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.

again, feeling lighter than I've felt in forever. With all of us in these riding

playfully, "a little speed wouldn't

under his breath, and I like that he isn't taking this too

he teases. "We'll pick up the pace soon

if on cue, a few horses at the far

in

our horse gently, preparing

can feel the excitement building

But then-

The music cuts off.

Abruptly.

music to

sound of murmurs ripples

frowning, standing from their

ask quietly, feeling a strange tightness in

shifts beside

don't know," he mutters. "This has never

voice booms through the speakers, shattering what little calm

the inspection point for re-evaluation." My

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

at me,

It's just standard procedure

jumps

there as he directs the hørše

my eyes land on Arnold, and

me with a

man is a

you know that man?" Zayan asks, and

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

when a middle-aged man says,

frowns but doesn't question it as we turn to use a gate different from

when the answer is slapped right in

see Ryan first. In his cute haircut and round reading glasses, he gave me

of pity.

to know that his royal highness is

with green eyes so cold I'm shocked we haven't been frozen in

at Zayan and then back to me.

now. Maybe dealing with Arnold is not so bad

Right?

Zayan helps me down from the horse like a gentleman - though right now, I wish he wouldn't. I wish we could turn around and ride far, far away from the ice storm standing

admit. This was a

you," I murmur to Zayan as I steady myself, but my

doesn't say

Doesn't even blink.

there, hands in his pockets, looking like he owns the