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?

race

eyes still haunt me

I mumble, more to myself than to

watching me closely. "Have you felt

and three

laugh, "Zayan's

"The man brings you flowers

roses are overrated," I

emotional stability, apparently."

coffee.

just saying," she continues, holding up a finger, "Zayan makes

Alex, everything is.... How do I put it,

The way he looks at you. Although I must admit, most times I get so curious I want to open his head to know the dirty thoughts running

remind

squints at me. "But you like that

"I do not!"

"You do."

"I don't!"

Zayan. But that's understandable, you've loved the man for five years. That just doesn't go away. But I think you deserve to be happy and if Zayan can give you that, you

"You think so?"

"Yep."

commit to relationships." I eye her and she

She winks in addition

phone vibrates and the

show the screen to Isabelle

"Fate and shit huh?

out." I laugh as I

"Hello?"

searched the entire hospital but I can't seem to find my

My cheeks heat.

Isabelle was right.

need to

rooftop. Why, do you miss me?" I

could die." He responds and I roll

I just enter into a relationship with a play boy? That response

of a fiction book."

heart. My eyes are

my queue." Isabelle whispers as she

her a kiss before

smile, resting my elbow on the table. "You really out here trying to melt me

mozzarella, huh?"

drops just a

little," I admit, biting back a

pause on the

do you get

Are you planning a

scare you a little less before I go

"I