Chapter b3 /b

Madison covered her mouth giggling and rolled her eyes at the guy:[]

“Dude, shut up! What if his boring–ass wife hears and force–feeds you another diaper?”

Everyone immediately got nasty:

“Who cares if she hears? Yesterday I wanted to go off on her but didn’t wanna make Tyler look bad. Some foster kid nobody thinks she’s good enough for him?“[]

“Right? And she’s all proud about ‘saving‘ Tyler’s business deal. Like he needs her?]

Tyler’s got serious connections he doesn’t need some desperate wannabe ying savior.“[]

“For real! We used to have so much fun before she came along.

Tyler, just dump her and hook up with Madison already.]]

Why let some random chick ruin a good thing?“]

“Hold up, didn’t Sophie say she has some brother overseas? Never said what he does though.“[]

Madison wrapped herself around Tyler’s arm all fake–sweet:]]

“Girl’s probably making shit up. Everyone’s a ‘business owner‘ these days.[]

Her brother’s probably flipping burgers somewhere–‘international CEO‘ my ass! Haha!“]]

“I don’t do fake like that, Did I brag when Tyler bought me that sick new car? Three mil, but whatever, it’s real.“[]

“Don’t say I don’t help you keep the missus happy–here, give these free socks to Sophie when you get home. You know, like usual.”

Those words felt like a punch to the gut.]]

Four years married.[]

Tyler had never once actually followed through on our anniversary ns.[]

Every damn time we were about to go out, Madison would call–she was b“/bdying” from a cold or twisted her ankle.[]

Tyler would bail on me instantly, then show bup /bter with some random gift.[]

I used to try being cool about their friendship.[]

Madison would tell everyone how “understanding” I was about Tyler making it bup /bto me.[]

Turns out his sorry–gifts bwere /bliterally Madison’s bfreebies /bshe bdidn’t /bwant.[b] /b

24

Madison went into the fitting room, and within seconds she tossed her bra right at Tyler’s face through the curtain, yelling:[]

“Daddy can’t get this shit on! Get in here and help me before I fucking freeze!“]]

Everyone started cracking up:[]

“Bro, Madison already called it when we got here–whatever she tries on today, you’re her personal dresser.“]

“Hell yeah! Didn’t she say she’d give you the ‘full package‘ yesterday? Tyler, go get yours!“]

“You guys are so stupid,” Tylerughed, but he was already heading for the fitting room.]

When the door cracked open, I caught a glimpse of Madison’s bare skin.[]

Tyler basically threw himself inside and mmed the door shut, like he was protecting her modesty or something.

Madison’s voice came through the door all breathy:[]

“Stop being a perv and hook this thing up right!”

“Wait, you smell different. What perfume is that? That’s not what you had on yesterday.“]

Everyone lost their minds hearing that, whooping like idiots.[]

The sales girl looked like she wanted to disappear–probably never seen people this shameless.]

Caleb was about to march over there and catch them red–handed, but I grabbed his arm.b[/bb] /b

My voice was barely steady:[]

“Caleb, those cameras record sound too, right?“||]

He nodded:

“Top–shelf security system. Gets everything.“]]

I clenched my jawb, /bbut the tears came anyway.]b] /b

Tyler, you better not regret this shit.]

At checkout, bthe /bsales girl blushed and pulled out a raffle box:[]

“Hi! Since it’s our grand opening, just pick a question and answer it to bget /bany item in the store for bfree/bb./b“]

Tyler didn’t need the money, but Madison was all excited about it, so he let her y.[]

“What are the two most touching things someone has ever done for you?b” /bbthe /bsales girl read out.]

Madison suddenly got all soft and looked at Tyler:[]

“First thing–the night his wife had her stomach bsurgery/b, I told him I was lonely and he dropped everythingb. /bGot to my ce in (en minutes band /bstayed all night.“[]

bPure /bFriendlyfolds & bT /b

My chest felt like it was caving in.[]

That night I was on that freezing operating table, scared out of my mind and in so much pain I could barely breathe. Couldn’t reach Tyler anywhere.[]

The client’s wife was the one who stayed with me, holding my hand the whole time.[]

“Second thing, and this one really gets me–I said I wanted to be a daddy, so even though he has fertility issues, he made his wife go through all those painful hormone shots just so she could have our baby.“[]

For a second, I thought I was hallucinating.]]

Everyone else looked shocked too, staring at Tyler:[]

“Dude… you’re talking about Tyler, right?“[]

Tyler just shrugged:]

“Yeah, so what?”

“Holy shit, you’re ride or die! But if you already had a kid for Madison, why not just dump Sophieb?/bb“/b[]

Tyler was quiet for a minute, then messed up Madison’s hair:[]

“Taking care of a baby’s exhausting. Madison’s not tough like Sophie–she’s been delicate since we were kids. How could I put her through that?“]