Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

Before he could even process what was happening, he found himself speeding up, quickly catching up to her.

Athena was at the restaurant tonight for Doris's birthday dinner. Doris was her only real friend-missing this was not an option.

Besides, Athena had been holed up at home for days, obsessively staring at old photos, feeling as though the world was closing in on her.

But she had made a promise to Kerwin-a promise to keep living, no matter how

hard it got.

It was agony.

She reached for the door to the private dining room, but before she could enter, someone grabbed her wrist. When she turned around, she found Tyler standing there.

Tyler looked like he'd lost weight, his eyes hazy with the unmistakable blur of alcohol.

"It really is you..."

Athena didn't have any resentment toward him. Tyler wanted her body; she wanted the emotional comfort he provided. No one owed anyone anything.

"Yeah, Tyler, you-" she started, but before she could finish, Tyler leaned in and kissed her. He cradled her face, pressing her back against the wall, kissing her everywhere like a needy puppy.

Her back stung from the impact, his lips burning against hers, then trailing to her cheeks, her neck.

Worried someone might pass by, Athena quickly pushed him away. "You-"

But before she could finish, Tyler pulled her into the restroom next door.

"Athena, I missed you," he murmured.

He held her, settling her on the edge of the sink. Hands braced on either side of her, his eyes unfocused from the alcohol, but with a flicker of clarity.

walk in at

sighed and pushed him away gently. "Look, whatever you want

is

go in with

looked into her eyes, pulled her hands to his cheeks,

"Alright. But you can't cause

won't. I promise, I won't

when he was drunk-strangely obedient. For a moment, his temperament

She took his hand and

smile faded when she saw Athena arrive with

moved in the same circles, and everyone knew Tyler. He'd been seen with plenty of women before, but this

looks directed at Athena changed instantly. Some recognized her rumor

been blacklisted, so what was she doing here with

she'd explain, but there was no way she'd spill the details of

Anywhere Tyler went, the

quiet, leaning against Athena's shoulder, silent and

and then, Athena whispered if he wanted

a sloppy kiss on her cheek, and mumble something

he said, because he was always leaning

presence had

one had ever seen this side of him before Tyler was always the charming playboy, never the docile

too well-behaved.

to s

just stayed curled up against

and gently

a fever recently? How are you

didn't you wait until I was dead before you bothered to ask?" Tyler shot back, obviously still bitter. But Athena seemed softer now, and he didn't

hold onto her tonight-maybe they could go home together after. er be

so long