Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

Noah freezes.

His grip loosens instantly as his eyes snap toward the voice.

Alex stands there, calm as a glacier, but there's nothing cold about the fire in his eyes. One hand is in his pocket, the other resting casually at his side, but the tension rolling off him could crack the floor.

Noah straightens slowly, his jaw ticking in anger. Hatred written in every line of his body.

Did something happen between these two, or does Noah hate Alex because of what happened to Sloane?

But that would be unfair. She took the bullet for me and not him.

"I wasn't hurting her," he says through clenched teeth.

Alex takes a slow, deliberate step forward.

"You touched her, and she flinched. That's more than hurting her."

"Why do you care?!" Noah hisses, and when Alex takes another step forward, he snaps his mouth shut.

Oh, for crying out loud!

"Stop it, both of you!" I hiss, yanking my hand back and stepping between them.

"I shouldn't have to explain myself to you, Noah. Nothing is going on between Alex and me, and nothing will. We are Rayen's parents. Seeing us together shouldn't be strange to you."

"And you," I turn to face Alex, "I'm not your wife that needs protecting or you breaking other people's hands over. I can fight my own battles!"

I feel the heat in my cheeks, not from embarrassment but pure frustration.

"Athena-" Alex begins

"No!" I hiss. "Now let me go back to having a good time. If you want to behave like children, I won't stop you! Just keep me out of it."

Noah blinks, caught off guard by my sharp tone.

His mouth opens, then closes.

"I'm sorry, Athena. I overreacted," he finally says, his voice softer now, remorseful.

But I'm too angry to respond. My jaw clenches as I turn away from him.

Why is he behaving like some obsessed lover marking his territory?

sense. This isn't like Noah. At least, not the

can say anything else, weaving through other guests

faces I don't recognize.

wide, curious eyes

"Babe, did something happen?"

shake my head quickly, brushing it

"No."

slightly, then flickers over my shoulder. "Then why does Alex look like

I groan internally.

those two," I

over? Who will

"I'm not stupid."

laugh as I grab a bottle of water from the drink table, grateful for the

me alive, very clear before me. "You need to meet his mother, you'll change teams so fast." I say,

exaggerated flair. "Oh please. Zayan is not the type to be influenced by his

psychotic family trees. Hell, if his cousin wasn't married, I would have shot my shot. Haven't

open my mouth to respond, but I'm saved by the sharp clink of a spoon tapping

gaining

her golden dress catching the light, a glass of champagne in one hand, and her

ever known, and I wouldn't change a second of it. Even

across

Noah, Athena, Sloane and my newest trouble maker, Isabelle even when they didn't want me in the beginning," She looks at me with

life. I love you all like you came from my soul." She

and giving me a chance to experience this priceless opportunity

by blood, by love, or by sheer stubbornness, you are seen. You are loved.

on her cane. "Well, now I have to follow the golden girl," she

other people's business." She shrugs. "All true. But I've also been

lady. Despite there being so many mothers in here, tonight is about you, my dear Athena. It's your first year as a mother, and I'll die

holding up his painting like a

sits back with a

to get misty from how much emotion is

Surprisingly, lan stands, too.

A hush falls instantly.

never speaks

Never.

him and Alex for

on his glass as

eyes are full of sadness and regret, which

I can't keep pretending like things didn't happen. Because a few years ago, our hospital almost