22

Lexi's POV:

I feel pure rage course through my veins at the sight of Katie's smug little grin.

I never spoke to her again after what she did to me. She ruined so many things for me... and it was for no reason at all other than to be a bitch, isn't she just wonderful?

"Well, this is just fucking perfect, huh?" I grin, glancing between my mom and Katie, who I'm sure have been in contact despite the friendship ending.

"Lexi, just be nice." My mom presses. I get the feeling that my mom told Katie she was here, which again comes as no surprise to me.

By this time, Evan is raising her head from her short-lived nap and taking in her surroundings.

"Is that Mrs. Copeland?" Katie gasps as Evan's face comes into view.

Evan clears her throat and pushes her hair around, "Johnson." She corrects, probably not even realizing who she is speaking to yet.

"Get out." I hiss, standing up and walking over to Katie.

She laughs in my face and shakes her head, "I'm just working, Lexi."

I don't know how a bitch like her got a job as a nurse, but she damn sure did. What did these poor patients do to deserve that?

"Alexis, you sit down and stop acting a fool." My mom hisses, choosing sides.

"Me? Are you seriously siding with this bitch over your daughter?" I laugh, motioning to the girl in scrubs.

My mom says nothing and I hear Evan sigh and feel her hand on my shoulder. "Let's take a walk, Lex." She says.

Evan (literally) pushes me out of the room, my shoulder brushing Katie's pretty hard as I pass her.

Evan forces me to come with her down the hall and out the door, making a lap around the building.

"I was asleep for less than an hour." She starts off. "Quite the sight to wake up to."

I shake my head, "of all the fucking people, she had to be here. I swear, Ev. I hate her. That's the only person I can say that I feel a deep, burning hatred for."

"I know, and you have a right to hate her. Shit, I have a right to hate her. I just don't want to see you do something you'll regret later. Don't let her have that satisfaction, Lex." Evan reminds me. I know she's right, but Katie's face is like a magnet for my fist.

"Your mom said something to me." Evan says, changing the subject, though the subject still manages to piss me off beyond measure.

I stop walking and my brows raise, "what did she say?"

Evan shrugs and gives a half-smile, trying to act like it's no big deal. "She just filled me in on how I ruined your life and how I need to grow up and make smarter decisions, the usual."

I turn to walk back into the hospital, ready to beat Katie's ass and cuss my own mother out too, but Evan grabs my arm and stops me. "Hey."

"How are you so fucking unbothered?!" I ask Evan, genuinely confused.

She shakes her head, her voice totally calm. "If there is one thing I have learned in this life it is that some things and some people just are not worth it, Lexi. Not everyone is going to like you or the life you live, and if you try to constantly fit that mold or make people see things your way, you will be absolutely miserable. What Katie or your mom say, think, or do doesn't have to impact either one of us. It only does if we let it." Evan plants her words of wisdom in my brain and my blood boils a bit less, but I'm still upset. I have this insatiable urge to defend Evan at all times.

"I'd still like to punch her." I confess.

Evan giggles and kisses my head, "me too, baby."

I glance at her and my lips curl, "I guess it is a good thing you came, or else you'd be bailing me out of jail."

Evan shakes her head and locks her arm with mine as we continue walking around the building. "What makes you so sure I'd bail you out?"

I give her a look, "please... your sex drive is way too high for you to leave me on there."

Evan laughs and scrunches her nose, knowing I'm spot-on with that one.

I glance at her side profile as we walk, the moon being the only significant light source since it's just past midnight.

"I really love you, Evan." I blurt the words without even meaning to, but it makes her smile.

She holds my face on both sides and kisses me slowly, "I know you do, Lex. And you know I feel the same way about you."

Her lips on mine never fail to make my heart beat faster, no matter how many times she kisses me.

* * *

Evan's POV:

Lexi and I walk back into the waiting room and find Katie and Amy sitting together, talking as if they're best friends.

Myself and Lexi both sit, and Lexi eyes Katie like she wants to kill her the entire time.

"Such a cute couple, really. How's the step mom life working out, Lexi?" Katie speaks, though I wish she wouldn't have. "Oh, wait... Evan doesn't have her kids."

