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

haunt me even when I'm

maybe the spark comes later," I

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

it three dates and three kisses.

laugh, "Zayan's advocate

touches her heart mimicking a swearing. "The man brings you flowers that aren't from

roses are overrated," I

well, so is emotional stability, apparently."

my coffee. "Wow. Okay. Personal attack

just saying," she continues, holding up a finger, "Zayan makes sense. You don't have to decode him like a CIA

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

contact. The way he looks at you. Although I must admit, most times I get so curious I

remind me," I

me. "But you like that burning look

"I do not!"

"You do."

"I don't!"

have a strong hunch you're looking for Alex in 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 think so?"

"Yep."

to

play babe." She winks in

phone vibrates and the screen

the

"Fate and shit huh?

I laugh as I

"Hello?"

I can't seem to find

My cheeks heat.

Isabelle was right.

to give this a

Why, do you miss me?" I

much, I feel like I could die." He

relationship with a play boy? That

of a fiction book."

my heart. My eyes are

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

kiss before

the table. "You really out here trying

mozzarella, huh?"

working?" His voice drops just

admit, biting back a

brief pause

time do you get

planning a rooftop

a little less

"I appreciate the