. Champagne makes me gassy. Hey, sweetie.” Sara hugged me.
“Thanks for coming.”
“So? Are we actually celebrating something worth celebrating?” Sara hinted.
I knew what she was getting at. I’d broken one of my cardinal rules and told her and Kerri about the job. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have to smile through the tears that threatened to fall. “I didn’t get the job.”
Sara frowned and touched my arm. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. Do you want me to slash Sam’s tires? Throw a brick through his window?”
I started to tell her yes and I would help.
But Bryce was now standing on a chair, clinking a knife to his glass. This was it. Time for Bryce to reveal the truth behind his party.
I just hoped I’d survive this one. The last one almost broke me.