Dear Ex Wife Please take me back novel Chapter 103

ALEX

“What?” Her beautiful whiskey brown eyes widen.

I lean back with a sigh.

“He was born on the 22nd of October. Which is a month from now.” I add with an emphasis on Rayen's upcoming third birthday that he won't stop talking about.

Her eyes fall to her laps, and a look of disappointment crosses her features. I was shocked when I saw her here and even more shocked when she asked to speak to me.

Athena hates me as much as I hate her, and the only time we see each other is when Rayen won't stop asking for her.

Although, I'm starting to think that's just my excuse.

Something inside me moved when I saw the pain in her eyes as I brought Rayen with an ambulance, but it also confused me.

Doesn't she hate kids?

Isn't she happy now that I'm out of her life with nothing tying her to me?

“Oh.” Her voice pulls me back to the present, and I frown.

I thought she was curious about his birthday so she could get him a gift seeing how close they are now. But it seems I was wrong looking at the disappointment in her eyes.

“Why do you ask?”

She forces a smile.

“I uhm… was just curious.”

“Athena.” My voice comes out firmer than I intend, but I need the truth, whatever the hell this is about.

She stiffens slightly in her chair, her hands clenched tight on her lap. Her knuckles are white.

“You didn’t show up here, unannounced, at three minutes past eight because you were curious.” I continue, stepping away from the desk. “You’re many things, but you’ve never been a coward.”

She lets out a shaky breath. Her eyes lift to meet mine, and there’s something raw in them that hits me square in the chest.

“I uhm… need to go.” She stands from her chair but misses her step and almost falls when I hold her before pulling her to my chest.

Her sweet vanilla scent hits my nose and fuck, I just want to pull her close and sniff her neck.

My arms tighten around her before I can stop myself.

She stiffens, probably out of surprise or maybe confusion but doesn’t pull away.

Her cheek brushes against my chest, and I feel the tiniest tremble in her breath. That same breath I once knew better than my own.

God, how the hell did we get here?

“You’re running,” I murmur against her hair, my voice low.

She doesn’t answer.

Her fingers grip the lapel of my suit jacket for balance, but it feels more like she’s holding on to something she doesn’t want to let go of.

I hate the ache that flares in my chest at that thought.

I pull back just enough to see her face. Her lashes are wet, and her jaw’s tight like she’s trying not to fall apart. Like she’s carrying a war inside her.

“Athena,” I say again, softer this time. “Tell me what’s going on.”

She shakes her head, tears clinging to her lashes. “I can’t.”

“You can,” I insist, brushing my thumb lightly across her cheek.