happiness is a butterfly

jealous guy

By the time their party comes around, Cassie feels exhausted and rundown.

Her ideal evening would be a cosy blanket and uninterrupted sleep, the last thing she feels like doing is dressing up and spending time with people from high school. Still, the outfit Raphael helped her pick out fits her like a glove- it's short enough to show off her toned legs and low cut enough to highlight her bust.

She looks fucking hot.

She feels miserable though.

Nate takes one look at her outfit and frowns. He disapproves of such a revealing outfit- forever battling the side of him that likes to show off his wife as a pretty little doll, with the side of him that wants her locked away for no one else to see. Tonight angry, insecure Nate wants her concealed from the world, the thought of a young college boy without anywhere near as much baggage as him offering her a drink, or admiring her body, driving him insane.

Cassie wonders if Nate will ask her to change, and what she would do if he did. But he doesn't and she doesn't. She revels in this small act of defiance.

Marsha gushes when she sees her outfit, but even her compliments fall flat.

To add to her reluctance to attend the evening soiree, Harvey is incredibly cranky and clingy as she tries to settle him for the night. He had been like this all day, stuck to her like a little Koala bear, needing her to soothe him, to nurse him, to be in his view at all times. He had screamed the house down when she had left him napping with just Nate, whilst she started getting ready, and only stopped once she lay down beside them.

"He'll be fine once you leave." Marsha reassures her. "Have fun, live a little."

So she does. Or at least, she tries.

Her and Nate travel in complete silence in their Uber. She appreciates the quietness, already picturing the loudness at their destination. She hasn't been to a party in a while, she's not used to the sea of body and loud music anymore.

Nate takes her hand in his as they walk through the house, his strong vice claims his ownership over her for the party guest to see. A reminder that she is his, even when they may not like each other. His possessive hand, her flashy diamond ring, her sparkly N (and now H) charm- to anyone who looks their way, Cassie belongs to Nate.

The guestlist is mainly people that graduated with them, some home for the holidays, others never having left the county. There's some people from Lexi's grade, seniors cool enough to be seen with college kids, and a few scantily clad young sophomores who were invited along by some horny jocks hoping to get laid. It feels not that long ago that she was one of them.

She spots Kat and BB in one corner and makes it her mission to avoid them all night. Lexi is not with them, she's not sure if she will be joining since she had barely spoken with her sister since Christmas.

They settle in with a group of their friends, Nate's friends really, and Cassie barely pays attention to the conversation around her. Nate leaves to do his victory lap around the backyard, greeting his fanclub, revelling in his glory. He kisses her temple before leaving, she wonders if it's a sign his first drink has mellowed him out or if it's just another part of their perfect couple act.

"You look so fucking hot, Cass!" Some girl from cheer, Leah Harding, shrieks in her ear. "I can't believe you just had a baby and you look this good. Have you been working out?"

As Leah's posse nods and showers her with compliments, Cassie wonders how shocked they would be if she showed them her stretch marks, and cracked nipples, and dark circles, and split ends, and told them she barely has time to shower, or eat, let alone work out.