Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

Three days later....

"Today is our last day, and we must make the best of it!" The teacher announces just as Rose pulls a chair to sit next to me.

I barely look up. My mind is still spinning, replaying that night like a broken record on loop.

The kiss.

God.

That kiss.

It had knocked the air out of my lungs and left a dull ache in my chest. I couldn't shake off. Like a burn that wouldn't stop tingling.

I hadn't talked to Alex since. Not properly, anyway. I mean, we share a room, so speaking is inevitable.

We'd shared a few stolen glances, a tension-filled breakfast where I refused to look at him, and one accidental brush of hands that sent my entire nervous system into panic mode.

Rose leans toward me, snapping her gum loudly. "You look like you haven't slept in three days."

"I haven't," I mumble, flipping my pen in my hand.

"Why? You miss Zayan?" She asks.

I pause, turning to look at the growing smile on her face.

Yeah, I... I do."

I'm lying. I don't, but I'm not about to admit who is buried in my mind.

"We're more similar than you think, sweetie." Rose places a warm hand on my back.

"We are?" I laugh.

I don't think so.

"Yep. So I'll help you save time and tell you to just break up with Zayan. He'll be fine. You don't click like you do with Alex. I know that because I, too, was in the same situation.

You see, Ethan did some shady things when we just got married. He didn't cheat. he just hurt me with his actions. Then I divorced him and ran away with my surviving triplets.

but two grew into beautiful kids. They're nine this year, and we had one

But because I can tell he loves you and as long as he didn't cheat or lay his hands on you, I think it's okay to give it another try. I

So why torture yourself? Life is

My mouth opens.

Then it closes again.

Then it opens.

any sentences. I met Ethan. I think he's here as we speak. He must be with the fathers on the other side. But the way he looks at

him being anything

way he kisses Rose's forehead every time he walks past her? The man who brings her tea every morning we've been here and carries their sleeping son on his back like

Their love looks effortless.

was born

But it isn't.

perfect. It has to be forged in fire, in a mess, and all the imperfections for it to

story deserves

mean

about

My heart screams yes.

God, I don't know.

I think of Zayan because he

friend. But I

accept him, I just know it. I'll fight with his mother, and that will make me

the thoughts off just as the

"We're ending this trip on a high! Today's

the left, fathers on the right. Each group will be

laughter and the shuffling of chairs. "Ladies," she continues, "you will be building a mini

A few mothers gasp.

Rose smiles.

this is a

prepare a meal for all of us. You will have access to basic ingredients, a

her

to

I laugh.

my husband to get groceries, and he hired someone to go with him because he didn't know what aisle eggs

laugh escapes me, unexpected

with it, a

I slept over at Alex's house. The way he

when I told him the waffles were too delicious to have

him.