Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"I'm sorry," Isabelle says slowly, blinking like she's trying to process what I just told her. "Letget this straight,

you fell asleep after we left the party, and Alex carried you to his bed? Then he made you coffee and cinnamon

buns?"

I nod, curling my hands tighter around the coffee cup I've barely sipped from.

She stares at me. "Was the coffee poisoned? Did you get food poisoning from the buns? Any hallucinations?

Sudden urge to forgive the man who broke your heart and set your world on fire?"

| laugh.

"No hallucinations just yet. But who knows, maybe it takes a week."

"Why didn't you say no." She asks, her face still in shock.

"| did. He insisted." | respond.

"Don't let him fool you twice, Athena. That man doesn't deserve you."

| laugh again.

Isabelle givesa look. "I'm serious, Athena. Don't let your guard down just because he smiled or made coffee.

That man is a walking red flag wrapped in a fitted suit and looks to die for."

"Don't be tic." | mutter under my breath. "I know who he is better than anyone."

"I'm not being tic, I'm being realistic. What did he do after breakfast? Offer you a foot massage and

apologize for emotionally scarring you?"

"Nope. | went about my way." | respond. Holding back the fact that I let him driveafter he insisted.

Why am | allowing him to do things for me?

Isabelle narrows her eyes atlike she can read every thought I'm trying to shove down.

"You let him drive you htoo, didn't you?" she echoes slowly. "Athena..."

"I didn't ask him," | mutter, taking a sip of my now-lukewarm coffee. "He insisted. | was too tired to go back and

forth with his stubborn self."

"Oh, how considerate of you," she deadpans. "Helping your ex maintain his fake good guy image. So noble."

"You know it's not like that." | defend myself.

"Uh huh. Obviously, that speech got to you, didn't it? | hate Alex, but damn, he did have my jaw on the floor after

those words. But that doesn't change the fact that you should stay away from that man. Focus on Zayan. He

loves and cherishes you."

Before | can respond, Zayan's voice cuts in with playful tease, and panick grabs my chest as | face Izzy.

| surely hope he didn't hear that.

"HI ladies." He smiles as he walks over, casually placing a kiss on my cheek.

Isabelle makes a noise between a groan and a scoff. "I'm leaving before | start choking on the romance fumes."

"We're not-" | start to say, but she's already waving us off and heading out of the cafe with a muttered excuse

about reviewing patient files.

Zayan watches her go, then glances atwith a smile that's just slightly mischievous.

"What were you talking about that has her running?"

"Nothing serious. Just girl stuff." | give him a smile, and he nods.

Placing a kiss inside my palm.

"I've missed you." He says, and my heart stops.

"Zayan-"

"I know, don't cross the line, dadadadda." He falls back in the chair with a laugh. How's ER going?"

"Hectic. This is the first tI've caught a break in 48 hours. But no complaints, | love saving lives."

"You're an angel. I'm just glad that psycho is out of your hair and you can now live your life."

"Thank you for visiting the victims' families with me. You're the best. | definitely owe you dinner."

"Athena Dawson? Are you askingout on a date?" He teases, makinglaugh.

| roll my eyes, grinning. "It's not a date. It's dinner. As a thank you."

Zayan leans in, his voice low as if he wants to tella secret.

"Can't a thank you dinner turn into a date if the vibes are right?"

"Depends on the definition of vibes."

He raises a brow. "You tell me."

| open my mouth to reply, but nothing comes out. My brain is scrambled. His smile

is warm, familiar. He makesfeel safe. But why am | always holding back?

"If you play your cards right, it just might be a date."

His eyes light up, and my heart swells. | can see why he's everyone's favorite.

"My hopes are skyrocketing right now. Don't letcrash." He holds his heart tically.

I'm about to shoot him a glare when our phones ring at the stime.

We share a look as we swipe right to answer.

The moment | press the phone to my ear, | hear lan's voice.

"Dr. Dawson. | know you're resting, but we have an emergency meeting right now.

Everyone needs to be present."

Zayan and | exchange startled glances.

"Emergency meeting?" We ask at the stime.

We both get up in sync, grabbing our bags and coffees forgotten on the table.

By the twe reach the 20th floor, several doctors and nurses are already gathered in the large glass

conference room.

Murmurs buzz like static in the air. Slook worried. Others are confused.

| sure do fall on the fence of worry and confusion.

Zayan and | take our seats when the doors open, and the man we only hear about steps into the room.

Dr. Elias Quinn.

The man behind Quinns Medical Center. A legend. A ghost. A nmore than a face.

He never shows up for staff meetings. He barely even walks the hospital halls. After his son took the position of

director, he is rarely seen.

So this must be extremely serious.

I've only seen his face in lan's photos, but those eyes are not something | can forget.

He is standing with his hands behind his back, his eyes scanning every single person who walks in like he's

memorizing us. Then his eyes fall on me, and my heartbeat accelerates.

lan takes a seat with other senior doctors before Dr. Elias Quin clears his throat, and just like that, the room falls

into complete silence.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice," he says, his voice crisp but calm. "I understand most of you are

either in the middle of shifts or just coming off them. This couldn't wait."

My fingers grip the back of a chair. | feel Zayan shift beside me.

“There's been a breach," Dr. Quinn continues. "Patient records were accessed last night. Unlawfully."