29

Lexi's POV:

I just stare at Evan for a few seconds, her demand not yet clicking in my brain.

"I said get out." She growls, opening up the bedroom door for me.

Down the hall, I see the kids watching TV and I don't want them to see Evan all pissed off like this. So, as unreasonable as I find the request- I comply.

The shittiest part is- I was supposed to stay here tonight because the place I'm supposed to be moving into isn't ready yet, and my old apartment is now inhabited by a guy and his girlfriend. Evan said I could stay here, but I guess that was before she found out that I "lied" to her. Which I didn't, technically.

I leave the house without a word, but I hear Evan slam the door behind me as I go.

I really didn't see the harm in what I did. I still don't. I did it because I wanted to see Evan and her kids together. I didn't have some sick and twisted motive.

I get in my car and take a drive for a while, but I find myself back on Evan's street, slow rolling past the house. I can't just waltz back in there like I belong there. I know Evan, and being bold and bossy only works for her in the bedroom. She runs shit in every other aspect of life.

I delay my return until the sun starts to set, and I hold my breath as I walk into the house.

"Lexi's back!" Grace chirps, smiling from the table where the kids are having dinner.

"I'll always come back. Where's your mom?" I ask, walking over and ruffling her hair.

"She's right here." Evan's gritty voice says from behind me. "I told you to-"

I look at her and give her a look. I'll argue with her if she really wants me to, but not in front of them.

"Save me some dinner, okay? I'll be right back." I tell the kids as I walk out of the room with their mom.

Evan looks at me with folded arms and displeased face, "what part of 'get out' do you not understand?"

"The part where I have no where to sleep tonight." I explain. "And the part where you don't get to push me away so easily."

Her eyes do a dramatic roll, "oh whatever. Clearly there are no rules that apply in this relationship. You lied to me, so that shows me where your stance is."

I grab her arm as she tries to walk away. "Okay, I'm sorry. I am sorry I paid the fees and didn't tell you, but I can't be sorry for lying because I didn't, Ev. I did it for you and for the kids. I shouldn't have to apologize for that. I care about you, all of you."

"You know how I feel about this shit, Lexi. I trusted you." She grits. "I do not need your help... financially or any other way."

I shake my head slowly. "I know you don't, Evan. I didn't pay Richard because I thought you needed me to. You could have done all of this without me. The fact that you are so damn stubborn, independent and capable of handling your shit is one of your sexiest qualities, but I could not sit around and not contribute to a problem that I feel so responsible for." I explain to her. "I know you trusted me, and you weren't wrong to do that. I would never do anything to hurt you, or them. Just- Look who is sitting at the table in there. I get that you're upset because I didn't tell you, but what I did was not wrong or manipulative. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to think there was some other motive. I was with Mia when I made the decision, Evan." I further explain my reasoning, but her facial expression is still hard.

"It starts with leaving seemingly unimportant details out. Then it progresses into cheating and-" she begins to compare me to Scott, and that I will not stand for.

"Bullshit. I am not Scott, Evan!! How can you stand here and compare me to him?!" I growl, getting angry myself. "You think that me paying for a lawyer somehow correlates to cheating? That's a reach, Ev. What do you want from me? You want to go through my phone, bank statements? Just say the word." I hiss.

Evan's expression breaks, and I finally feel like I am getting through.

"You know I love you. You know I would never drop that low... using an attorney to have some sort of control over you? Seriously?"

She looks over my face and exhales slowly. Her hand pulls over her face and she leans against the wall. She remains silent, and I can't tell if it is because she doesn't know what to say, or she has nothing to say.

"I know you are used to fighting battles on your own and being independent. I admire that, Ev. But you do not have to do everything on your own anymore." I whisper, taking a chance and grabbing her hand. "I am here... just let me be here."

She doesn't pull away from me, which is a great sign. "I'm sorry." I know the words burn like hell leaving her lips.

I smile (internally) at the apology and she looks at me with soft eyes. "I shouldn't have kept it from you."

She shakes her head, "no. That was your call. What you did didn't deserve the reaction I gave. I just- Lexi, going from having no one to lean on, to having someone who is so willing to carry all of your weight is a huge change for me, and I'm still adjusting. I wasn't expecting that today. It's been such a long and crazy day anyway... my emotions are all over the place and-"

"I know. And I promise you that I'll be as patient and understanding as I can while adjustments are being made. I just need you to trust me and believe me when I tell you that the things I do are for you and what I think is the right move for you... and our future."

