Dear Ex Wife Please take me back (Athena and Alex) novel Chapter 161

ATHENA

“Mummy! What made you take so long?” Rayen jumps in my arms as I hold back a groan.

I swear periods were enemies sent to kill us but found us stronger, so they settled for torture instead.

Because what the hell am I feeling this kind of pain for?

“We had to check for something, buddy. Come here!” Alex saves me again.

Have you ever felt like asking the ground to open up and swallow you whole? That's exactly how I'm feeling.

I'm so shy, I can't face him. Which is crazy because I'm a doctor. These things shouldn't bother me.

“My camping tent is huge and warm. I'm sharing it with my best friend! Wanna see?” Rayen asks, and I hold back a laugh.

This boy has more energy than I'll ever have.

“Yes, sure. But I didn't know you had a best friend, who is it?” Alex asks.

“Kai Sinclair. He just came to our school and is super fun!” Rayen bounces as we walk to his tent.

The setup is really camp like except that the tents have been made inside the huge hotel with security so tight no one goes around without an ID.

I doubt Alex understands the word camping.

“When you said camping, I thought it's the one everyone goes to. But I should have known nothing is the same with you, I mean, you created an artificial forest!” I can't help but laugh at how crazy this is.

“I think it's a win-win situation. The kids get to have fun, and we get to keep them safe.” He shrugs.

I shake my head but say nothing. At this point, I'm tongue-tied.

We step into the giant ballroom-turned-forest-fantasy, where massive artificial trees line the walls, and soft green carpeting pretends to be grass.

Fairy lights twinkle from the ceiling like stars, and a few fake animal sounds echo faintly from hidden speakers.

It’s extra but kind of adorable.

Rayen races ahead of us, nearly tripping over one of the tree roots made out of foam.

“Careful!” Alex and I speak at the same time.

“There! That’s mine!” Rayen says, pointing proudly at a tent with his name scribbled in glittery letters above it. “And that’s Kai’s!” He gestures to the one right next to it.

“Rayen!” A little boy calls for him, making us both turn as they run towards each other.

Behind him is Rose.

I'm taken aback, shocked that her son goes here too.

“Rose?”

“Athena.” She smiles as she pulls me into a hug. “It's great to see you!”

“I didn't know your son goes to the same school at Rayen.”

She laughs,

“He recently changed schools. It's all Caleb's fault.”

“Caleb?”

“My oldest son. He wants to play soccer and insists on changing schools. Apparently, being nine means not going to a school owned by your father.” She laughs, and I join in.

“I guess I better start that count down, ey!”

“The earlier, the better!” She responds before we both burst out laughing.

“Rose.” A deep voice speaks from behind me.

Rose looks up, her expression suddenly guarded, “Alex.”

He nods at her before turning to face me, “Do you want to sit?” He asks.

“I’m fine.” I brush him off.

He really needs to leave me the hell alone!

Before he is able to get any more words out, we hear clapping of hands.

“Alright, campers!” one of the teachers calls out, dressed in an actual ranger outfit, complete with a wide-brimmed hat and a fake walkie-talkie clipped to her belt.

“Time for some classic campsite fun!”

Rayen lights up like a Christmas tree.

Within minutes, the place turns into level one chaos. One corner becomes a pretend fishing station with magnetic rods and floating paper fish. Another area has a build your own trail mix table with ten different toppings and three kids already going into sugar comas.

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