feeling his presence, every second ♡︎

-6-

Should I really be doing this? Do I really want this? Is Alex really someone that I want? Well I think maybe it's a little too late to be thinking that since it's already Friday and I'm already sitting at the dinner table. I was waiting for him to show up while the thoughts began to wander again. I think I've convinced myself to get over Ben. So I think that maybe I want to try things with Alex.

10 minutes later, he arrived and walked towards the table. I got up and gave him a hug and he kissed my cheek. It was quite unexpected but this is a great start to what I'm assuming is the first date. We talked throughout the entire night and he got up to go the bathroom and he was taking really long but I was on my phone and texted Leah.

Jen: Guess who I'm with?

Leah: Who?

Jen: Alex Rodriguez

Leah: Finally another date after Ben.

I left her on read and laughed. I set my phone down because I saw Alex walking back to our table but I got another notification so I picked it up thinking it was Leah but It was Alex.

Alex: BTW you look sexy af..

And the rest is history. Or at least was history. You see, Alex and I ended up dating and we got engaged in 2019. Our empires grew drastically both together and separately. I did the Super Bowl, The "It's my Party" Tour that lasted all summer, amongst other things. I did it all with his support. He treated my kids like his own and they loved him. I loved his daughters like they were my own too.I truly believed that he was my second chance and I loved him. Also at this point; I swore I was over Ben.

Covid- 19 came around forcing us to be locked up at home together. I got to spend lots of time with Max and Emme so it was a blessing in that aspect. The bad part was that me and Alex started fighting. At first it was here and there but then it became a regular occurence. Even the tiniest things bothered us. It got to a point where the relationship became extremely toxic and leaving was what was best for me and the kids. I was a little heart broken but it's what was best.

I moved back to LA and I hadn't heard of Ben in years. Last I heard was that he and Jen had divorced and that he had just gotten out of rehab. So what was that whole "My kids won't live with having divorced parents" thing about?  On the other hand I was extremely proud of him for getting sober and moving on in 2018. As bad as that sounds; I knew those were two things that made him extremely happy.

Our LA life was nice. The kids loved Miami and I felt terrible for making them move but before we moved to Miami, everything we had was in LA. The 3 of us still keep in touch with Natasha and Ella, Max and Emme still keep in touch with Alex. Whatever did happen with the two of us had nothing to do with them and we both respected and lived by that rule.

We stayed in today since it was raining all day. We did nothing but watch movies and I ordered books for us to read in the bay window. It was our favorite activity to do together. When night came and the kids went to bed, I took a shower then laid in bed. I turned on the news and the top story surprised me.

Cuban Actress Ana de Armas and "Argo" Actor Ben Affleck have broken up. Stay tuned for all the details why. THEY DATED?

She's gorgeous. I didn't even know they dated. I immediately got a call from Leah.

"ARE YOU SEEING THIS JENNIFER?"

"YEAH ARE YOU TUNING IN TO KNOW WHY?"

"You know I am! Also don't you think this is a sign?"

"Here you go with this again. You sound like Lupe." I was kinda kidding. I went to the fridge and got a glass of milk and few cookies and I went back in time to hear the reporter tell the whole story.

"Alright but hear me out; What are the odds that you and him broke up with other people at the same time on purpose?"

"Slim." I close the refridgerator door and I thought about what I just said. "No pun intended."

"AHHH I see why you did that because you played Slim in Enough but ANYWAYSSS.." At this point she was yelling so I had to put the speaker and certain distance from my ear.

"Listen, baby. The news says that Ben and Ana split because she wanted kids and he didn't want them at the moment. What you're thinking is like Halley's comet. He doesn't want to get back together with me."

"What makes you think so negatively? Aren't you a hopeless romantic or something like that?"

"Because If he wanted me to be with him he would have texted me. Alex and I's split has been on every article, there is no way he doesn't know."

"Okay well when he reaches out then let me know, Your best friend loves you Jennifer." She and I were laughing. I'm so glad I have her.

"I love you too!! I'll text you when he asks me on a date!!"

A week later, Ben texted me.

Ben: Remember how it's always been us? Now tell me why we aren't together now?

I hate when Leah is right but I can't wait to tell her about this one, she'll be thrilled.