The Other Woman Was Me - Chapter 1: Chapter 1
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Felix rushed home just as I was opening an express package. My fingers froze when I saw the contents - a scandalous lace lingerie set that made my stomach twist. The accompanying card might as well have been a slap in the face:
[To my darling Debra: May your curves keep growing. Wear this and drive men wild! Love, Felix.]
Unbelievable. This was the same "just friends" girl Felix swore meant nothing to him.
He couldn't even meet my eyes, offering that same guilty grin I'd come to know too well. "Debra's birthday is tomorrow," he started, shifting his weight. "You know how hopeless she is with fashion. I just... threw something in the cart for her."
Like hell he did. This wasn't his first rodeo.
Last month it was crotchless panties. Before that, thigh-high stockings. Once, he'd even bought her tampons - the "ultra thin" kind with "easy glide applicators." Each "harmless" gift had sparked nuclear-level fights where Felix would trot out his greatest hits:
"Debra's basically one of the guys!"
"She's clueless about girl stuff!"
"God, why are you so insecure?"
The panties incident nearly ended us. His parents overheard our screaming match and tore into him. Felix played the wounded puppy - "We grew up together! She's like family!" - until I shoved photographic evidence in his face: Debra in a barely-there tank top, straddling some guy's lap, her chest practically smothering him.
He shut up real quick after that.
For about five minutes.
Our anniversary should've been perfect. Instead, Debra "suddenly" got cramps and needed Felix to rub her stomach. When I lost it, he shattered our wedding crystal against the wall. "You're pathetic!" he'd screamed. "No wonder you don't have friends!"
The shards still glittered on the floor as I ripped up our Arctic getaway tickets - his big "seven-year itch" promise turned to confetti. I went alone. The northern lights were beautiful. I cried the whole time.
Now here we were again, Felix waving restaurant brochures like a white flag. "Babe, there's this amazing new couples spot on Pineview - candlelit, private booths..." His voice dripped with fake enthusiasm.
"Which one?" I kept my tone flat.
"The one with the heart-shaped soufflés! Super romantic." He was practically gushing.
Translation: He'd already been. With her.
Debra's Instagram post flashed in my mind - Felix feeding her steak, her caption "Love bites" The same man who couldn't remember I liked my burgers medium-rare.
"Not hungry," I said.
Felix's mask slipped. "Jesus, Hailey! When are you gonna drop this?"
I tilted my head. "Is their chocolate lava cake good?"
"Best in town," he answered automatically.
"Who'd you share it with?"
The silence was louder than any door slam - and God knows he'd tested our hinges enough. When he finally grabbed the lingerie and stormed out, I almost laughed. That door deserved an award. After all these years of abuse, it still wouldn't break.
Unlike us.
[To my darling Debra: May your curves keep growing. Wear this and drive men wild! Love, Felix.]
Unbelievable. This was the same "just friends" girl Felix swore meant nothing to him.
He couldn't even meet my eyes, offering that same guilty grin I'd come to know too well. "Debra's birthday is tomorrow," he started, shifting his weight. "You know how hopeless she is with fashion. I just... threw something in the cart for her."
Like hell he did. This wasn't his first rodeo.
Last month it was crotchless panties. Before that, thigh-high stockings. Once, he'd even bought her tampons - the "ultra thin" kind with "easy glide applicators." Each "harmless" gift had sparked nuclear-level fights where Felix would trot out his greatest hits:
"Debra's basically one of the guys!"
"She's clueless about girl stuff!"
"God, why are you so insecure?"
The panties incident nearly ended us. His parents overheard our screaming match and tore into him. Felix played the wounded puppy - "We grew up together! She's like family!" - until I shoved photographic evidence in his face: Debra in a barely-there tank top, straddling some guy's lap, her chest practically smothering him.
He shut up real quick after that.
For about five minutes.
Our anniversary should've been perfect. Instead, Debra "suddenly" got cramps and needed Felix to rub her stomach. When I lost it, he shattered our wedding crystal against the wall. "You're pathetic!" he'd screamed. "No wonder you don't have friends!"
The shards still glittered on the floor as I ripped up our Arctic getaway tickets - his big "seven-year itch" promise turned to confetti. I went alone. The northern lights were beautiful. I cried the whole time.
Now here we were again, Felix waving restaurant brochures like a white flag. "Babe, there's this amazing new couples spot on Pineview - candlelit, private booths..." His voice dripped with fake enthusiasm.
"Which one?" I kept my tone flat.
"The one with the heart-shaped soufflés! Super romantic." He was practically gushing.
Translation: He'd already been. With her.
Debra's Instagram post flashed in my mind - Felix feeding her steak, her caption "Love bites" The same man who couldn't remember I liked my burgers medium-rare.
"Not hungry," I said.
Felix's mask slipped. "Jesus, Hailey! When are you gonna drop this?"
I tilted my head. "Is their chocolate lava cake good?"
"Best in town," he answered automatically.
"Who'd you share it with?"
The silence was louder than any door slam - and God knows he'd tested our hinges enough. When he finally grabbed the lingerie and stormed out, I almost laughed. That door deserved an award. After all these years of abuse, it still wouldn't break.
Unlike us.
End of The Other Woman Was Me Chapter 1. Continue reading Chapter 2 or return to The Other Woman Was Me book page.