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?

makes no sense. This isn't like Noah. At least, not the

can say anything else, weaving through other guests

faces I don't recognize.

intercepts me with wide, curious eyes and

"Babe, did something happen?"

my head quickly,

"No."

shoulder. "Then why does Alex look like

I groan internally.

those two," I

wants to win you over? Who will you pick?" She

"I'm not stupid."

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

me alive, very clear before me. "You need to meet his

an exaggerated flair. "Oh please. Zayan is not the type to be influenced by his mama. That man is smooth, rich, emotionally intelligent, and so

his cousin wasn't married, I would have shot my shot. Haven't

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

turn, gaining

a glass of champagne in one hand, and

smile soft and warm. "Being a mom is the greatest chaos I've ever known, and I wouldn't change a second of it. Even the parts where I've wanted to run away and live

ripples across the

me purpose. And being a bonus mom to Noah, Athena, Sloane and my newest trouble maker, Isabelle even when they didn't

the most beautiful parts of my life. I love you all

joy. Thank you for coming into this world and giving me a chance to experience this priceless opportunity of being a mother. To my mother-in-law, happy Mother's Day Gigi. Thank you for loving me

raises her glass. "To every woman who's ever mothered by blood, by love, or by sheer

claps, some more misty-eyed than others. Ariana sits, dabbing at her eyes with a napkin, and then Giana slowly rises next, leaning slightly on her cane. "Well, now I have

too invested in other people's business."

softens. "That name saved my life. Thank you, Athena, for giving me a reason to keep fighting. Thank you, Rayen, for making me your favorite old 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

up his painting like a

laughs again, and Giana sits back with a

warms as my own eyes begin to get misty from how much

Surprisingly, lan stands, too.

A hush falls instantly.

speaks

Never.

tease him and Alex for being

his glass as

eyes are full of sadness and regret, which breaks my

confession. "But I can't keep pretending like things didn't happen. Because a few years ago, our