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."

"Not exactly the goal, but I'll

fix a strand of my hair, her fingers softer now. "You've never looked like this before. Like... you're about to burn the world down and not apologize for

from me, though my throat tightens. "Maybe I

"They deserve the

rings, making us both turn

someone?" She asks,

check it out then." She says,

do a final touch-up and grab

when Isabelle's

flushed, and I've known Isabelle long enough to

is it?" I ask, breaking

annoying voice answers

army uniform, so I'm shocked to see him

you for the type to have ink on." I divert

He chuckles.

this? Don't mind it." He pushes away from

ink, some intricate design I can't

are you doing here?" I

know he didn't pass through

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"What?" Isabelle asks.

and shoot Luca

going anywhere with

safest with either me or Alex, and since he can't be here, I have to

with lan."

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

He is with Sloane." He says, making

look up, my eyes sizing into

"You're lying."

He chuckles.

then. When you do, join me in

winking

I don't call lan.

Sloane to keep me from calling him,

actually there. He does sleep in the hospital

could wake up so

do anything to see that sparkle in her

lips pursed. Something she

to come

if I did. It's not possible. Sleepover tonight. Rayen