ATHENA

Three dayster....

"Today is ourst day, and we must make the best of it!" The teacher announces just as Rose pulls a chair to sit next to me.

I barely look up. My mind is still spinning, reying that night like a broken record on loop.

The kiss.

God.

That kiss.

It had knocked the air out of my lungs and left a dull ache in my chest. I couldn''t shake off. Like a burn that wouldn''t stop tingling.

I hadn''t talked to Alex since. Not properly, anyway. I mean, we share a room, so speaking is inevitable.

We''d shared a few stolen nces, a tension-filled breakfast where I refused to look at him, and one idental brush of hands that sent my entire nervous system into panic mode.

Rose leans toward me, snapping her gum loudly. "You look like you haven''t slept in three days."

"I haven''t," I mumble, flipping my pen in my hand.

"Why? You miss Zayan?" She asks.

I pause, turning to look at the growing smile on her face.

Yeah, I... I do."

I''m lying. I don''t, but I''m not about to admit who is buried in my mind.

"We''re more simr than you think, sweetie." Rose ces a warm hand on my back.

"We are?" Iugh.

I don''t think so.

"Yep. So I''ll help you save time and tell you to just break up with Zayan. He''ll be fine. You don''t click like you do with Alex. I know that because I, too, was in the same situation.

You see, Ethan did some shady things when we just got married. He didn''t cheat. he just hurt me with his actions. Then I divorced him and ran away with my surviving triplets.

I lost one, unfortunately, but two grew into beautiful kids. They''re nine this year, and we had one more, Kai is ourst born.

I''m not telling you this because I support what he did. But because I can tell he loves you and as long as he didn''t cheat ory his hands on you, I think it''s okay to give it another try. I saw the way he looks at you, the day we came to have Zayan reinstated.

I always see that look, so I''d know it from anywhere. I know you feel no spark with Zayan, too. So why torture yourself? Life is too short babe, you never know when you''re breathing yourst, so don''t waste any second!"

My mouth opens.

Then it closes again.

Then it opens.

I can''t form any sentences. I met Ethan. I think he''s here as we speak. He must be with the fathers on the other side. But the way he looks at her, protects and loves her.

I can''t picture him being anything else.

The way he kisses Rose''s forehead every time he walks past her? The man who brings her tea every morning we''ve been here and carries their sleeping son on his back like it''s his favorite burden?

Their love looks effortless.

Like it was born perfect.

But it isn''t.

Maybe no love is ever born perfect. It has to be forged in fire, in a mess, and all the imperfections for it to thrive.

And maybe... maybe our story deserves a second chance.

Does that mean there''s hope?fnca8d This update is avable on F?nd-Novel/fnca8d

Am I thinking about taking Alex back?

My heart screams yes.

God, I don''t know.

My heart still hurts when I think of Zayan because he doesn''t deserve this. He''s a

great guy and a great friend. But I can''t see myself marrying him.

I''ll be miserable. Rayen won''t ept him, I just know it. I''ll fight with his mother, and that will make me even more miserable.

I blink fast, shaking the thoughts off just as the teacher ps her hands together, calling everyone''s attention.

"Alright,dies and gentlemen!" she says cheerfully. "We''re ending this trip on a high! Today''s final task is for parents!

We''re splitting you up. Mothers on the left, fathers on the right. Each group will be given one challenge, and any points earned will go to your child''s team."

Groans echo around the room, followed byughter and the shuffling of chairs. "Ladies," she continues, "you will be building a mini yhouse using only the materials provided outside. Creativity and teamwork are key!"

A few mothers gasp.

Rose smiles.

I bet this is a piece of cake for her.

"Fathers," the teacher adds, turning to the other group, "your task is to prepare a meal for all of us. You will have ess to basic ingredients, a campfire setup, and an outdoor grill.”  s

Rose slumps back into her seat, rubbing her face.

"Oh God, they''re going to burn us to the ground."

Iugh.

She leans closer and whispers, "I once sent my husband to get groceries, and he hired someone to go with him because he didn''t know what aisle eggs are in Cooking? That man is about to light this stic forest on fire."  s

Augh escapes me, unexpected and full.

And with it, a memory slips in,

The night I slept over at Alex''s house. The way he fed me breakfast and furrowed

his brow when I told him the waffles were too delicious to have been made by

him.

Weughed and had a good time.

Is that when the fire started? It never went away exactly, but I buried it so deep

and locked it in resentment so I wouldn''t feel it again.

But he broke down my walls bit by bit until that fire cracked and warmed up my chest until it burned.

Rose raises an eyebrow, nudging me softly.

"What is that smile? Please give me the good news. Do we have hope with Alex?"

I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to stifle anotherugh, then shake my

head.

"The man only knows how to boil water."

"Then I guess we better make sure our boys get to learn the basic skills of life!"

She stands, pulling her shirt to her elbow.

"Where do we start?"

"Right over there, Mrs. Sinir!" the teacher points.

The moment Rose rolls up her sleeves, I feel a flicker of excitement spark in my

chest.

She''s ready. And honestly, I am, too.

It looks fun, and even though I don''t know shit about building, I''m willing to try until I get it right. Rayen and the other kids are going to watch, and that s a big deal. How we handle this will reflect in their minds forever.  s

Right after the teacher finishes exining, a voice from the other group pipes up.

"You expect us to cook?" one of the fathers scoffs, his arms folded over his designer shirt. "Come on, we have people for that."

A chorus of chuckles follows from a few other dads, all shaking their heads like

the idea of holding a spat might kill them.

"This is ridiculous," another adds. "I''m a CEO. I don''t need to prove I can flip a

burger."

"Exactly," a third chimes in. "Why embarrass ourselves? This isn''t MasterChef. My son will inherit mypany, not a damn kitchen!"