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.

than I've felt in forever. With all of us in these riding attires, we look so

say playfully, "a little speed

laughs under his breath, and I like that

"We'll pick up the pace

cue, a few horses at the far end start moving slightly faster,

against the ground in

gently, preparing

the excitement building in me

But then-

The music cuts off.

Abruptly.

loud music to

sound of murmurs ripples through

standing from their

quietly, feeling a

beside

mutters. "This has

through the speakers, shattering

to the inspection point for re-evaluation." My

a stop, some shifting uncomfortably as if they can sense the change in

smiles at

just standard

He jumps

there as he directs the hørše

step closer, my eyes land on Arnold, and every hair

with a sick

man is a

Zayan asks, and I don't know how to answer

I met him once and I'd be happy if I didn't have to meet him again." I respond. Zayan

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

question it as we turn to use

ask why when the answer is slapped right in my

see Ryan first. In his cute haircut and

of pity.

know that

is Alex, looking calm as ever with green eyes so cold I'm shocked we haven't been frozen in

at Zayan and then back to me. He checks out

now. Maybe

Right?

to thud painfully in my chest as Zayan helps me down from the horse like a gentleman - though right now, I wish he wouldn't. I wish we

This was a

Zayan as I steady myself,

say a

Doesn't even blink.

pockets, looking like he owns