Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"Mummy! What made you take so long?" Rayen jumps in my arms as I hold back a groan.

I swear periods were enemies sent to kill us but found us stronger, so they settled for torture instead.

Because what the hell am I feeling this kind of pain for?

"We had to check for something, buddy. Come here!" Alex saves me again.

Have you ever felt like asking the ground to open up and swallow you whole? That's exactly how I'm feeling.

I'm so shy, I can't face him. Which is crazy because I'm a doctor. These things shouldn't bother me.

"My camping tent is huge and warm. I'm sharing it with my best friend! Wanna see?" Rayen asks, and I hold back a laugh.

This boy has more energy than I'll ever have.

"Yes, sure. But I didn't know you had a best friend, who is it?" Alex asks.

“Kai Sinclair. He just came to our school and is super fun!" Rayen bounces as we walk to his tent.

The setup is really camp like except that the tents have been made inside the huge hotel with security so tight no one goes around without an ID.

I doubt Alex understands the word camping.

"When you said camping, I thought it's the one everyone goes to. But I should have known nothing is the same with you, I mean, you created an artificial forest!"

I can't help but laugh at how crazy this is.

“I think it's a win-win situation. The kids get to have fun, and we get to keep them safe." He shrugs.

I shake my head but say nothing. At this point, I'm tongue-tied.

We step into the giant ballroom-turned-forest-fantasy, where massive artificial

trees line the walls, and soft green carpeting pretends to be grass.

Fairy lights twinkle from the ceiling like stars, and a few fake animal sounds echo faintly from hidden speakers.

It's extra but kind of adorable.

Rayen races ahead of us, nearly tripping over one of the tree roots made out of foam.

"Careful!" Alex and I speak at the same time.

"There! That's mine!" Rayen says, pointing proudly at a tent with his name

scribbled in glittery letters above it. "And that's Kai's!" He gestures to the one right next to it.

"Rayen!" A little boy calls for him, making us both turn as they run towards each other.

Behind him is Rose.

aback, shocked that her son

"Rose?"

she pulls me into a hug. "It's great to

your son goes to the same school at

She laughs,

changed schools. It's

"Caleb?"

changing schools. Apparently, being nine means not going to a

guess I better start that count

the better!" She responds before

A deep voice speaks from

up, her expression

her before turning to face me, "Do

I brush him

leave me

any more

in an actual ranger outfit, complete with a wide-brimmed hat and a fake walkie-talkie clipped to

for some classic campsite

lights up like a

a pretend fishing station with magnetic rods and floating paper fish. Another area has a build your own trail mix table with ten different toppings and three kids already going

small groups and hand them scavenger hunt cards decorated with little

and drags him toward the activity zone, both of them

fun," Rose

I laugh, watching Rayen pile leave into a bucket like it's treasure. "He's

they all will! I can't believe they made the assistant principal dress up as

into fits of laughter

parents are

and hot glue guns, and others reluctantly trying to light pretend campfires with plastic logs and red

then there's Alex, standing like he owns

manages to

while a tiny girl ties a

me and mouths "Help

I call for a group of girls

corner.

paint someone's face?" I

says no to

all jump up

"See that

with blond hair? He

But, he's shy so when no, just he say cry and he will know

s

of the girls says happily and rushes to

you?"

Alex's face when

once.

cry... I didn't mean it like that...shit!" He looks around when his eyes

as