Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

Of course he was drunk. If he weren't, he'd never have said Bert should

apologize.

Bert popped open another bottle for Tyler, grinning. "You're not nearly drunk enough. Come on, have another."

Tyler opened his bleary eyes, then suddenly tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling.

"Bert, I visited her old high school, you know. Found out about her first love. Good-looking guy. But do you know what really matters?"

"What?"

"My nose. Right here."

He pointed at the bridge of his nose, his eyes still glazed over with confusion.

“He has a birthmark here just like Kerwin. Maybe that's why Athena was drawn to me, why she was ever kind to me. Isn't that pathetic?"

He kept saying it was laughable, but the pain in his eyes was so raw, it nearly spilled over.

Bert didn't know what to say. He'd never been in love like Tyler. At best, he'd see a pretty woman and want to have some fun, but once he actually got her, the appeal vanished.

You always want what you can't have. Once you do, you stop caring.

"Bert, it just hurts so damn much right here."

didn't have the patience for this. If Tyler weren't truly his friend, he'd have tossed him into the pool

"Tyler, have another drink."

don't want to. The more I drink, the

that, Tyler slumped over, as if he'd fallen

the couch to cover him, but noticed Tyler's eyelashes were damp. Had he really been crying again? Lately he was

got along with his family. After that surgery years ago, the doctors couldn't guarantee how long he'd live, so he'd always drifted

scripts he wrote were over-the-top melodramas he loved that kind of drama. He just never imagined one day it'd boomerang

middle of

shivering from the cold.

that birthmark removed. If I'd Teft it, maybe she wouldn't have

Now

glass of ice water on Tyler's face to snap him out of it,

himself, oblivious to

next day, his head was pounding, on

Athena bustling around in there flooding back-those moments had felt so peaceful,

the couch last night. When

any better? I hope I don't have to drive you to the

"I'm fine."

a glass of Bennitt mineral water, took a sip, and then, almost casually, asked, "Which set is Athena working

thinking

"Which set, Bert?"