Dear Ex Wife Please take me back

ATHENA

Alarm shoots through me for a second.

"Wait... so you're in here alone?"

He shrugs. "I like the cheese aisle."

"Well, you clearly have good taste," I murmur, then glance around again, making sure no one's watching. "Okay, I'll walk you to the entrance so you can wait safely for your dad, alright?"

He shakes his head, arms folded stubbornly. "Nope. I'll only go if you promise to play with me."

I blink. "Play with you?"

He nods, his curls bouncing. "You can be the queen, and I'll be the knight. And then maybe we can eat cheese."

I try not to laugh, but a giggle slips out anyway. "That's a very specific bribe, little man."

Rayen beams. "So, do you promise?"

I'm about to answer when I hear a voice behind me.

"She doesn't usually make promises to men under four feet, but you might be the exception."

I freeze.

I slowly turn, and there he is.

Alex.

Standing a few feet away in a white button up shirt, sleeves pushed up to reveal his smooth forearms, a coffee in one hand, and a raised brow that's already judging me in twelve different ways.

He looks between me and Rayen, amused.

"You're in so much trouble, young man." he looks down at his son.

Rayen immediately runs to him and grabs his hand, pulling him forward.

"Daddy come see a princess!"

My heart stumbles over itself.

Wait, what?

I stare between them, my mouth probably hanging open because Rayen looks

back at me proudly and says,

"See? She's pretty, right?"

I blink.

Alex chokes on his coffee.

I may never recover.

I stare at Rayen and then back at Alex, my heart under my feet as I blink. "What- no, I mean..." I stutter, still trying to process the absurdity of this whole situation.

I'm trying so hard not to die of embarrassment.

Sloane and Isabelle come around the corner, their voices getting louder as they argue over some random grocery item, completely oblivious to the tension in the air.

Sloane's head jerks up as soon as she spots us. "Oh wow, what's this? The reunion of the year?"

Alex, who's still holding his coffee cup like it's a weapon, shoots a glare her way. "Why haven't you been picking up my calls?"

"Haha! Come on, cuz. This isn't the best place to talk about work."

Isabelle, who seems to have been speechless then, leans forward, ker voice so casual, it's like she's talking about the weather. "Honestly, don't care if you're a mental case, can live with seeing your face alone."

My eyes go wide. I choke on my own breath. Isabelle didn't just say that.

Alex, who'd been sipping his coffee like he was about to be in a bad mood, freezes.

He turns slowly toward her, his brow furrowing. "Excuse me?" he asks. I'm already mortified.

let

Before Alex can make things any more awkward, I clear my throat. "Right, well, Isabelle and l-uh, we'll just... we go ahead and... finish shopping. You two-have fun with your um, prince." I shoot a quick look at Rayen, who's still holding

Alex's hand like he's the happiest kid

alive.

I rush past Isabelle, grabbing her arm and pulling her along like I'm about to be

swallowed by the floor.

The second I get us to a quieter aisle, I stop and turn to Isabelle, forcing a

nervous smile. "You...you didn't just say that, did you?"

She gives me a confused look. "What? I just said it like it was. I mean, what's the problem?"

I wave my hand. "I don't know,

Isabelle. Maybe saying someone is a 'mental case' to their face, especially

when they're standing right there with their son, maybe that's @ thing we should avoid."

She looks completely unfazed. "Eh, he probably gets that a lot. It's nothing new." She shrugs, then giggles, still oblivious.

"Not with me around. He will probably think I put you up to this." I angrily place the items on the till.

The last thing I need is that asshole to think I tell people to say things to him!

Isabelle eyes me but presses her lips onto a thin line, making my heart clench in guilt. As we walk to the car park, I turn to face her, "I'm sorry I snapped."

She nods as she opens her SUV.

"You'll be forgiven as soon as you tell me what the hell is going on between you two."

"What do you mean?" I avoid her gaze.

Isabelle sighs, "He's not really insane is he?"

I laugh.

"Oh he is insane alright."

She gives me an Hmmm sound.noveldrama

"You guys broke up?" She grabs a bottle of water while waiting for me to respond.

"Divorced." I correct.