Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ALEX

"I didn't know traitors had birthdays." | click my tongue as we step into the ridiculously decorated room.

Gold balloons, silk table runners, champagne, and a cake so tall it probably has structural support.

lan doesn't even eat cake for fuck's sake.

My sister either does a great job or a shitty job at hosting events there's never an in-between. And judging by

the way the glitter is already sticking to my shoes, this one's screaming "Emotional breakdown wrapped in

sparkle."

Athena loops her arm through mine and leans in. "Be nice."

"I am being nice," | mutter, my eyes narrowing on the guests. "I showed up."

"Like you wouldn't." My wife rolls her beautiful eyes in that tic way she does and I'm already turned on.

Scratch that, her existence alone turnson.

Peeling my eyes away from her because I'd hate to move around with a boner, my eyes find Katelyn's.

She smiles as she walks over to me.

"Look at you all grown up! Why don't you call and visitanymore?" She pullsin a tight hug.

"I'm sorry. The past months have been crazy."

"No worries! I'm glad | can now see you. Athena! How are you sweetheart?"

"I'm fine Mrs Quinn how are you?" My wife smiles.

"Nonsense! We are family, you can callmum" She winks.

"She loves to collect us like trophies!" | tease, placing my hands in my pockets to keep from touching Athena.

"You can't blme! I'm a sucker for more kids. But lan's father wasn't for the idea so here we are. Collecting

bonus babies!" She sighs.

"Mrs. Quinn" Sloane's voice seems different.

She's nervous?

"| told you to callmum, pretty girl!" She reprimands her.

| shake my head,

"If you'll excusefor a bit. Great party princess."

She rolls her eyes so hard I'm shocked they're not stuck on the back of her head.

"You're probably mocking me."

"You knowso well." | hold back a laugh.

| kiss my wife's lips and her forehead before walking away to join Luca as we wait for the birthday boy to arrive.

"I wonder how they'll get that stubborn ass over here." Luca says the moment | reach him.

I scoff. "Doesn't take much to lure in a traitor."

Luca chuckles.

"Still mad?"

| give him a look. “Does my face look mad?"

The fucker looks up then laughs.

"You're one petty little bitch."

| grab a bottle of water, "At Least I'm not playing push and pull with my fuck buddy."

"I should get lan to grovel at your feet before this bitterness spreads around the world."

"I'm not bitter," | say again, my voice like granite.

Luca raises a brow. "You say that the way alcoholics say they're just social drinkers."

"More like people who pretend they're not a thing." | spit as | spot Isabelle walking towards him.

Luca shrugs, casual as ever. "I'm not exclusive with anyone. You know me."

| smirk. "That sounds really sad."

Isabelle halts her steps. A look of hurt in her eyes.

| raise my glass to her. "Hey, Isabelle."

She nods, but her eyes linger on Luca a moment longer, unspoken words hanging

in the air.

Luca glances her way, then back at me.

"Fuck."

| grin. "Sorry? | didn't catch that."

"Nothing. lan is walking in. Let's step closer."

| don't say anything else.

Because | don't need to.

His silence and sudden foul mood says enough.

Our heads turn as the double doors swing open.

Sloane, who went to get him walks in, her hand in his as she guides him since he

has covered his eyes with a black cloth.

He's smiling too like he's got no idea what's coming,

"Silver, what's going on?"

She moves her hands slowly, then stands on her tip toes even though she's in

heels then echoes and cheers shout,

"SURPRISE!!"

A tidal wave of cheers erupt.

| sip my water while Luca just raises a brow.

There is no way in hell I'll cheer and clap like I'm crazy.

lan blinks, adjusting to the lights, and then he does exactly what | didn't expect,

makingfinally start to slowly cto terms with the situation.

He turns to Sloane.

And kisses her.

Slow and tender. Like they're alone in this ridiculous glitter-drenched room.

The guests eat it up.

"Awwww!" | hear women behind us swooning.

Athena makes her way towardagain, sliding her arm through mine.

"Don't say it."

"| didn't say anything."

"You're thinking it very loudly."

She's not wrong.

lan finally pulls away from Sloane, basking in the spotlight like the prodigal son

just walked through the gates of heaven.

People flock to him like moths.

Athena squeezes my hand. "Please behave."

| kiss her temple. "I'm always on my best behavior."

That earnsa look and | laugh.

God, I love this woman!

We walk towards four eyes and | pull him into a shoulder hug,

"Break her heart and I'll fucking slice you up. Happy birthday, brother!"

"And if she breaks mine?"

"Then you probably deserve it.

She's an angel wink at my little

a double

menace who givesa

thumbs up with a full smile

plastered on her face.

belongs to s

“I'll take that as my birthday gift!” lan says when Athena walks forward and hugs

him, makinggrind my teeth.

"I don't think there needs to be contact for you to wish him a happy birthday." |

grind out.

She pulls away and gives him a huge box she worked on for weeks.

"Thank you Dr. Dawson!" lan teases, making everyone laugh except me.

He really has death calling him.

My wife pulls away from them and hooks her arm in mine and kisses my cheek.

Just like that, the anger goes like it was never there.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.

I check the ID and it's Noah.

| step away from the crowd, glancing at Athena first, she's laughing at something

Katelyn said, the light catching her features just right.

God, she's beautiful.

| swipe to answer.

"I hope there is a very good reason why you're calling me."

"I found them."

I frown. "Found who?"

"The ones responsible for manipulating the flood. The one who killed Athena's

parents."

My blood goes still.

The music. The laughter. The party.

All of it fades to nothing.

“Noah,” | say carefully, "if this is skind of sick joke-"

"It's not," he cuts in. His voice is hoarse, and low, like he hasn't slept in days. "You don't have to believe