Evan pulls me into her and hugs me, the embrace itself is enough of an apology for me. "I appreciate you and your massive heart more than you know, Lexi. But please... don't do something like this again. I'll pay you back for-"

I shake my head the moment she mentions reimbursement. "No. I don't want your money. I just want you, and the kids. Having the four of you in my life is payment enough."

"Lex, you make half the amount I do. I can't just let you fork out thousands of dollars without batting an eye." She insists.

"I would not have done it if I didn't have the money to begin with, Ev." I assure her. "My dad left me some money when he passed. It didn't hurt me financially, I promise."

She sighs hard, clearly feeling like she has to do something to repay me. "I- I'm going to do something for you. Does Mia know?"

I look a way and make an uneasy face, "well... she started snooping and found out. That didn't go over well." I admit, shrugging.

Evan's head moves back and forth, "no wonder she thought you were still in love with me. You're an idiot." She laughs, grabbing my chin and kissing me slowly.

I giggle against her soft lips, "worked out pretty well for me in the end." I grab her hand and kiss her knuckles several times, "I never got the details of what happened today before you got pissed off and kicked me out."

"Does it even matter? Scott got his karma and the kids got us. Everybody wins." She shrugs, walking back into the kitchen where the kids are still stuffing their mouths.

I sit at the table beside Ava and she looks at me, thinking. "Are you living here too now?"

I laugh at the question, "not quite. I'll just visit... if that's okay with you guys."

She nods, loving the idea. Mason pipes up, having to throw his two cents in. "You can stay here all the time! Mama is more fun when you are here."

I glance at Evan, who is working on a glass of wine. "Are you saying that I'm not any fun otherwise?"

Mason giggles and Evan gasps, joking around with him.

"When you finish dinner, bring your plate to the sink and go get a bath. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. I have to take all three of you to your new schools so you can meet your teachers." Evan instructs. "Then, maybe we'll go the park or something."

I smile at the grins that appear on the kids' faces. They look so genuinely happy, and I know that makes Evan happy.

"Lexi, can you sleep with me tonight?" Grace asks me.

My brows raise, "hmm, maybe I-"

"Not tonight, baby." Evan answers her daughter for me and then shifts her eyes to me. I swallow hard, knowing exactly what that means for me. Score.

By this time, the kids are cleaning up their plates and running to their rooms, getting their pajamas ready.

"I take it I'm sleeping with you tonight?" I smirk, looking across the room at the hot blonde.

"Mm, think less sleeping, more kissing." She giggles.

I smirk and carry my own plate to the sink and drop it off, too focused on Evan to put it into the dishwasher. I walk over to her and put my hands on her waist, "that sounds nice."

"Yeah?" She smirks, kissing me gently.

I kiss her back and my hand runs up her side and to her neck. "Mmhm. And another thing-"

"What's that?" She asks through the kisses.

"Seeing you in that pantsuit today had me strongly considering letting you top."

She laughs hard at the goofy statement and lays her forehead against mine, "maybe I should wear them more often."

"Mom? Mason took the bathroom!" Grace says as she bolts into the kitchen, most definitely seeing how close Evan and I are.

Evan doesn't flinch, she leaves her hands on my chest and bites her lip, "that's okay, baby. You and Ava can use my shower."

Grace nods, not thinking twice about it. She trots off down the hall, yelling to her sister- excited to be using the master shower.

I look at Evan and nod, "see... they don't even think it's weird."

She licks her lips, "good. Now you have fifteen minutes- max- to make me cum before they get done."

My eyes widen and Evan kisses my neck harshly. "Ev-"

"What? You scared? Baby, this is your life now. Quickies while the kids are distracted is the only way I'll make it through the week." She whispers, turning me on immensely.

I nod my head and happily oblige, taking her right there in the kitchen.

Evan's POV:

Post-kitchen-sex, I quickly dress myself again and Lexi rolls her eyes.

"I am so not finished with you." She taunts.

I giggle and blow her a kiss, "we have all night."

I go tend to my kids, as if I wasn't just moaning Lexi's name while being held against the counter.

They all get dressed and I escort them to their rooms, tucking each one of them in.

Once I come back to my bedroom, I find Lexi laying on the bed in her bra and jeans.

"Don't act tired now... we have things to do." I joke with her, straddling her and pushing my hands up her bare stomach.

She glances at me and shakes her head, "you hated me a few hours ago... now you want to have sex with me?"

I nod innocently. "Yes, please."

Lexi laughs, "you are insane."