I watch Lexi's knee bounce up and down viciously and I just raise my brows at Katie. "Don't you have a job to do?"

She switches her eyes to me, looking me up and down. "Maybe you missed the memo, but hospitals don't require slutty attire." She smiles devilishly and rests her chin on her hand, flashing a decent sized ring on her left hand.

Lexi's knee stops and I laugh, sitting back in my chair. "They don't require bitchy attitudes either, but here you are."

Katie cuts her eyes, "bitch."

"Fuck you, Katie." Lexi hisses, clearly angry with her tone.

Katie grins slowly, "you've got the wrong girl, Lexi. I'm not Evan."

I can see the anger building in Lexi's eyes by the second, and I know that if Katie keeps pushing things are going to snap... and I have a pretty good idea of who would be the winner of that little quarrel.

Rather than just sitting and watching, though I would love to see Katie have her ass handed to her by Lexi, I slip out to the hall and find another nurse, and request that Katie be removed from the situation altogether.

When I come back with reinforcements, Katie changes her entire demeanor.

"Room 402 needs you, Katie. What are you doing in here?" The older lady, clearly more in-charge than Katie, says.

"I- yes ma'am. I'll head there now." Katie says, standing and leaving the room. She eyes me hard as she walks by me, and I just smile.

I sit down beside Lexi and she looks at me, exhaling slowly. "I shouldn't have even come."

I shake my head, "you did the right thing by coming."

"It's ridiculous. This whole thing is just ridiculous. I don't see why it's such an issue for her, or Katie?!" Lexi groans, motioning to her mom, who is still in the room and listening.

"Alexis, I just saw something much different, much better for you. I wanted you to be happy." Amy explains, as if that's supposed to help.

Lexi's eyes roll, "oh, is that right? Mom, you can say that to yourself as many times as you want... but we both know that my happiness is the last thing on your mind. It has been since dad died."

I bite my inner cheek, just listening. I've never pressed for too many details about Lexi's dad, mainly because I know how hard it is for her.

"That is not true, Alexis! Your father's death had nothing to do with-"

"Don't tell me about the impact him dying had on things for me. I know it didn't do shit for you since you sold all his things, and replaced him with Mike, but I never forgot him." Lexi growls. "The little act you put on doesn't cut it anymore, mom."

Amy sits there, dumbfounded and speechless.

"You know what? I'm just going to leave. This isn't even worth it. Tell Mike to call me once he's able to, because I'm done talking to you, mom. You've made your role in my life pretty clear." Lexi shrugs, getting up and wandering to the door.

I'm left with no choice but to follow her, and before she crosses the threshold, she faces me, then looks at her mom.

"Oh, and one more thing..." Lexi days. She grabs my jaw and kisses me hard, then looks at her mom, "I make you proud yet?"

Amy's jaw is left dropped, and I carefully walk over and put my finger on her chin, picking it up for her and giving a playful, victorious wink. I fight the smirk playing at my lips (poorly, might I add) and Lexi pulls me out of the room with her, headed to the elevator.

Once we make it outside, Lexi lets out a loud growl, highly frustrated with the events of the last couple of hours. In all honestly, it turns me on to see her be all ballsy and bold, especially to her mom.

"I admire your fearlessness." I sigh, walking behind her and wrapping my arms around her. "I think that may have been the best move." I admit, realizing just how broken and toxic the relationship between Lexi and Amy is.

"I should have said that so long ago. I'm just- I'm done with her, Evan." Lexi shrugs, her emotions creeping to the surface.

"And that's okay sometimes, Lex. You don't have to stick around and let someone treat you a certain way just because they're 'family.' A toxic relationship is a toxic relationship." I remind her.

She glances at me and shakes her head, "I just wanna go home."

I nod my head and peck her cheek, "we can."

Lexi starts towards the driver door, but I stop her. "No, I'm driving. You're tired, and my buzz is long gone."

Lexi reluctantly agrees, but still opens the door for me before walking around the car.

The entire way back to my house she holds my hand on the console, moving her fingers and saying an occasional word or two to keep us both awake and aware.

By the time we're parked in my driveway, the clock is just turning to four in the morning.

We walk inside and I kick my heels off by the door. "You going to bed?" I ask Lexi.

