Dear Ex Wife Please take me back (Athena and Alex) novel Chapter 158

ATHENA

I sit at work as my head spins. I've tried to think of what would have caused Alex to say that, but I come back empty every single time.

He wouldn't tell me what, and it's extremely frustrating!

“Dr. Dawson? We have an urgent patient who needs surgery.” Nurse Mira says, and I nod.

I put my phone back in my coat and rush to to the OR.

Three hours later, I'm walking out, feeling like my bones are cracking. It's crazy how you think your body will get used only to be proven wrong over and over again.

The fatigue never goes away. And the back pains only get worse. But none of that matters when you're doing something you love.

As long as my patients get to live a healthy life again, I'm fine with feeling tired and having dark circles.

“The surgery went well. We just need to keep an eye on him.” I say to the nurse who nods.

“Yes doc. You really do have magic hands. Every patient you've worked on has lived.” She says with a smile.

I smile back, but I can't help but get a strange feeling. That something is about to go wrong.

I push my thoughts aside as I step out, stripping off my gloves and gown.

“Nice work in there,” Zayan says behind me, his voice warm.

He walks up as I’m sanitizing my hands, and before I can react, he leans in to kiss me.

I turn my head at the last second, and the kiss lands on my cheek.

Zayan pulls back, his brows slightly furrowed.

“Is something wrong?”

I shake my head quickly. “No. Not with you. Never with you.” I give a faint smile. “You’re perfect.”

And he is.

Smart. Kind. Patient. Loyal. The kind of man any woman would be lucky to have.

So why isn’t my heart racing?

Why isn’t my skin tingling?

Why isn’t the air around me shifting like it does when he walks into the room?

Even when Alex breathes near me, my blood rushes to my ears, my stomach flips, and it takes everything not to melt.

But with Zayan… it’s quiet.

Too quiet.

“I was thinking…” Zayan says, clearing his throat. “Maybe we could go out sometime this week? Just you and me.”

“I… I would’ve liked that,” I say honestly, then add gently, “But I took a few days off. Rayen and I are going camping.”

His smile grows. “Just Rayen and you?”

I know he has been dying to meet my son, but Alex would kill him before he hung me for letting him near Rayen. I know that much.

I hate to crush his hopeful gaze, but I don't want to lie.

“No,” I answer. “With Alex too.”

There it is.

The shift.

Not in me but in him.

Zayan nods, his eyes unreadable. “I see.”

And just like that, the silence between us turns into something heavier.

It's at this point that I really wish the ground could open up and swallow me.

“But when I get back, we can do that date.” I offer him a smile, but he shakes his head.

“I love you, Athena. But I feel like I'm playing a losing game here. I'm fighting against a man who is not even in the game.” he runs a hand through his hair.

I look around, grateful that it's just us.

“Zayan, it's not like that. You're a great guy but-”

“But I'm not him.” He laughs bitterly.

“and that's why I'm with you! Because you're you. I know it's been crazy but-”

He laughs at that.

“Nothing has been crazy about us, Athena. We've been dating for eight months, and it's been like we haven't at all. Trust me, I would love some crazy right now.”

I sigh.

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