Chapter 1

During a game of Truth or Dare, my husband's female best friend blew out a cloud of smoke and said, "Back in the day, Adam and I swore brotherhood with our pubic hairs tied together."

Seeing my dark expression, she turned to me. "I guess you're my daughter-in-law now. What's wrong, Elena? Got a problem?"

*****

The private room went dead silent.

I shot Rachel West a cold look. "Who are you calling daughter-in-law?"

Rachel rolled her eyes. "When Adam and I played house as children, I was the father and Adam was the son. You're his wife, so of course you're my daughter-in-law, right?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

Rachel turned to Adam. "So, tell me, son, does Daddy know best or what?"

Adam quickly put on a smile. "Yeah, whatever you say, boss."

I laughed. "One minute you're his dad, the next you're the boss. You two have the most tangled relationship ever. Let me call Adam's dad and double-check."

Adam and Rachel's faces fell at the same time.

Rachel slammed her glass down on the table. "Seriously, are you looking for trouble or what?"

Adam tugged at my arm, his voice a bit tense. "Elena, don't make a scene. Rachel's my buddy and we're just messing around. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of it?"

I gave them a puzzled look. "What's the matter? Did I mess up your little father-son moment?"

At that, Rachel grabbed a bottle from the table and pointed it at me.

She said, "Don't think because you're Adam's wife, I'm gonna put up with your crap.

"I don't have to do shit for you."

I grabbed a bottle too. "Don't think just because you run your mouth, you're all that."

I raised my hand and smashed the bottle down hard.

Unfortunately, I missed. Adam jumped in and stopped it.

His arm was slashed by the broken glass.

But he didn't care about it, simply kept Rachel safe behind him.

Adam called out, "Rachel, are you okay?"

Then he turned to me. "Elena, are you out of your mind? Do you realize you could get arrested for that?"

I put on my most innocent face. "It didn't hit anyone."

"If we're going by your logic, she tried to hit me first. Doesn't that make her the real criminal here?"

Adam was left speechless.

Rachel clicked her tongue, pointing at the blood on Adam's arm. "You call that not hitting anyone? He's bleeding. Are you blind?"

I kept up my innocent act. "It's just some family drama. What's it got to do with you?

"Besides, we're all joking around here. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

Rachel glared at me, but all that fury from before was gone.

She definitely didn't expect that her tough act didn't scare me one bit, and I went straight up against her.

Adam seemed to realize I wasn't backing down, so he eased up and said, "It's a little cut, nothing to worry about."

I flashed a smile. "Good, otherwise I was afraid your buddy-slash-dad-slash-boss would totally give me hell."

With that, I tossed the half-broken bottle into the trash. "This is boring. I'm going home.

"Adam, are you coming with me, or are you gonna keep playing the father-son game here?"

Adam looked a little embarrassed. "Elena, you really need to pick your moments to make a scene."

I said, "Oh, so you're gonna stay here with your buddy-slash-dad-slash-boss, huh?"

Adam clearly didn't want to leave, but Rachel tossed his jacket at him.

She said, "Alright, you two, go home. Otherwise, she's gonna start something again. We're not here to babysit your wife for you."

She glanced around at the others out of the corner of her eye. "See? This is exactly why I don't hang out with girls. They kill the mood every time."

That one line made some of the others in the room look a little irritated.

However, I smile, "Yeah, I just love messing with scumbags and bitches."

Rachel's smile vanished.

She snatched up her jacket from the seat. "I'm heading home too. Adam, you're giving your 'dad' a ride home first."

"Alright," Adam said, shooting me a guilty look.

Rachel smiled smugly at me, then turned and walked away.

When we got to the car, Adam yanked open the passenger door and, without a second thought, tossed my bag from the front seat to the back.

"Shotgun's mine," Rachel declared.

Adam looked torn.

Rachel gave him a sharp warning glare.

Adam caved, "Alright."

"Elena, we hardly ever give Rachel a lift. Let her take shotgun this time, okay?" Adam said.

"Fine, I'll just grab a cab," I said.

"Seriously, Elena? It's just the front seat. Are you also throwing a fit over this?" Adam said.

Rachel, already settled in the front seat, was getting impatient. "Yo, where's the driver? Are you gonna make your daddy wait all day, dumbass?"

Adam hurried to get in the car.

He rolled down the window. "You're really not coming?"

I turned and walked away.

Adam called out behind me, sounding a little helpless. "Suit yourself, Elena. If you don't wanna ride with me, I can't force you."

*****

After I got home, I washed up, slapped on a face mask, and binged some TV. Adam didn't show up until much later.

Adam broke the silence, clearly annoyed. "I just went to the hospital to get my arm bandaged. That's all. Don't read too much into it."

"Why are you acting so defensive?" I shot back.

Adam's face darkened.

"Elena, I got hurt because of you. Not only do you not care, you go straight to blaming me. Seriously, is that what a wife's supposed to do?" he said.

I shot back, "Then why don't you trade me in for a new wife? Your girl buddy seems like a real catch.

"And for the record, I wasn't aiming for you. You jumped in yourself. How is that my fault?"