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 take

hair, her fingers softer now. "You've never looked like this before. Like... you're about to

me, though my throat

"They

rings, making us both turn

She asks, and I shake my head

out then." She says,

a final touch-up and grab my

downstairs when Isabelle's

Isabelle long enough to know

it?" I ask,

Lucas's annoying voice answers my

to see him wearing a black

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

He chuckles.

it." He

design I can't make out under the low

doing here?"

pass through to check on

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"What?" Isabelle asks.

ignore her and shoot Luca

going

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

with lan." I

These two, I can't. It's

is going to be late. He is with Sloane." He says, making me

my eyes sizing into

"You're lying."

He chuckles.

then. When you do, join me in the car." He

winking at

I don't call lan.

keep me from calling

does sleep in the hospital most

friend could wake up so we can talk about how they fell in

anything to see that sparkle

her lips pursed.

to

if I did. It's not possible.