Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

Warmth.

That's the first thing | feel.

Soft sheets. The scent of fresh linen. A deep musk lingering in the air, cedarwood and something...oddly familiar.

My brows pull together as my body stretches slowly, reluctantly, like it doesn't want to leave the comfort it's

found.

Pulling the warm bed sheets closer, | throw my leg over a pillow when realization hitslike a damn train.

Wait.

My eyes shoot open.

This isn't my bed.

The ceiling is higher, the light brighter. The blankets are thicker, softer, almost cloudlike. My heart slams against

my ribs.

Where the hell am 1?

Did | go clubbing and leave with a stranger?

| haven't gone clubbing in years!

| sit up fast and immediately regret it. My head spins, my hair tumbling over my shoulders in a wild mess.

My son!

My gaze whips around the room, my breath catching and my heart beating faster and faster.

Then | remember.

The party. Speeches. Everyone getting together. Falling asleep on the couch with Rayen. The exhaustion. The

way my body gave out before | could even argue.

Alex went up to get the keys when | decided to wait from the couch.

| must have fallen asleep.

But why didn't Alex wakeup?

His speech replays in my mind on a loop as | try to figure out why he has been behaving in such a strange way.

Is Ariana threatening him to be nice to me? Or is it another deal with Giana?

Because Alexander King is not the type of person who would say such things willingly.

But it doesn't matter because it all meant nothing anyway!

A quiet breath escapes me, and my heartbeat slowly begins to settle.

The panic fades, replaced with a different sort of unease, one that comes from being in his space.

His room. His bed.

It's strange.

Too intimate.

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Why didn't he putin the guest bedroom? | know this is his room because it used to be our masters when we

moved here before everything went south. But even if we hadn't stayed together, I'd know.

Everything screams Alex, from the scent that wraps around you whether you like it

or not.

But wait...

Does that mean we slept in...

No no no no!

| laugh with a shake of my head.

He wouldn't stoop that low.

| swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stand, tugging the sleeves of my sweat shirt down as | tiptoe

toward the door.

The house is silent.

As | descend the staircase, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wraps aroundlike a hug I'm afraid to accept.

And then | see him.

He looks like a freaking Greek God.

In sweatpants and a dark gray sweatshirt, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, his

hair like he just ran his hands through it. He looks... different

Which is strange.

His green eyes snap up the moment | appear, and something shifts in the air between us.

"Good morning."

His voice is deep, low, and calm.

| pause at the last step, my fingers tightening around the railing.

"I'm sorry for intruding. | must have been too tired and slept. You should have

wokenup. Where is Rayen? We need to leave."

He smirks at my words and walks to the stove, and removes freshly baked cinnamon buns.

My mouth waters, but my pride is intact. | wonder where he got them or who made them. Because Alex can't

even boil water.

"Sit down, and I'll serve you breakfast." He says softly.

Is someone holding this man hostage?

| don't do as he says while | watch him place a cup of coffee that smells so good |

have to hold it in to not fall for the temptation.

"You don't have to pretend to be nice when Rayen is out of reach. We're not friends, Alex. Stop acting like it." |

snap.

His hand stills, hovering just above the plate.

The smirk fades from his lips, replaced by something quieter. Something unreadable.

For a second, | wonder if | went too far.

But then again, how could I, when this is the man who once lookedin the eyes

and shattered everything | trusted?

He sets the plate down slowly. No anger. No cold words. Just silence.

"I'm not pretending," he says, finally turning to face me. "And | didn't wake you up because... you looked like you

needed rest. That's all."

"Where is Rayen, and why is this place so damn bright!?"

These are not the lights we had on, but obviously, they had them changed. It's been so long, but damn, did they

have to get such bright bulbs?

"I had Ryan have them changed because you get panic attacks in the dark, and | didn't want that. Rayen is at

school. | dropped him off shours ago." He explains, and | swallow.

He changed the lights for me?

Is this man losing it?

| see red from how angry | am.

Because it's not fair.

Why is he being nice and starting to confuse me?

He's the one who tore my world apart and ruined everything we had.

"I made the buns," he adds, pullingback.

I blink.

"You?"

He shrugs.

"You can't even boil water." | retort. It's supposed to be an insult.

But he doesn't seem affected when he smiles while hovering with the damn cup.

Liar!

He obviously had Ariana bake them. She must have left them yesterday.

But why... | shake my head.

Its not your business Athena. Get a grip and get the hell out of here!

"I'm leaving. Have Luca drop Rayen home." | turn to leave when his voice stops

me.

"Sit down and eat Athena. I'm not trying to win points here. | know | don't deserve that. But you're here. And |

figured... | could try being decent. Even if you hate me. Besides, this is Rayens's house now. You don't have to be

on the run because of me."

| cross my arms, tension crackling throughlike static.

"You don't get to play decent after everything, Alex. Do you think coffee will make

everything better? You're the worst of the worst, and | may tolerate you when Rayen is around, but | prefer if you

didn't speak towhen he isn't!"

He flinches, and his jaw ticks.

Good.

But instead of firing back, he just nods.

"You're right."

"What?" My eyes widen.

| step forward, voice low. "Why now? Why start acting like this suddenly? You

made it clear where we stood when you divorced me."

Guilt flashes in his eyes.

He exhales a slow breath.

"Eat breakfast, Athena. You can take my car once you've done so."

"Are you listening to anything I'm saying? I'd rather walk on foot than use your damn car!" | scream.

The bastard watcheswith his hands in his pockets and his face, giving nothing

away.

| want him to fight back. To say something that will pissoff. My hatred needs fuel, and his presence alone

used to do to it, but I need more!

"I charged your phone. But because of the weather, the network has been a little tricky. You can't call a taxi

because it looks like it will rain very heavily soon. So, if you don't want to be stuck here with me, eat, and i'll give

you the car keys."

"You poisoned the food, didn't you? You're too calm. Is that why?"

His gaze turns dead serious.

"Poison you? Athena, I still haven't forgiven myself for the damage | already did.

So no. | haven't poisoned it."

The kitchen falls into a silence so thick | can feel it pressing against my skin. His

eyes are steady on mine.

No mockery, no sarcasm. Just truth. Raw and quiet and terrifying.

And | hate that it makes something twist inside my chest.

| should snap back. Throw the coffee in his face. Call him a liar and walk away.

But all | can do is stand. My lips too heavy to move.