Chapter b1 /b

I was changing my daughter’s diaper when my husband’s girl bestie suddenlyughed and smacked his ass.

“Tylerb, /bthe baby’s definitely yours–look at that little birthmark! Same spot as daddy’s!“]]

Ipletely froze. Um, excuse me?

How the hell would she know about my husband’s birthmark down there?

Like she wanted to make sure bI /bcaught that, she kept giggling:

“Oh yeah, iI /ionly noticed it that night when you were having surgery.]

Tyler and I were in the bath and I thought it was like dirt or whatever–kept trying to scrub it off him for the longest time!“[]

“But don’t worry babe, we’re just friends who help each other wash up sometimes.]

Totally tonic! Otherwise you never would’ve gotten to pop out his babies, right?“]

After a weird silence, Tyler Stevens helplessly grabbed Madison’s face:

“Oh, so now you’re gonnain? You scrubbed like you were trying to take skin off.”

Madison straight up licked his wrist and grinned:]

my

“Okay okay, Mom’ll be more gentle next time. Promise I’ll take real good care of you–nice and easy-“]

Everyone else cracked up while trying to exin to me:[]

“Soph, Mads has always been like one of the boys. We‘

all showered together since we were kids, just goofing around. It’s

totally normal for friends to know each other’s bodies–seriously, don’t read into it.“||

Ugh, if bI /bhad to hear thisme–ass excuse one more time.]

I felt sick. Humiliated. So fucking done.[]

So I grabbed the nasty diaper I’d just pulled off my daughter and smacked it right into Madison’s face.

By the time she figured out what happened, she had fresh baby shit smeared all over her mouth and cheeks.]

Madison shrieked and bolted to the bathroom. Tyler grabbed my arm:[]

“Sophie, what the fuck is your problem?!“]]

He red at me and ran after her.]

bI /bjust shrugged:

“What? I thought we were all just buddies here. Getting to know each other’s kids‘ dirty diapers is pretty normal too, right?”

Pure Friendshipb? /bThen bWhy’s /bthe Baby His? bEnjoy /bYour bCells/b. Soulmates!

b0.00 /b

Dead silence. Nobody had a damn thing to say to that.]

I looked toward the bathroom and felt my chest tighten.]]

Tyler was personally cleaning Madison up, no disgust on his face at all–just pure concern and worry.]]

When I was recovering from surgery and needed my bandages changed constantly, he wouldn’t evene within six feet of me.]]

Madison let Tyler gently wipe her face, her eyes all red and ring at me:[]

“Sophie, I already told you we’re just friends! What’s your deal?]

I’m like, super OCD about germs and stuff–how am I supposed to eat dinner now? I’m literally gonna be sick all night!“],

I blinked innocently:]

“Really? You’ll lick Tyler when he hasn’t even showered, but I figured you liked gross stuff. Just trying to be a good hostess with my daughter’s diaper.

Wait–so your germaphobia is selective?“]

Tyler finally snapped at me:]

“Sophie, enough! Madison threw up bile–that’s seriously bad for her body, okay? Apologize. Now!“]

She shows up at MY house, flirts with MY husband right in front of me, and I need to apologize?||

My eyes drifted to the chart on the wall–no title, just little checkmarks.

Tyler had asked me about it before. I never told him what it was.[]

Four years of marriage.[]

Every single time Tyler picked a fight with me over Madison, I’d make a mark.

Without even realizing it, I’d hit 99.

Today was number 100. The chart was full.]

I was so fucking done with this marriage.]

I said tly:

“I’m tired. Y’all can see yourselves out.”

Everyone’s faces immediately soured, and they got all passive–aggressive:]]

“Sophie, we literally just got here like twenty minutes ago. You’re seriously kicking us out?]

What, mad we didn’t bring gifts? We don’t do that fake shit between friends.“]

Tyler’s face went dark too:]

“Sophie, everyone came here to see byou /band the babyb, /band you won’t even cook dinner before telling them to leave?]

Are you trying to make me look like an ass? Madison would never bact /blike this–she’s a real friend…“]

The word “friend” was thest straw.

I grabbed my water ss and hurled it at his feet:[]

“YOU GET OUT TOO!”]]

I’d never blown up like that before. The whole room went dead silent.[]

Madison rolled her eyes and hooked her arm through Tyler’s with a smile:

“Whatever, if she doesn’t wanna cook, she doesn’t wanna cook. Let’s just bgrab /bsomething out.”

“0

“Sophie, Tyler and I are like, total tonic besties.

a

We’ve been bathing together since we were kids–it’s just a habit. That’s literally it. Otherwise you never would’ve gotten to have his babies.”

She started dragging Tyler toward the door:]

“Come on, let’s bounce. I swear Sophie always smells like baby shit anyway from all those diaper changes.”

“Keep wasting time here and I’m not gonna get my dinner! You don’t want me starving, do you?!“]

Everyone cracked up and followed Tyler and Madison out.]]

Probably because I wasn’t fully recovered from surgery and all the stress, I suddenly got hit with horrible stomach pain and high fever.

My phone rang. Tyler was calling–maybe feeling guilty I hadn’t eaten either, his voice was softer:]]

“Babe, what do you want for dinner? I’ll grab you something on my way back.“b[/bb] /b

I could barely speak through the pain:]

“My stomach’s killing meb. /bCan you take me to the hospital? Or juste home to watch the baby so I can drive myself…“[]

Before I could even finish, Tyler lost it:

“Sophie, are you fucking serious right now?

Madison couldn’t even eat because you grossed bher /bout so bad.]

I had to literally feed bher /bby hand just to get a few bites down, and now you’re faking sick to manipte me intoing home?”

????

“Why are married women always so paranoid? Am bI /bsupposed to ditch all my friends just because I have a wife?”

“If Madison and I were actually hooking up, you think you’d even be in the picture? This is ridiculous!“]

He hung up on me. I let out a weakugh.[]

I was about to call 911 when my phone rang again.[]

My brother’s cheerful voice:[]

“Sophie! Guess what–I’m flying back tomorrow! Surprise! How are you and Tyler doing?”

I caught my reflection in the window–pale as a ghost.[]

Right before I passed out, I whispered:[]

“Caleb, I want a divorce.“]

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