Page 66 of Cursing My Cheating Husband

For about the millionth time, I thought how lucky I was to have a friend like Brie. I had come to this lunch totally spinning out, so worried about the implications of what Maddox’s thoughts had revealed. But Brie had such a calm and reasonable way of breaking things down. I felt so much more relaxed about the situation now.

The rest of our lunch passed with Brie giving me fascinating updates about her work, and the slow but meaningful progress her team was making on their test cases for establishing the legal rights of familiars among humans.

As we finished our meal and settled the check, I felt unburdened. The walk back to the convention center hotel was short and pleasant, the sun warm on my shoulders as we strolled down the stone path and chatted. When we reached the lobby, Brie and I paused just inside the entryway. I’d instructed Maddox to meet me here to pick up the bags from my morning shopping, but we were a few minutes early.

“Feeling optimistic about today?” Brie asked, gesturing toward the convention center wing.

“I am,” I said, and I was pleased that it felt so genuine.

But suddenly, I heard a derisive female voice behind me. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the wife.”

I turned and was shocked to find myself face-to-face with someone I had previously only ever seen completely nude.

In her sexts to my ex-husband.

Gwen grinned at me with malevolent delight. “I’m so happy to meet you, Callie. I know your husband very well. We’ve been fucking and laughing at you behind your back for years.”

CHAPTER 28

MADDOX

Callie had instructed me to meet her in the hotel lobby at 1:15 sharp, and I strolled there with a spring in my step.

This morning, she hadn’t been completely cold to me before she left the room! Thanks to that ever-so-slight thaw, I had spent the last several hours in a state of utter bliss. I couldn’t stop reliving the details of eating that divine pussy of hers, and dreaming of it possibly happening again tonight. And could I be so lucky that it would even continue when we get home?

But as I reached the far end of the expansive hotel lobby, what I saw shattered my optimistic mood.

Callie and her friend Brie, finishing their post-lunch conversation, were waiting for me at the entryway.

And then, of all people to enter through the front doors—Gwen!

My mind rejected it at first. It couldn’t be her. It must be a lookalike. Plus, Gwen had made it abundantly clear she despised witches and wouldn’t be caught dead in Nightshade Cove. It had to be someone else.

Still… I quickened my pace across the lobby.

And then I saw Gwen notice Callie and step toward her, as a diabolical Cheshire cat grin twisted her face.

That evil, toothy smile was unmistakably Gwen’s.

Oh no. Oh fuck no. I broke into a full sprint.

I was in the midst of them in seconds, coming into earshot just in time to hear Gwen’s taunt. “We’ve been fucking and laughing at you behind your back for years.”

I put myself immediately in front of Gwen, blocking her view of Callie. “Gwen! What are you doing here? Are you following me now?”

“Ha! Please, Maddox. You’re not worth the effort. This is a work trip.” She scowled. “My stupid company decided to have our annual meeting here, so I’m stuck having to deal with all these filthy fucking witches for the weekend.”

I trembled with rage to hear her speak of Callie that way. “Watch your mouth, Gwen. No one wants to hear your bigoted bullshit.”

“Fine.” She leaned around me, eyeing Callie. “But maybe the wife would like to hear more about our time together? Like how right now, she’s on a trip you wanted to take me on! Did he tell you that, honey? The last time I saw him, he asked me to go away with him to Nightshade Cove for a weekend!”

I hadn’t been serious! I had only been trying to distract her from my non-functioning dick! Though that wasn’t much better. “That’s not exactly true…” I said hurriedly, turning to Callie.

“Not exactly true,” Gwen sneered. “Hear that qualifier? He doesn’t even try to deny it!”

“Gwen, walk away now, or I swear⁠—”

“Swear you’ll what?” Gwen sneered. “Beat a woman in the middle of this lobby? We both know you’re too much of a limp dick for that.”