Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

Ava

“I still don’t understand why I have to go. Why can’t I just stay here with you?” Noah complains. A frown marring his handsome face.

He’s been sore about this whole thing since I told him that he’ll be leaving with his grandparents. At first he was excited about it but then he became saddened when he realized that neither I nor his father would be joining him.

His school had been understanding of our situation His teacher even agreed to send lessons to mother so that he isn’t left too behind.

“I already told you baby, this is a grandparents–grandson kind of vacation…it’s just for you and you grandparents.”

After talking to the chief he assured me that they’ll be sent somewhere tropical.

“You’re going to a beach. Haven’t you been begging us to take you for a vacation?” I add with a

mischievous smile.

The word ‘beach‘ immediately catches his attention. All the complaints he had, now lost.

Noah is obsessed with the ocean. He loves beaches so much that he once cried for a whole week

after we returned from a vacation in the Maldives. He’d wanted us to move there. When we refused

he’d pleaded for us to just leave him there.

I smile at the memory. So grateful for the happiness and joy Noah has filled my life with.

“You’re not lying to me are you?” he asks, pulling me back from my thoughts.

“Would I ever lie to you?”

“No” his frown turns into a full blown smile. His grey eyes shining in happiness. “I guess it’s okay then. I’m not mad at you anymore”

“Why were you mad at me?” I ask

“Because you refused to come with me, but it’s okay now. You can always join us later”

I wanted to tell him I won’t be joining him but I stop myself. I wasn’t going to risk him going back.

to being sad and moody again.

“Now, come one let’s go or we’ll be late” I take my handbag and sling it over my uninjured shoulder

While I grab his small suitcase, he grabs his duffel bag and rushes downstairs Carefully, I bring

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I was just about to order an Uber when my door bell rings. I rush to open before Noah can. He has a

tendency to open the door without first asking who is on the other side. No matter how many

times I caution him. No matter how many times I tell him to ask first and not to open if the person

on the other side doesn’t answer or he doesn’t recognize his or her voice. He just never listens.

Opening the door, I groan when I see who is on the other side.

Why did it seem like that the moment I decide to get over Rowan is when he seems to be

everywhere I turn?

“Dad!” Noah rushes past me and throws himself on his father.

“Hey buddy” Rowan greets him then hugs him close.

He sniffs him. Breathing his scent in. I once asked him why he does that and he told me Noah’s

scent just calms him. Like how fragrances calm other people down.

He puts him down and faces me. Noah rushes back to the living room. His excitement making

him hyper.

I’ve been asking

days.

He shrugs his shoulder.

airport” he says as he gestures

explanation

him. Like always, his face gives nothing away. I now understand that he is

comes to me. I’m the only one he looks at

a

need for that. I’ve already called

wanted was to be stuck with

to

it” he commands. His cold voice sending

just wonder why I fell for him. He is cold, arrogant and a

ran for the hills

everything in my

meet you at the airport” I

to my house and throwing out commands?

allow

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my space so we’re chest to chest.

let him intimidate

order and get your ass into my car” he growls through clench teeth.

begins to rise and I clench my fist. Usually I would push it down because I

I no longer give a

the hell do you think you’re, hmm? I’m not some fucking puppy

I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want to fracture. what I thought we had. But what did it bring me? What did pushing down and containing who I am give?

he says in

you two fighting again?” Noah’s voice cuts through the

at us sadly. Damn it! I hate Noah seeing this side of

with us fighting all

we aren’t. We just can’t agree on something” I side eye

on his face has disappeared. Just like me, he

Including tolerating my

your mom wanted to go with an Uber’since she can’t drive but I wanted

a

just go

take a deep breath and cast my eyes heavenward. Damn him

son and he looks at me

sigh in defeat.

I do

screams and rushes back to the leaving room before coming back

I tell Rowan and then leave to get Noah’s

a bit and then pick things

was in place before

falls from my hand. Rowan wraps an arm around me and steadies me before I can fall. I jump away from him and quickly

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at the

to be told what to do you know this” he

“Let’s just go”

but he grabs it before I can. Then he picks Noah’s abandoned suitcase, turns around and leaves I watch him

the time I get my feet moving and lock the door, Rowan and Noah were already seated in the

his tablet watching. some cartoon. Once he’s focused on something it’s hard to get

my hands to turn on the radio but Rowan

the arm?” he asks His eyes were on the road but he looked

does the one arm driving? Shaking those thoughts from

“Fine”

just a one word answer?” he

lengths to tune me out” I say as a matter of fact. “So why are you all

knows that I’m right. The familiar pain threatens to rise up but I push it back down. I’m set on healing from those past hurts and it starts by forgetting about it and about

we would just get where we

haven’t you spoken to her of

nerve Rowan. Can you just ignore me and pretend like

He was getting pissed. Probably because I wasn’t acting like the meek lamb he was

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to be what he wants. Trying to be like Emma. I did everything I could to be the wife he could fall in love with. Now I had shed that skin and he didn’t like that I wasn’t falling at his