Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 88 ~ Insufferable ass

ALEX

"Pour me a drink," I demand the moment I walk into the room and throw myself on lan's office couch.

lann looks at me like I've grown a second head.

"Hello to you too," he mutters, rolling his eyes halfway.

lann and I have been best friends for five years now. Met at some dull conference and clicked, rare for me. But I guess Luca will just have to suck it up.

He's a petty bastard that's for sure.

When Ethan threatened to expose my illness over his damn cousin, I was furious at lann. Thought he'd sold me out. But then I realized... he hadn't taken sides.

He stayed neutral because, as he put it, "I take my career very seriously."

He didn't betray me. Which left one question:

Who the hell did?

It couldn't have been Leah. If anything, that secret is the only thing keeping me tethered to her. Why burn her leverage?

"You're a shitty host." I mutter.

"I'm not hosting anything. Besides, this is a hospital office and not a pub. Also, you're supposed to stay away from alcohol!"

"It's not for me," I say. "It's for my tired body. Help it out."

lann lets out a breathy laugh, shaking his head as he walks over to the corner cabinet.

"You're unbelievable, you know that?"

"Frequently told," I mutter, kicking off my shoes and letting my head fall back against the couch. The room spins slightly. Or maybe that's just my brain short- circuiting again.

A few seconds later, I hear the soft clink of glass. I lift my head just enough to see him setting down a bottle of whiskey and a tumbler in front of me.

He doesn't say anything at first. Just watches me.

Waiting.

I ignore the look, pop the cap off the bottle, and pour myself a generous amount. The liquid catches the light, smooth and golden.

I down it in one go.

It burns.

Good.

"Want to tell me what's got you spiraling this time?" he asks casually, leaning against his desk like he's got all the time in the world.

my head, pouring

the engagement? Or the kid? Or

The glass pauses mid-air.

And that's answer enough.

mutters, almost to

don't know what you're talking

are you drinking" he mocks me with air quotes,

I don't respond.

drown the

Then the third.

silence stretches between us like an

are words. A thousand of them. All

I swallow them down with another glass

myself up from the couch, wiping a hand across my

"I'm

say, grabbing

softens just slightly. "You brought him with

came after I had

the thing about him. He

walks me to the elevator in silence, hands shoved into his coat

to say something but

wait. The hallway is too

the doors slide open, I step

I say

ready to talk, I'll be

I tell half a lie. "I just need a second. Or

shakes his head as he pulls me into a brotherly hug

turning to face the bastard but the doors start to

floor when there is a

the doors slide

And she steps in.

Athena.

into black jeans, her long black hair

sees me, then narrow

the button and disappear

I

under my breath and look away, clenching

the universe would pull this shit

word, the air in the elevator shifting

doors shut with a

The silence between us?

Violent.

wall, arms crossed, watching

when the lights go

step foot