Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

I sent him the picture of my recent ultrasound. He wrote back and told me he was

thankful. He couldn’t stop saying how he was dying to meet his baby. He was also okay

with waiting till the day I deliver to know the gender of our baby.

“Ava?” Mom calls, pulling me back to the present.

“Sorry. I zoned out a bit” I murmur embarrassed.

“It’s okay darling. I just wanted to know if you’ll be coming this weekend like we had

talked about

“Yes, though Noah won’t be joining us this time. It’s his weekend with his father so it’ll just

be me and you guys“.

The Woods and the Sharp family used to have a monthly get together. I wasn’t always

invited. (2)

When I did get an invitation which was rare, I was treated like I didn’t exist. Like I didn’t

matter. I was completely ignored and was treated like a pariah.

The only one who used to talk to me during the gatherings was Noah. Most of the time, I

ended up leaving early or crying in the bathroom.

There hasn’t been a get together in months. I guess now that the parents are back, they

were back to having them.

“It’s a bummer that he won’t come but I am still happy that you’ll make it” dad says.

I was about to say something, but something takes my focus away. I hear a bark then a

scratch. At

first, I think I’m imagining things since there aren’t any dogs in the area. That is until I

hear it

again.

“Let me call you guys back, dad, I have to check on something” I tell him distractedly.

“Okay honey”

I hang up and move to where the sound seemed to be coming from. Going to the backyard

I find a

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There was nothing left except a whole mess.

I stare in shock. My mouth hanging wide open.

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“Do you know how long it took me to plant those, and you just ruined every single one” I

fume.

He looks chastised. Laying on the ground, giving me puppy eyes, but I wasn’t going to buy

it.

“I wanted organic food, that’s why I started the damn garden in the first place and let me

tell you, it took a lot of time and effort.” He whines, but I am too far gone to listen to him.

“Oh no, no, no. You’re not going to get out of this by flashing your cute, adorable eyes.”

Shaking my head I stare at him. Atleast I assume it’s a he. “How are you going to make up

for the damage, huh?”

The more I stare at him, the more my heart begins to melt. He is big, fluffy and completely

adorable. He had thick black and white far and piercing grey eyes. For some weird reason

they reminded me of Rowan and Noah’s grey eyes.

“Never in my life have I seen a person’s heart melt so fast when it comes to my dog. Most

people usually find him annoying as hell” the warm voice makes me whip my head so fast,

I almost break it in the process.

Holy smokes. The man was hot this close up. Black hair, green eyes, high cheekbones, a

chiselled jaw line, lips that begged to be kissed and a body that enticed you to do dirty

things. He was

freaking hot and he knew it. 4

I know what you’re thinking. ‘Slow down Ava, you got fooled once by great looks, don’t

make the

same mistake again‘. 3

I wasn’t. I swore off love and men, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate a fine

specimen

when I see one. I’m not blind. 3

“Have we met before?” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. “It’s

just that

you look familiar“.

He stares for a while before answering. “Yes, we used to go to the same school, you were

two years

behind me”.

I try to remember him, but it still doesn’t ring much of a bell. Probably because I was so

obsessed

with Rowan that I didn’t see anyone else.

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“Calvin Garcia” he supplies when I still continue staring at him confused

The moment he mentions his name, it hits me.

“Oh my goodness, you’re Nerdy Cal” for some weird reason, I shriek this.

He groans at the name he used to go by when he was in school. He glares at me, but it

doesn’t faze me at all.

“Wow, you had a big fucking glow up” I stare at him dumbfounded.

The Cal I remember was skinny, with too wide glasses that kept slipping down his nose. He

had braces and his face used to be covered in big red pimples.

He was also a

nerd, spent most of his time studying in the library while others his age were busy fucking

in the janitor’s closet.

To simply put it, he wasn’t someone you would look at twice. (1)

He looked good now. Really good. I am glad that everything worked out for him. He

changed into someone any woman would die to have. He was now in the same category

as Rowan.

“Yeah, well, thanks” he says awkwardly.

“I also remember you used to have a massive crush on Emma, how did that crush turn out

for you?” I teased. I wasn’t trying to be mean or anything. 2

When he wasn’t studying, just like all the other boys, he was busy following Emma around

like a lost puppy.

The only problem was that Emma had eyes for Rowan only. When they started dating, they

were the it couple.

Every boy except Gabe and Travis wanted to be in Rowan’s shows. Every girl wanted to be

in

Emma’s shoes.

“And you loved Rowan, how did that turn out for you?” He fired back in irritation.

“Touché” I murmur.

The pain was still there, but I managed to push it away.

I didn’t know Cal that way, but I thanked God on his behalf. Thanked him for looking after

Cal,

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Emma’s love for Rowan would have destroyed him, just like Rowan’s love for Emma

destroyed me.

“Dad, can I watch TV?” The sweet voice pulls me from my bitter memories,

I turn to find a cute boy standing behind Cal. He had the same captivating green eyes as

his father.

“Hi, my name is Ava” I just couldn’t help myself.

“Hello” he says shyly, and my heart immediately falls in love with him.

“What’s your name?” I ask him gently.

“Gunner” (2

“I have a son about your age, his name is Noah. How about you come over and meet him

when he gets out of school? He’ll be excited to have a new friend.” I pause before adding.

“If it’s okay with your dad, that is“. 4

I see him looking up at Cal. A silent conversation passes between them, before Cal sighs in

defeat.

“Fine” he simply says.

I stare at him. My eyes focused on his. I was trying to decode him, and I wasn’t ashamed

of that. There was something in his eyes that called out to me.

He shifts uncomfortably. “Well I’m sorry that Rex ruined your garden. I’ll get someone to

come tomorrow and fix it“.

So the husky was called Rex? It sort of fitted him.

“Rex” Cal called him, and he immediately went to his owner.

After he gives me a nod and Gunner gives me a smile, they leave my backyard through a

very wide opening that I have never noticed before.

I stare at their backs as they walk to their house. It’s only after they’ve left, and I’ve been

standing there like an idiot that I realize what I saw in his eyes.

I saw pain. I saw hurt. I saw a wounded soul.

In his eyes, I saw the same kind of darkness that I have been trying to run away for years

without much success.

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In him, I saw a kindred spirit.

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Even as all these revelations flooded my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder what had

caused him such pain.