Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

Athena stepped out of the lounge and made her way to the curb, still trying to process what had just happened.

She and Doris were friends, but Athena had never heard a word about this before. Whenever Doris mentioned Tyler, it was always with a roll of the eyes and a laundry list of complaints-calling him a jerk, saying he was irresponsible with women, swearing up and down that he wasn't worth anyone's time. After Athena confided that she liked Tyler, Doris had pulled out all the stops to talk her out of it. Athena would have bet anything that those two would never get together.

She got into the waiting rideshare and told the driver to take her home.

Meanwhile, Tyler shoved the woman beside him away, suddenly stone-cold sober. "What are you doing?"

Doris, who'd acted on a drunken impulse, stared at him in shock, her mind going blank. She quickly wiped her mouth. "Sorry, I had too much to drink."

It was the truth—she was drunk enough to do something so reckless. Tyler was Athena's boyfriend now. Doris had thought she'd gotten over her old feelings long ago.

Tyler glared at her, scrubbing his mouth with the back of his hand in disgust.

"This can't get back to Athena. Go home."

Doris felt her heart sink. She'd always secretly liked Tyler, but whenever she talked about him to others, she'd exaggerated his flaws, hoping to keep other women away. When she realized Athena and Tyler might be a thing, she'd tried to convince herself to move on.

Yet here she was, doing the very thing she'd sworn she wouldn't.

Guilt warred with a strange sense of closure. At least, she thought, this could be the end of her years-long crush.

When she returned to the lounge and saw Athena was gone, she immediately asked around.

"Where's Athena?"

"You were out for, what, ten minutes? She left right after you, came back alone, said she wouldn't wait for Tyler and headed out."

Doris felt a wave of panic. Had Athena seen what happened? If she had, wouldn't she have confronted her-maybe even slapped her? Why would she just leave?

that Athena was gone, and immediately

a cab straight

were still on when he

intercom, saw it was him, and frowned.

turned

then he could deal with Doris. She had no intention of

just never

hot shower and went straight to

the hallway outside her

but tonight was different. A thunderstorm was raging outside, lighting flashing and rain hammering the windows. The draft in the hallway was icy, bowling through

was shivering uncontrollably, the chill sinking right through him. The weather had turned colder, and a wave of feverish heat washed over him

His voice was

twice more, but

knocked weakly, but there

go, he curled up on the

next morning either. Tyler's fever

and out of control, like he might collapse

night-she'd even seemed to soften toward him. Why did she shut him out again overnight? He

for his phone and called

tried calling him all night, but Tyler hadn't answered.

Bert sounded more annoyed

know how many times I called

come pick

"Where?"

place. I think I have a fever

you want me

won't let