Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

34. The past

Nine years ago.

My phones pings with a new notification waking me up from yet another restless sleep. For some reason, I haven’t been able to sleep well for the past two years.

Part of me thinks it’s because of Rowan. That my heart and head aren’t at peace because he isn’t near me anymore. My restlessness started when he joined university two years ago. During the time he’s away at Uni, I rarely sleep but when he’s home for the breaks, I sleep like a baby.

Groaning at yet another night without sleep, I wake up and check my phone. I’m surprised but it quickly turns to happiness when I see what the notification is.

I paid someone money to install an app that lets me track Rowan every time he’s around. Right now it just notified me that he was home.

Jumping out of bed, I get dressed quickly. He was probably back with Emma or maybe Travis or Gabe, but I didn’t mind. I just wanted to see him even if it’s from a far.

Once I’m done getting ready, I sneak out through my bedroom window. I had the furthest room in the house. It’s nearly Impossible for my parents or the maids to hear me leaving.

I get safely down and begin walking. Taking my phone out, I order an Uber.

“This is a terrible idea!” a voice niggles in my sub–consciousness

I ignore it. My head is already swimming with visions of my Rowan. I haven’t seen him in months and my eyes were dying to feast on him.

“Ava, go back home. You’re making a mistake” the voice continues shouting.

I stop in my tracks. That isn’t right. Nothing about Rowan would ever be a mistake. Cementing that in my head, I push all other thoughts to the back of my mind.

Minutes later, my ride arrives.

“Please, Ava, turn back” the damn voice pleads with me just as I am getting into the car.

I feel torn. Like I was fighting against my own mind and body. Finally I manage to push the thought aside and get inside the car.

+15 BONUS

I should have listened to its warning.

Another thirty minutes, we arrive at a bar. I pay the guy and get out. I stare at the dingy place

wondering what the hell Rowan was doing here. This wasn’t his kind of scene. 1

Squaring my shoulders, I walk towards it and manage to get in using a fake ID. Quickly, I walk to a hidden spot and survey the place looking for him. I locate him within seconds, surprised to find

he was alone.

I stay hidden for a while. Waiting to see if any of the others will arrive but none of them do. He was here alone.

“You’ve feasted your eyes, now let’s leave” damn that stupid voice.

I ignore it completely. This might be my chance to get him to notice me. Now that he was here alone and Emma wasn’t by his side.

I take a deep breath and walk the short distance to him.

“Hey Rowan” I greet shyly.

He turns and gives me a blinding smile. Catching me off guard. We rarely talk and he has always gone to great lengths to ignore and avoid me, so the smile catches me off guard.

“It’s little Ava” he shouts. “How are you doing?” he asks.

It’s then I realize he was completely drunk. That was the only reason he looked so happy and receptive towards me.

I take the chair next to him. Immediately he orders me a drink. I take my first taste and it was disgusting. I have never drank in my life but I force myself to do it.

“So how’s school?” I ask, feeling myself relax little by little.

He smirks and nudges my shoulder. “Is that really what you want to ask me?”

“No, I want to ask what you’re doing here drinking alone but I didn’t want to come off as rude.”

He sways in his seat as he leans forward. “Aren’t you sweet” he says then goes back to drinking.

“Are you okay?” I ask in concern. He wasn’t acting like his normal self

fie ignores me and continues drinking. I continue drinking too and just keep it Watína ř

+15 BONUS

I should have listened to its warning.

Another thirty minutes, we arrive at a bar. I pay the guy and get out. I stare at the dingy place

wondering what the hell Rowan was doing here. This wasn’t his kind of scene.

Squaring my shoulders, I walk towards it and manage to get in using a fake ID. Quickly, I walk to a hidden spot and survey the place looking for him. I locate him within seconds, surprised to find

he was alone.

any of the others will arrive but none of them do. He

here alone.

let’s leave” damn

my chance to get him to notice me.

and Emma wasn’t by his

breath and walk the short distance

Rowan” I

Catching me off guard. We rarely talk and he has always gone to great lengths to ignore

he shouts. “How are you

completely drunk. That was the only

receptive towards me.

take the chair next to him. Immediately he orders me a drink. I take my first taste

drank in my life but I force myself to

ask, feeling myself relax

nudges my shoulder. “Is that really what you want

ask what you’re doing here drinking alone but I didn’t want to come off

as he leans forward. “Aren’t you sweet”

ask in concem. He wasn’t

drinking too

+15 BONUS

marry me” he says after

him. I was

“Who? Emma?”

me. I had the ring and I proposed. I even took her to a special

one knee. I did everything right

in shock. Unable to believe that he had asked her to marry him. I’m

it down.

ready. That she wants to focus on school first. Why didn’t

ask, his voice full of hurt and

Part of me was glad she turned him down, while

see that it was

want to marry you then that’s her

much better” I raise my

at me for a while before smiling. “You’re right, fuck her” he slurs as he

glasses.

long we stay there. We talk, dance and drink. By the time we were leaving

both drunk, him more

room and I agree. I couldn’t go home drunk. My

alive given I could

and a few minutes later we are

on

off until I’m left in nothing

waiting for this for so long” he slurs, while removing his own

too..are you sure you want this? You want me?”

too good to be true. That I was finally

“Definitely”

+15 BONUS

me to the bed. Everything is a blur. I feel his touch, his kisses and his love. It

her

that something was

panicked

eyes and sit up in bed wondering what the hell was happening, and why Rowan was

I see him pacing the room

bed. Holding the sheets

I start chanting. Fear

They’re burning with rage and hatred. I

are a little blurry. What I thought was a damn

hell are you doing in my hotel

anger lacing his voice.

words refuse

a mess but also because I didn’t know what to explain things. How

that I had an app that tracks his movement when he’s in town? How do I

to sleep with

hands trembling. The fact that I was

proved that last night wasn’t a dream. I had slept with

The one she planned on having a future

you a fucking question” he shouts, throwing a

at a bar and we started drinking, that’s all I remember” I lie even

bits and pieces.

Guilt was written all over his face. Rowan loved Emma and because of nie

just lose her

+15 BONUS

that? You have been after me since I was twelve.

he growls, firing

put my clothes as best as I can without flashing

I planned all this?” I asks motioning to the room

was drunk, Rowan”

have gone there intentionally but I hadn’t planned on