"Drinks?" She asks, scratching her head.

I nod and let out a breathy laugh, "if that's what you want, babe."

She nods pathetically and leans against this counter while I grab two glasses. I fill mine with red wine, per usual. And I pass Lexi one with whiskey.

She immediately furrows her brows, "you have whiskey on hand? Since when?"

"Since I knew you were coming and I bought it on the way home from work..." I wink, jumping up onto the counter and sipping my wine.

"And this is one of many reasons I love you." Lexi smirks, taking the glass to her lips.

My lip curls and I just look at her. I can tell she's thinking. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

She shakes her head no, but positions herself between my legs and hugs me. I just allow her to stand there, holding my body in her arms.

After several minutes of pure silence, she stands upright and finishes what's left of her drink.

"I crush at dates, huh?" She jokes.

I smile and scrunch my nose, "I'm still in my dress, so it's not over yet. You have time to redeem yourself."

Lexi laughs and helps me slide off the countertop. "Come to bed then."

I nod my head and put my glass on the counter, and Lexi walks with me towards the bedroom.

* * *

I wake up to the sweetest kisses and the softest touches. I feel Lexi's hands running up and down my bare back, and I slowly open my eyes.

"Mm, good morning." I mutter.

"More like afternoon." She whispers.

I roll over and face her, and it's apparent that she's already been up and moving. "What time is it?"

"Only 12:00. I made you coffee." Lexi says, motioning to the table beside my bed.

"Thank you." I smile and find her hand on the sheet, grabbing it with mine. "Ugh, I haven't slept this late in a very long time."

"I guess that's what happens when you stay up until five in the morning, huh?" She asks, laying down beside me.

I pout my lip out and climb on top of her with my hardly-clothed body and close my eyes again. "You're so warm."

Lexi giggles and carefully pulls her fingers up and down my spine. "So are you."

I grin and listen to her breathing and the sound of her heart beating in her chest. It's peaceful.

The moment is interrupted when I feel something vibrating against my thigh. I frown and growl, "mm- tell whoever that is to go away."

Lexi laughs and pulls the phone out from her pocket, and I see Mia's name along with a photo of the two of them on the screen.

"Answer it." I say, seeing Lexi's hesitation.

She swipes the screen, "hello?"

"Hey, are you around? My friend is pretty interested in taking our spot on the lease. I think you should be here today when he comes by to check the place out." I hear Mia's sweet little voice on the other end of the line, and it sparks a feeling inside of me.

"I'm a little busy at the moment, but I could make it work later." Lexi says.

"Are you at Evan's?" Mia asks, her voice sounding a little jealous.

I press my lips against Lexi's neck, pretty satisfied with the fact that she's in my bed right now and not with Mia. I felt bad at first because Mia's so sweet, but Lexi is a catch and it feels good to have her. Having Lexi feels like I won at something for once in my life.

Lexi reacts immediately, pulling away and letting her hand grip my side firmly. "I- yeah. I'm going to stay here for the weekend I think." She pushes through her sentence, not letting herself stutter or make any other questionable noises.

I smirk to myself and kiss her neck again, playing with her.

Before she can get too annoyed or caught up, the doorbell rings and my attention is pulled there.

I leave bed, giggling and pulling on a hoodie and a pair of shorts as I trot to the door.

I honestly have no idea who would be at my house since I'm not friendly with my neighbors, but I open the door anyway and the subtle smile I'm wearing quickly fades.

"How about you answer your fucking phone?!" Scott snaps, shaking his phone in the air. "I have a work emergency and I'm supposed to be on a plane right now. You can't even pick up for your kids and you want custody?! Keep dreaming, sweetheart" He yells.

"Mommy!" Ava yells, running into the house and hugging me with her siblings not far behind.

"I- hi..." I stutter, extremely caught off guard and confused as to why he is here.

"Is Lexi here?!" Grace asks, in total innocence.

Scott takes a moment to make the connection. "Lexi? Who the hell is Lexi?" He growls, having his suspicions.

I stutter and stumble over my words, having no time to prepare for this.

"What's-" Lexi comes around the corner and stops immediately when her eyes meet Scott's.