Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 88 ~ Insufferable ass

ALEX

"Poura drink," | demand the moment | walk into the room and throw myself on lan's office couch.

lann looks atlike I've grown a second head.

"Hello to you too," he mutters, rolling his eyes halfway.

lann and | have been best friends for five years now. Met at sdull conference and clicked, rare for me. But |

guess Luca will just have to suck it up.

He's a petty bastard that's for sure.

When Ethan threatened to expose my illness over his damn cousin, | was furious at lann. Thought he'd sold me

out. But then | realized... he hadn't taken sides.

He stayed neutral because, as he put it, "I take my career very seriously."

He didn't betray me. Which left one question:

Who the hell did?

It couldn't have been Leah. If anything, that secret is the only thing keepingtethered to her. Why burn her

leverage?

"You're a shitty host." | mutter.

"I'm not hosting anything. Besides, this is a hospital office and not a pub. Also, you're supposed to stay away

from alcohol!"

"It's not for me," | say. "It's for my tired body. Help it out."

lann lets out a breathy laugh, shaking his head as he walks over to the corner cabinet.

"You're unbelievable, you know that?"

"Frequently told," | mutter, kicking off my shoes and letting my head fall back against the couch. The room spins

slightly. Or maybe that's just my brain short- circuiting again.

A few seconds later, | hear the soft clink of glass. I lift my head just enough to see him setting down a bottle of

whiskey and a tumbler in front of me.

He doesn't say anything at first. Just watches me.

Waiting.

| ignore the look, pop the cap off the bottle, and pour myself a generous amount. The liquid catches the light,

smooth and golden.

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| down it in one go.

It burns.

Good.

"Want to tellwhat's got you spiraling this time?" he asks casually, leaning against his desk like he's got all

the tin the world.

| just shake my head, pouring another glass.

He raises a brow. "Is it the engagement? Or the kid? Or maybe... that woman."

The glass pauses mid-air.

And that's answer enough.

"Thought so," lann mutters, almost to himself. "Should've known."

"I don't know what you're talking about." | say defensively.

"Why are you drinking" he mockswith air quotes, "For the body then?"

| don't respond.

| just drown the second glass, too.

Then the third.

The silence stretches between us like an old scar.

The thing is, there are words. A thousand of them. All crammed in my chest, clawing to be let out.

But | swallow them down with another glass instead.

| finally drag myself up from the couch, wiping a hand across my face.

lann straightens. "I'm driving you home."

"No," | say, grabbing my coat. "Ryan's outside."

His expression softens just slightly. "You brought him with you?”

"No, He cafter | had arrived."

lann nods once, no more questions. That's the thing about him. He doesn't push when he knows I'm close to

breaking.

He walksto the elevator in silence, hands shoved into his coat pockets,

shoulders tense like he wants to say something but knows better.

| press the button, and we wait. The hallway is too quiet. Hospitals always feel like they're holding their breath.

When the doors slide open, | step inside and turn to face him.

"Thanks man!" | say to him.

"Anytime. When you're ready to talk, I'll be here."

"Sure.", | tell half a lie. "I just need a second. Or a hundred." | laugh.

lann shakes his head as he pullsinto a brotherly hug before pushinginto the elevator.

| stumble forward before turning to face the bastard but the doors start to close.

| just move one floor when there is a soft chime.

Then the doors slide open again.

And she steps in.

Athena.

Wearing a soft cream blouse tucked into black jeans, her long black hair loose around her shoulders.

Her eyes widen slightly when she sees me, then narrow like she wishes she could

press the button and disappear again.

Trust me, darling, | feel the sway.

| mutter a curse under my breath and look away, clenching my jaw.

Of course, the universe would pull this shit today.

She steps in without saying a word, the air in the elevator shifting with her presence.

The doors shut with a quiet "ding".

The silence between us?

Violent.

| lean against the wall, arms crossed, watching the numbers tick down slowly above the doors.

"Knowing you'd faint when the lights go out," | say, breaking the silence didn't

you'd ever step foot in an elevator again."

with a bite in my tone, ink

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

She glares at me, her jaw tightening. "And knowing you can't hold

liquor, | didn't expect you to your

in

a public place and spew nonsense."

I smirk, turning slightly to face her. "This isn't public. It's lann's office. And | spew brilliance, not nonsense."

She scoffs. "Is that what you call it now? Brilliance? It sounded more like whining

to me."

"Funny," | say coolly, "from someone who cried because the lights flickered."

"I had a panic attack, you insufferable ass," she snaps, then instantly looks away,

as if annoyed, she even gavethat much.

It was a stupid thing to say, but |

know Athena, she's probably ashamed and about to sink below the steel. She hates pity, so I've

given her the opposite sovet

have to dwell much on feeling ashamed about what happened. Content

"You still dating that soft-spoken, weak-chinned guy who wears boat shoes to

dinner?"

Her gaze snaps to me, fire in those eyes.

"Are you still pretending to be father of the year while drinking yourself into

oblivion?"

She crosses her arms, breathing uneven.

Silence settles again. Not violent this time.

Just... heavy.

A weight neither of us is ready to carry.

The elevator dings again.

Ground floor.

She steps out first, not sparinga glance.

And | follow, wondering who is waiting to take her hand why it bothersso

damn much.