Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Three weeks later...

ATHENA

"Girl. Spill it!" Isabelle turns to face me like I'm holding onto the juiciest gossip this week. "You're killing me here." She adds.

I bring my coffee to my lips, needing something to distract me.

Instead of relief and joy, I feel sad.

Maybe it's PMS week.

Isabelle slides onto the bench beside me, probably now tired of standing. Her

brows arch with that all-too-familiar look of curiosity and concern.

I let out a breath. "I said yes."

She blinks. "Yes...?"

"To Zayan."

Her eyes widen. "As in yes-yes? Like proposal, yes?"

"Girlfriend yes." I correct.

"Are you serious?"

I nod once, staring into the steam of my cup like it might offer me answers I don't have.

"But why do you look like someone killed your cat?"

"I'm just tired."

"Liar... anyway, so, Alex? Does he know?" she asks carefully.

I laugh bitterly. “He lost his mind. I'm not shocked he knew where I was when he showed up at the restaurant, acted like a lunatic. Called me his wife and nearly ripped Zayan's head off in front of everyone."

Isabelle snorts. "Classic. That man's ego is the size of the entire fucking universe. He probably just hates the idea that someone else gets you now."

I want to agree. I do agree. But it doesn't silence the ache in my chest.

"I mean," she continues, "Zayan is a good guy. Kind. Reliable. And definitely not

going to give you emotional whiplash every two minutes."

"I know," I whisper. "He is."

But even as I say the words, they fall flat.

Zayan is good. He shows up. He listens. He doesn't complicate things.

So why does it feel like something's missing?

heart race

still haunt me even when I'm not

later," I mumble,

her head, watching me closely. "Have you felt no spark yet?" I shake my

dates and three kisses. It will

"Zayan's

day I die." She touches her heart mimicking a swearing. "The man brings you flowers that aren't from his secretary. That's rare,

roses are

is emotional stability, apparently."

on my coffee. "Wow. Okay. Personal attack

just saying," she continues, holding up a finger, "Zayan makes sense. You don't have

I sigh. "With Alex, everything is.... How do I put it,

looks at you. Although I must admit, most

remind me,"

squints at me. "But you like that

"I do not!"

"You do."

"I don't!"

you've loved the man for five years. That just doesn't go away.

"You think so?"

"Yep."

someone who doesn't commit to relationships." I eye her and she waves me

don't play babe." She winks in addition making

vibrates and

I show the

"Fate and shit huh?

out." I laugh as I swipe right

"Hello?"

but I can't seem to find my

My cheeks heat.

Isabelle was right.

to give this

the rooftop. Why, do you

like I could die." He responds and

relationship with a play boy? That response was

of a fiction book."

from my heart. My eyes are

that's my queue." Isabelle whispers as she waves and walks

her a kiss before returning to

"You really out here trying

mozzarella, huh?"

working?" His voice drops just

I admit, biting back a

a brief pause

do

planning a rooftop proposal?" I

to scare you a little less

"I appreciate the