On to burger and better things!

I discovered my partner with a McFloozy. And I couldn’t believe who it was…By Chardell Williams, 30

I stared at my colleague Summer’s stomach as she stretched up to grab a bag of buns from the shelf. Either she was pregnant, or she’d used her staff discount on the burgers a little too often recently.

We worked at McDonald’s together, but hadn’t spoken much. As a working mother of one, I didn’t have time for socialising.

But if she was pregnant, we now had something in common — I had a second on the way, with my partner Brett.

We’d recently got back together after a rough patch. He’d cheated on me and we’d gone our separate ways. But when I started dating, he wanted me back.

He begged for another chance and promised he’d never do it again, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

A couple of weeks later, Summer announced her pregnancy.

‘Congratulations,’ I said. ‘I’m pregnant too.’

Her eyes lit up.

‘Amazing,’ she said. ‘It will be nice to have someone to compare notes with.’

We chatted all the time after that, and by the time Summer went on maternity leave, we were good friends.

Three months after Summer gave birth, I had my son. Brett was thrilled.

‘He’s perfect,’ he said.

In time, Summer and I started going on days out together and I opened up about my problems with Brett.

‘He hasn’t always been there for me,’ I told her. ‘And he’s cheated in the past.’

‘I know the type too well,’ she said.

It wasn’t long until I fell pregnant again. It was a shock, but Brett and I had always spoken about having a big family, so I was happy.

Summer was there to support me through my pregnancy. But as our friendship grew stronger, my relationship with Brett hit the rocks again.

He started ignoring my calls and messages, and I could go days without hearing from him.

‘He only bothers about me and the kids when he feels like it,’ I moaned to Summer.

‘The father of my children is the same,’ she said. ‘I know how hard it can be.’

It was nice to have someone who understood.

Then one day, Summer and I were shopping together when I suggested we go and say hello to Brett.

‘He works in this shopping centre as a security guard,’ I told her.

‘It would be good to put a face to the name,’ she said. When we found Brett, I introduced them.

‘I’ve heard a lot about you,’ Summer told him.

‘Likewise,’ he replied.

They seemed to get on well.

‘He’s not that bad,’ Summer said, once we’d left him.

‘Don’t let him fool you,’ I said.

In time, I gave birth to a daughter. But Brett’s behaviour only got worse.

One day he blocked my number.

‘What if I need to speak to him about the kids?’ I said to Summer.

‘I’ll call him,’ she said. ‘What’s his number?’

I gave it to her and she persuaded him to unblock me.

‘How did you manage that?’ I asked.

‘I’m good at getting what I want,’ she replied.

After that, Summer acted as a mediator between us. Whenever we fell out, she’d help us to reconcile.

Then one day, she sent me a screenshot of Brett with his top off from his Instagram account.

Why’s he posting pictures like this? she wrote.

I didn’t realise they were following each other, but thought nothing of it.

Another time, I messaged her to see where she was.

Just at Costco with Brett, she replied.

I thought it was weird, but I trusted her completely.

Then one night, Brett and I were arguing after I’d had a go at him for being out again.

‘You’re just jealous because you’ve got no friends to go out with,’ he said viciously.

‘I’ve got Summer,’ I said. ‘She’s a great friend to me.’

He laughed.

‘She’s not your friend,’ he said.

‘What makes you say that?’ I asked.

‘Just trust me,’ he said. ‘She’s not who you think she is.’

His words made me uneasy.

A few weeks later, I threw a party for my daughter. I invited Summer, who’d recently set up a baking business.

‘Can I buy some brownies from you for the party?’ I asked.

‘Of course,’ she said. ‘I could do with the money.’

On the day, I asked Brett to go and pick them up. He was gone for ages, and when he got back he told me Summer had given him the brownies for free.

‘Why would she do that?’ I asked. ‘She needs the cash.’

‘I don’t know,’ he said with a shrug.

Later, when Summer was at the party, I watched her and Brett closely. They were stuck together like glue.

A couple of days later, I spoke to Summer about it.

‘I want you to stop speaking to Brett,’ I said. ‘It’s making me uncomfortable.’

She looked hurt.

‘Do you actually think I’d do something like that to you?’ she asked.

‘No,’ I replied. ‘But I’d prefer it if you didn’t speak.’

She agreed to block him, which was a relief as I didn’t want our friendship to sour.

But my relationship with Brett got no better. One day I’d had enough and told him I wanted a break.

During this time, I agreed to go on a date with someone else, which I told Summer about.

‘Brett would flip if he found out,’ she said.

‘He doesn’t have to know,’ I replied.

But a couple of weeks later, Brett called me.

‘Why the hell are you going on dates?’ he demanded.

I knew immediately who’d told him — the only person who knew was Summer.

‘I see you and Summer are still talking then,’ I said.

‘We never stopped talking,’ he said. ‘We met up in the park yesterday.’

I called Summer straightaway.

‘Why are you still talking to Brett?’ I demanded.

‘We’re friends,’ she said. ‘Why should I stop speaking to him just because you don’t like it?’

‘Because you’re meant to be my friend,’ I replied. ‘You only know him because of me.’

She refused to stop speaking to him, so I distanced myself from her.

Then a couple of weeks later, Brett sent me a text.

I need to get this off my chest, he wrote. Summer and I have feelings for each other.

My heart sank. Deep down I’d known, but it didn’t make it any easier.

I called Summer in order to confirm it.

‘Brett said you have feelings for each other,’ I said. ‘Is it true?’

‘I’m afraid so,’ she said. ‘These things happen.’

There was no apology.

‘Not when you’re true friends,’ I said, hanging up.

When I spoke to Brett a couple of weeks later, he confirmed they’d slept together.

‘She was my friend,’ I said. ‘How could you both do that to me?’

I spent the next couple of weeks wallowing in pity, hurt by their betrayal.

But my hurt soon turned to anger and, in a bid to get revenge on Summer, I started to sleep with Brett to get back at her.

But the satisfaction it gave me was only temporary, so I ended things with Brett for good.

‘I deserve better,’ I told him.

Then at our daughter’s birthday party, he had the audacity to turn up with Summer and her kids.

My jaw hit the floor.

‘Is she for real?’ I asked my friend.

Not wanting to upset my children, I didn’t make a fuss. But my blood was boiling.

Then she came over to me.

‘I’d like to clear the air,’ she said.

‘Why would I do that?’ I asked. ‘You’ve not even said sorry.’

‘Well, I am,’ she replied.

I burst out laughing.

‘No, you’re not,’ I said. ‘If you were, you wouldn’t be here rubbing it in my face.’

She left soon after that, and I hope I never have to see her again.

Now I’ve heard she’s pregnant, and good luck to them.

Looking back, I should have known something was going on. But never in a million years did I think she would do that to me.