My Husband Cheated with My Bully

The party part 2

Willow dreaded coming to this place and knew it would be a disaster. It was clear the second she was stopped by the bouncer. The bouncer clearly looked down his nose at her and not Memphis, he dressed up well and looked like he fit in with other party goers.

She was surprised that Memphis defended her when uncle James came up, no one had done that. Uncle James had to deal with the company so he was left behind and they walked in the party. Willow immediately noticed her parents and left Memphis. She hated leaving him alone at a party like this but it had to be done. Willow quickly approached her parents.

“Mom, Dad,” Willow said getting her parents attention. Her mom went to give her a hug and her father had a smile on his face.

“Good to see you finally showed up to your uncles party,” her father dug in and she cringed.

“Well I wasn’t given much of a choice,” Willow commented bitterly.

“Is Knox here?” Her mother asked oblivious and it seems that dad hasn’t told her yet.

“No he couldn’t make it but,” Willow looked back and saw Memphis at the table talking with Regina.

“Is that Memphis? Knox’s brother?” Her father asked.

“Yeah he agreed to be my date since I didn’t have any one to come with.”

“Oh look there’s Mrs. Haffner I need to go speak with her. Her mother took off, her mother really never stayed with her at parties.

“I don’t like that man, and you don’t need to start seeing your husbands brother.” Her father looked his nose down at Memphis.

“And I don’t need my father manipulating me into coming to a party when I’m struggling dad. Your supposed to be my father, can’t you just help me?” Willow whispered furiously and held back in her tears. “By the way you only don’t like him cause he has tattoos, but he’s a good man that works hard, and sees his kid every chance his ex-wife will give him, if only we could all be so lucky.” Willow walked off and approached Memphis.

She barely had any time to talk to him when the Silverton’s and Rowan approached them. It was like her father’s party with just a different brother. The only difference was this time Memphis stood up for her. She was a little pissed that he revealed the affair and she didn’t know what repercussions that would have on Knox at work. It looks like she was going to have to talk to uncle James. Willow walked around looking for aunt Diane and Uncle James. She found aunt Diane first,

“Aunt Diane can you have Uncle James come inside to my room please?” Aunt Diane could tell something was wrong,

“Only Uncle James can fix it?” Willow nodded. Willow went up to her room and she sat down on the bed. Willow used to come here almost every day after school. She was so close to her aunt and uncle until everything blew up. Her bedroom was the same as she left it almost ten years ago. Uncle James came pretty quickly, the door was open and he walked through.

“What is it Willow tree?” Willow smiled at the nickname he used.

“I’m assuming my dad told you everything?” Uncle James sat down across from her on the bed with a nod and a sigh. When the two women became best friends in college so did the men when they started dating.

“Well it came out tonight that my husband who works for the Silverton’s was having an affair with his daughter. I need you to secure his job.”

“Why?” Uncle James asked and she sighed.

“Will you please just do this for me?” Willow asked unable to explain it to herself let alone her uncle.

“Only if you tell me why you pulled away from me.”

“I think it’s better if you ask my father,” Willow told her uncle, she didn’t want to have to tell him directly. It was too embarrassing.

“I’ve always asked him and he never knew.”

“He never did know. Uncle James-“ Willow was about to tell him when Memphis walked into the room.

“Hey!” He quickly read the room, “everything okay?” Willow nodded,

“Everything is fine.”

“She was just asking me to save your brothers job.” Uncle James said and Memphis looked a little ashamed,

“Yeah that’s my fault, that woman was making fun of Willow and your son wasn’t saying anything, and I may have gotten carried away.” Memphis said heatedly.

“Yeah I’m not happy with my son either.” Uncle James paused. “I like this one Willow, he’s better than his brother. Very well, I’ll save that pricks job this time, next time he won’t be so lucky,” Uncle James grabbed her hand. “Come on its time for dinner.”

“Please tell me it’s better than those appetizers out there?” Willow moaned and Memphis and James both laughed.

“I fought with your aunt on this one, we shall be having steak. She wanted some vegan nonsense.” Willow couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of her uncle eating vegan.

Willow found herself sitting next to her uncle James, while the Silverton’s were sitting far in the middle of the lawn. It was a slight, and by the looks of the entire parties faces they knew it and were not happy. Willow sent Memphis a text as she couldn’t talk freely.

Me: when we are done with dinner be careful around Rowan and the Silverton’s. James slighted them by the seating arrangement, they are unhappy.

Memphis checked his phone but looked confused. However, he didn’t comment on it and continued to charm everyone at the dinner table.

