Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 41 ~ Fun and a mess

ATHENA

"This is crazy. But fun." I giggle as the handsome stranger whose name I've learned is Zayan pulls on the reins, and the horse moves forward.

The sun is warm against my skin as the horse moves, my heart slows down and starts to beat normally, although I'm still very excited.

I feel... free.

For the first time in weeks, I feel something other than fear and awareness.

Alex sets my soul on fire, but I'm afraid of messing up around him. It feels like I constantly have to be perfect for him, and it's not who I am.

I'm messy, and I love being free. Even with a missing memory, I can tell my marriage is not one that was based on love.

"Not so bad, right?" Zayan whispers in my ear, pulling me back to reality.

"If we didn't have so many eyes on us. It would have been perfect." I taunt.

"I'll organize a private ride with you on our next date then." He teases, and I hold back a laugh knowing cameras are flashing.

That next date will only happen in his dreams, but I don't tell him that, knowing Alex would kill us before he lets me go on a date.

Speaking of which,

Is Alex watching me?

Does he care that I'm with another man?

I highly doubt that. I bet he's soaked in Leah's scent, and nothing else matters to him.

I glance around at the other riders, all moving in a perfect line, their horses stepping gracefully as though they've been trained to walk to music.

Still, I can't help but frown a little.

"Why are we moving so slow?" I whisper to Zayan, tilting my head slightly so only he can hear me.

He grins, glancing down at me like I've asked something innocent and amusing.

I shrug and give him the "I'm new" at this look.

"It's a parade," he says, as if that explains everything. "It's meant to show the

pride of horses — their beauty, strength, and discipline. So, we all move in sync. A perfect rhythm."

I look again, more closely this time.

And he's right.

The other pairs, some women, some men, some mixed like us, are all moving at the same pace, their horses lifting their legs with slow grace, as if dancing to the soft music floating around us.

There's something mesmerizing about it.

I've felt in forever. With

I say playfully, "a little speed

I like that he isn't

teases. "We'll pick up

horses at the far

in a rhythmic, almost hypnotic

nudges our horse gently, preparing to

feel the excitement building in me

But then-

The music cuts off.

Abruptly.

music to

sound

standing from their

ask quietly, feeling a strange tightness

shifts beside

he mutters.

the speakers,

the inspection point for re-evaluation." My

horses slow to a stop, some shifting uncomfortably as if they can sense

smiles at me,

just

He jumps

as he directs the hørše to

on Arnold, and every

at me with a sick smile

is a

know that man?" Zayan asks, and

met him once and I'd be happy if I didn't have to meet him

to speak when a middle-aged man says, "Please use

question it as we turn to use a gate

why when the answer is slapped right in my

In his cute haircut and

of pity.

to know that his

as ever with green eyes so cold I'm shocked we haven't been

then back to me. He checks out my new attire and locks his

right now. Maybe dealing with Arnold is not so bad

Right?

chest as Zayan helps me down from the horse like a gentleman - though right now, I wish he wouldn't. I wish we could turn around

do admit. This

I murmur to Zayan as I steady

say

Doesn't even blink.

pockets, looking like