Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"I don't believe that shit for a second!" Isabelle holds her hip as she watches me brush my hair.

"You look beautiful with your hair down." A certain voice I shouldn't have in my head whispers, making my heart clench.

"Not everything has to do with Alex, Izzy. I won a prize and took it." I watch her through the mirror.

She straightens and walks towards me. Still in scrubs and looking tired as hell.

"You should rest."

"Nope. I have to see your dress and see your full look. Otherwise, I'll have a sleepless night." She walks to the bag where the dress is.

Noticing how silent it has been, I turn and find Isabelle standing with her mouth half open.

"You don't like it?" I bite my lip.

The women kept on recommending it to me, and I ended up convinced.

"Girl, how much was this dress? I have no words for it. It's so gorgeous." She carefully places it on the bed like she's holding something fragile.

Then she takes her phone to take a picture of the dress.

"What are you doing?" I laugh.

"Checking the price. This dress looks like it can buy me a car. In Fact two." She says, and I roll my eyes.

"Izzy, put your damn phone dow-"

"$10,000?" Her wide eyes look at me.

What?

"That's not possible. Mine should be an imitation." I state the obvious. "Now unless you want me to be late, help me zip up!"

Isabelle's hands are cold as she helps zip me up, muttering under her breath.

"If this is an imitation, then I'm Beyoncé."

I laugh despite the growing nerves in my stomach.

The fabric hugs me like it was made for my skin. It's the kind of dress that makes you stand taller, breathe slower. Midnight blue, velvet-like texture with a thigh-high slit and a delicate shimmer that catches the light every time I move.

I feel like a stranger in my own skin. A more powerful, less breakable version of me.

"I swear to God," Isabelle murmurs, circling me slowly, "If I didn't know you, I'd think you were a... femme fatale in a Bond movie. One look and men drop dead."

exactly the

fingers softer now. "You've never looked like this before. Like... you're about to burn the world down and not apologize for

me,

says. "They

rings, making us both turn

expecting someone?" She asks, and I shake my head

check it out then." She says, and I

do a final touch-up and

walking downstairs when Isabelle's eyes meet me

and I've known Isabelle long

is it?" I

Lucas's annoying voice answers my

usually in his army uniform, so I'm shocked to see him

the type to

He chuckles.

it." He pushes away from

in ink, some intricate design I can't make out under the low

you doing here?"

pass through

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"What?" Isabelle asks.

her and

not going anywhere

Alex, and since he can't be here, I have to be.

with lan." I

I can tolerate. These two, I can't. It's like choosing

is

up, my eyes sizing

"You're lying."

He chuckles.

join me in the car." He starts walking towards

winking at

I don't call lan.

keep me from

there. He does sleep in

best friend could wake up so we

see that sparkle in her

her lips pursed. Something she does

me to come

did. It's