Willow was glad for his presence at the dinner table as her parents brought up a lot of painful memories for her. Uncle James told the story of how Rowan proposed to her when she was five and they had their first kiss. That they would make a perfect couple if only Rowan would stop dating that horrid woman. Willow tried to smile and nod, but the memories were painful. Rowan betrayed their friendship and never cared to mend it. To hear their parents continue on with this belief that they would just get back together was just absurd and completely disregarded how she was treated. Not to mention the fact that she was married!

Willow honestly wanted to kiss Memphis cause he was a saint. He tried to redirect the conversation, and every time he couldn’t Memphis would grab her hand in sympathy. It lasted all dinner and by the third course Willow had Memphis give up the effort with a shake of her head.

“Is it always like this?” He asked in a whisper.

“Yes,” she responded back. Memphis’s phone vibrated and he pulled it out and whatever was sent to him made him smile. He showed it to Willow and she smiled in return seeing a picture of Jackson and his mother both passed out on the couch.

“He’s such a sweet little boy,” Willow commented as dessert was being served.

“Oh chocolate mousse!” She said excitedly and the men at the table chuckled. Willow couldn’t help but blush.

“I made sure and had caterers served your favorite,” uncle James stated with a smile on his face.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile and dug in.

“Would you like mine? Memphis asked with a smile. Willow shook her head negative, it wasn’t proper etiquette. Memphis looked concerned, but she gave him a smile.

Willow was beyond relieved when Aunt Diane announced that it was time to move the party to the backyard again until it was time for fireworks. The two of them walked around the garden and talked.

“What did you mean about the Silverton’s being snubbed?”

“Well the social hierarchy is a complex and nasty situation to navigate. I’ll compare it to working at the plant. There’s the plant manager who is my Uncle James. He runs the show, then there are the assistant plant managers like the Silverton’s, they like to think they are in charge but they really aren’t.” The whole situation seemed to click for Memphis.

“So when the Silverton’s daughter put you down in public James showed them who was really in charge.” Willow nodded smiling at him.

“You also got some points from James for standing up for me. While my dad isn’t a assistant plant manger, he’s working his way up from a supervisor. That party he went to a few weeks ago opened up a lot of doors for him,” Willow stated. Memphis clearly thought about it for awhile as it slowly got darker. They continued walking and talking until the first of the fireworks light up the sky. Aunt Diane had blankets piled up so Willow grabbed one and they laid down looking up at fireworks like up the sky. The fireworks lasted about an hour and each of them pointed out their favorite ones. It would have been a magical night to share with Knox if he wasn’t a cheating jerk. This was just as nice she thought as Memphis put his arm around her shoulder.

When the fireworks were over the party continued, but Willow was over the party. Everyone was drinking, Memphis had a beer or two himself. He stopped drinking, but everyone continued to drink and this is when things started to get unpredictable. Willow decided to find her parents to say goodbye. She found her father who handed her two checks when she hugged.

They walked to valet and waited for his SUV to come into view. Memphis helped her into the car and they took off.

“So was the night worth of?” Memphis asked as he had seen the exchange. Willow looked at the checks, her father gave her five thousand while her uncle James gave her a fifty thousand check. Willow was beyond shocked.

“Well I can safely say I can buy out your brother of the house now.”

“You offered to buy him out of the mortgage and he’s been running his mouth saying you’ve been f*****g him?” Memphis asked shocked. Willow nodded,

“Yeah he definitely isn’t the man I met in college.” Memphis was silent for a moment,

“All I can say is I definitely wish I met you first.” Willow warmed at that comment and the ride was mostly silent on the way back, but it wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable. It was nice, the whole evening with Memphis was nice.

Memphis pulled up at her drive way and turned of the ignition.

“Thank you for taking me tonight, I really appreciate it,” Willow said with a smile.

“No problem, I had fun,” Memphis said with a smile of his own. Willow laughed shaking her head,

“No you didn’t.” Memphis laughed along with her,

“No I really didn’t. But the company was nice.” Willow went to open the car door, and hesitated. “What?” It took all of Willow’s courage to ask,

“Do you want to come in?” Memphis looked shocked,

“Are you sure? Are you asking what I think you are asking?” Memphis stuttered a little. Willow’s face was on fire and she hurriedly got out of the car. She didn’t do this, Knox was literally the only man she had slept with. Memphis was way out of her league, and she was pregnant for Christ’s sake. He was just being nice. Willow didn’t know Memphis was following her until he caught up to her at her door.

“Willow wait!” He grabbed her hand,

“I’m sorry I’m an i***t, I don’t read social cues, and Knox was literally the only man I’ve ever slept with.” Her face couldn’t get any redder than it was right now and she was unable to look at him. Memphis took the keys from her and unlocked the door,

“Will, I wasn’t saying no. I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were asking.” Willow walking in the door to her house turned to him. and said,

“I know.” Memphis followed her and closed the door then bent to seal his lips with hers as he had been dying to do for so long.