12

Lexi's POV:

"Where are you going this early on a Saturday?" Mia asks me as I slip into a pair of leggings.

"I'm going to watch my friend's kids for a few hours." I say. "We can get lunch after?"

Mia nods slowly, still in bed. "You mean Evan's kids?"

I bite my inner cheek and look at her, "yeah, is that okay?"

She nods without hesitation. I lean over and kiss her lips, "I'll text you once I'm headed back."

I leave the apartment and drive to Evan's house, which I barely remember how to get to since I've only been once.

I park in the driveway and ring the doorbell, hearing the familiar sound of young feet running across the house.

The door swings open and I see both girls staring at me. I smile and raise my brows, "morning."

"Mom said you can come in." Grace says.

I nod and enter the house, feeling a bit tense because I don't know how well the kids remember me. It's been five years, and they were pretty young...

I'm led through the house and to the kitchen, where Evan is standing with plates of food in her hands.

"Girls, sit and eat. Mason, stop playing with your food. Lexi... yours is up next." She rattles off like she's a line-cook.

I laugh, "you don't have to cook for me. That was a joke."

She cuts her eyes at me, "hush."

I show my palms in surrender and make myself comfortable at the dining table.

Mason stares at me hard, not having the slightest idea who I am.

"You're pretty." Ava blurts.

I smile, "thank you. I think you two are pretty... you look a lot like your mom." I say.

They smile and look at one another, clearly having discussed what to say to me prior to my arrival.

"Do you like making stuff, Lexi?" Grace asks.

I shrug, "depends on what it is."

"Bracelets. We have a whole box full of stuff to make them. You can make some with us to wear if you want to." She continues, hopeful that I'll be interested.

I smile and giggle a little, "I think I could make a few bracelets. You'll have to teach me how though."

"Gotta be good with your fingers. Kinda tricky." Evan chimes in, sliding a plate in front of me. "No eggs, just how you like it."

I'm so thrown by her initial comment I barely realize that she even remembered my hatred for eggs. "I- okay."

She smirks and walks back to the stove to clean up quickly. "I'm gonna go get changed, eat up."

I nod and watch her walk away, left sort of speechless.

"What's your favorite color? We have blue, pink, yellow, green, black, and orange strings to pick for your bracelet!" Grace informs.

"Hm, I think I'll go with black." I say, "what about you, Mason? Are you going to make bracelets too?" I tease, knowing he'll have no interest.

He quickly shakes his head and makes a face of disgust, "no way! That's boring."

I grin at the boy, realizing that he has not changed a bit other than his height. "I'm sure we can find something more entertaining for you to do."

He nods quickly and the kids stuff their faces, as do I. I see Evan's figure come into my peripheral and I look her way.

"Alright, I'm gonna go because I am late, but girls... please be good. Do not give Lexi a hard time. And Mason, you behave too. I mean it. Lexi will tell me if any of you misbehave." Evan growls, staring each of them in the eye.

"We will, mama." Grace promises.

Evan kisses all three kids and motions (subtly) for me to follow her.

I excuse myself and meet her around the corner, "yes ma'am?"

She rolls her eyes, "ew. Don't call me that."

I smirk, "yes, Evan?"

"They should be good, but if not- just call me. I'll try to be quick. And Mason has some-"

"Ev?" I cut her off, noticing that she is rambling.

"Hm?"

I shake my head, "I've got them. Go handle business. We'll be right here when you're finished."

She nods and bites her nail, "I'll pay you-"

"No, out." I laugh, literally pushing the woman out the door.

She grins and walks away, shaking her head.

I return to the kitchen and find everyone at their seats, finishing up breakfast.

"What do you guys want to do first? We can make bracelets, watch a movie, go outside and play... whatever you want." I shrug, catering to the three kids.

"I wanna play outside!" Mason exclaims. All boy.

"Yeah? What about you two?" I ask, eyeing the pre-teens.

"We can make bracelets out there I guess." Ava shrugs. "We have a cool hammock swing too!"

Once that's settled, we migrate outside and Mason immediately heads for the trampoline and starting jumping around wildly. The girls take a much more calm approach, laying out a blanket over the grass and sitting down with their beads and string, ready to make jewelry.

I watch from a distance for a while, relaxing in the hammock and thinking about how much all three of them have changed. It's crazy that I'm even here right now. I never would have thought...

"Lexi! I made this one for you." Grace says, holding up a small item.

I make my way over and lay down on the blanket, staring up at the late-morning sky. "I dig it. Think you can make me another?" I ask as I slip the beads over my fist.

She nods quickly and I watch the girls put together more jewelry, bickering a bit about who gets what color.

"Do you guys like being at your mom's house?" I ask.

"Yeah, I want to be here all the time. Dad says no though. He wants to keep us away from her, I think. I don't get why." Ava shrugs, clearly understanding more than she leads on.

"Yeah?"

"My dad has a new wife now though. I'm pretty sure he wants her to be our replacement mom, but it won't work. Our mom is better than Lanie. Lanie isn't even a good cook." Grace shrugs, being brutally honest.

"Your mom is a pretty good cook... she's a good mama in general, don't you think?" I smile.

They both nod in agreeable, "why did you go away from such a long time?" I'm questioned.

I sigh, not expecting that question from them. "I... I don't know, really. I started school and your mom moved away, so I never really saw any of you guys. I wish I would have though."

Grace nods, "I think I liked when you were around." She shrugs.

I grin, "I like hanging out with you guys too. Maybe I won't be such a stranger now."

"Lexi!!" Mason's squeal rings in my ears. "Look at me!"

I watch him turn some sort of half-flip and he lands on his back, but quickly jumps to his feet like he's just landed perfectly.

"Woah... that was awesome. Want me to help you land?" I offer, headed towards the trampoline.

He nods, eager to learn. I slide into the net, smiling to myself since I haven't been on a trampoline in years.

I show Mason how to land a flip, though I'm not confident he'll comprehend it all since he is still pretty young and clumsy.

To my surprise, he does it and sticks the landing. I'm thanked with a giant hug around my neck, one that warms my core.

Something about being around kids, these kids in particular, makes me feel so whole.

* * *

Evan's POV:

Hours later

I have been calling Lexi for about forty minutes now, and I've yet to get an answer. It's freaking me out a little. It isn't like her to just not answer me.

I quickly unlock my front door and walk into a quiet house and walk towards the living room.

When I turn the corner, I see Lexi laying across the couch with Mason sitting at her feet, and the twins sharing the loveseat... all engaged in a movie.

"Mom!" Grace yells when she sees me. She runs over and hugs me tight, followed by her sister.

"Hi... I was worried. Lexi wasn't answering the phone." I say, glaring at Lexi.

She pats her hoodie-pocket harshly and mouths "shit" as she jumps off the couch and runs to the other room to find her phone.

"I'm sorry, I didn't even think about it." She apologizes.

I shake my head, "it's fine. Did you guys behave?"

The kids nod quickly, but I look to Lexi for a truthful answer.

"They were horrible." She groans.

Both girls gasp and run to Lexi, grabbing her and nearly tackling her to the floor. "No we weren't!" They laugh.

Lexi smiles big and puts her hands on both their heads, "they were good, Ev. We had a good time."

I nod and bite my cheek, loving the sight of all the smiles in the room. "Good. I was hoping you'd say that... because if you were bad I would say we can't go get ice cream."

The three little one's faces illuminate, "YES!"

I laugh and motion towards the bedrooms, "go get ready!"

The three kids bolt toward their rooms, leaving me alone with Lexi.

"Go through my panty drawer this time?" I sigh, sinking into the couch.

Lexi laughs pretty hard, "wow, that... okay. No, I withheld my urges this time." She jokes. "How was the meeting with Richard?"

My grin slowly fades, "it was good... I think? He's a nice man, but the fact of the matter is that Scott has money and lawyers who don't play fair." I admit.

Lexi rolls her eyes, "Scott can have all the money in the world... but one thing that he doesn't have is the favor of those kids. Evan, I just spent five hours listening to them talk about how great you are and how much they love you. No judge would choose him over you."

I push my hair around, thinking. "I don't know, Lex. I just worry about... you know, our past coming up."

She shakes her head, "it shouldn't matter. It was five years ago. And you didn't do anything wrong, Evan. I mean sure, you cheated on your lying, cheating, dickhead of a husband... but that doesn't make you unfit. You know you're a good mom. Anyone can see that." Lexi reminds me.

"I guess we'll see how it plays out next month. That's when Richard thinks we'll go before a judge." I groan, anxious at the thought alone.

Lexi nods and reaches over, grabbing my hand and squeezing it. "You'll be fine. Those kids are going to be here with you. I know it. I feel it." She insists.

I smile a bit and see four bracelets stacked on her wrist. "Rocking some new jewelry?"

She smiles and holds up her arm, flashing it like it's diamonds. "One of a kind. Pretty sick, aren't they?"

I shake my head and read some of the beads, "G plus L... heart, heart, heart." I smile softly, "you're good with them. You always have been."

Lexi shrugs, "I enjoy them."

I smile and the kids come running back into the room, ready to go get ice cream.

I invite Lexi to come along, but she denies the offer.

"I promise I'll see you guys again soon, okay? I had fun... and thank you for the bracelets!" Lexi says, high-fiving all three of them.

They grin and I shoo them to the car, wanting a second to speak to Lexi again.

"You should come." I push. "I'll even buy..."

"And eat that nasty ass coffee flavor ice cream you like? Hell no." Lexi smarts. I slug my fist into her arm. She grins and licks her lips, "joking.. but not really. I have to go meet Mia for lunch."

I nod and hold out a fifty dollar bill to her, but she refuses, which I anticipated. "No, I don't want that. Use it for your ice cream."

"Lex, come on..." I groan, feeling that the money is necessary.

She laughs, "no!"

"Please?"

"Oh, look who is begging now..." she taunts.

My eyes widen and I laugh harder than before, "shh! Please, take the fuckin' money."

Lexi rolls her eyes and still refuses the money. "You're stubborn... I'm not taking it."

I shove the bill into her hoodie-pocket, and smile victoriously. "You're just picking up on that?" I ask.

She grins smugly, "but not as stubborn as me." Her hand slips the money into my back pocket, ever-so-carefully grazing my ass when she does.

Before I can react, she skips towards her car, "see you at work, Ev. Enjoy the ice cream."

"You- ugh. I owe you." I yell.

She shakes her head, "not counting."

I am.