"I'm insane and also very horny. So, what's your point?" I joke. After a very unamused response from Lexi, I hang my head, sighing. I lean over her kiss her jaw and neck slowly, and with an immense amount of tongue. "Baby... I'm sorry, okay? I just- you know me. I like doing things on my own, but the one need I can't fulfill by myself is the one where you...." my teeth gently pinch her skin, "make me cum."

I hear her sigh and her hands touch my sides, "Jesus, Evan."

I continue to whine in her ear, knowing that it's getting to her. "I'm really sorry..."

My tongue running along her neck really does it for her. She smacks her hand across my ass and grabs it too, "fine... you want me to-"

Before the sentence makes it out, three little taps on the door kill the mood entirely.

My eyes shut and my head hangs, "dammit."

Lexi giggles and I climb off of her, walking over to the door and opening it up.

"Mama? I'm scared. There is something outside my window." Mason whines, clutching his pillow.

"Baby, there is nothing outside your window." I assume him. "Lexi, go show him." I tell the girl.

She does without hesitation, walking with Mason down the hall and checking outside the window. Even after this, he is still afraid.

"Can I sleep in here?" He asks.

I glance at Lexi and she it biting her cheek hard. Talk about bad timing.

"Yeah, baby." I nod. Mason runs into the room and leaps onto the bed, laying down right in the middle.

Guess Lexi is finished with me for the night.... not by choice though.

I go into my bathroom to wash my face and change my clothes, and Lex joins me, head shaking.

I giggle and look at her through the mirror, "welcome to being a parent."

Her eyes roll, "tonight of all nights..."

I giggle and face her, kissing her slowly. "I wasn't done apologizing either." I whisper.

She laughs and hugs my body, "right..."

I sigh softly and look at her, "no, I'm serious. I shouldn't have told you to leave today. You didn't deserve that." I admit, though it stings.

I can't help that I'm a very prideful person. I'm trying to change that, but it is hard.

"I just- it's been such a long day... it's been a long few weeks dealing with all of this, Lex. It'll make a person go crazy. I know you did it because you just wanted to help."

"It's fine. I'm here now." Lexi assures me, not making me feel any worse about it than I already do.

I nod subtly and kiss her. "Any chance you can pretend to still be upset about my stupidity next time we have sex?" I giggle against her lips.

She shakes her head, "we'll see. Being mad at you is easier said than done."

"I don't deserve you." I whisper to her for the millionth time.

She tucks my hair behind my ear, "you deserve more than anyone can give you, but I promise I'll try."

* * *

The blaring of Lexi's alarm wakes me up, and I'm less than thrilled about it.

I smack her shoulder several times, speeding up the process of her waking up and trying to keep Mason asleep.

She finally lets out a groan and shuts the alarm off, "shit." I hear her swear under her breath and I grin to myself- mainly finding it funny that she has to get up and I don't.

I don't hear the rustling of the comforter, so I know she's dozed off again. "Lexi, wake up." I mutter the words out with closed eyes.

"Ugh-" she moans once again and this time I feel her climb over Mason and lay her body against mine. She lays her head on my chest and drapes her arm over my stomach. "Nu-uh."

"You have to." I push, laying my hand over her arm.

After another couple of minutes of coaxing, she leaves the warm bed and wanders into the bathroom, getting ready without me.

By the time I wake up again, Lexi is long gone and so hear the TV playing down the hall.

I make my way there, finding the twins on the couch eating bowls of cereal.

"You know I don't like you eating things like that in here. If you spill it-"

They frown, "we won't! I promise." Grace assures, shoveling another bite into her mouth with a loud slurp.

I grin and shake my head, honestly just happy to have them in my home with me. "Be careful."

I go to make myself some coffee, but I see that Lexi's already set it up. All I have to do is press the button. God, I love her.

I start my day and get the kids dressed, trying to hype them up about starting at a new school. They seem excited, and they haven't asked about Scott yet. He hasn't even called me, which shocks me.

I know he was arrested yesterday for the charges Lanie brought against him, but I'm sure he bailed himself out pretty quick. I don't have any plans to involve myself in that process, I want to steer-clear of that psychopath. And there is no way in hell my kids will be anywhere near him.

I push the thoughts of my psycho-ex to the back of my mind and shuttle my kids to their new schools to meet with teachers.

Mason seems pretty stoked about his new class, probably because they have a class pet. The girls are weary now, but I have a feeling they'll come around. All change takes time to adjust to, and I'm absolutely certain that this is a good type of change.

Once school-business has been handled, I take the kids out for lunch and get a few good laughs with them.

Randomly, Ava asks about Lexi. "Is Lexi sleeping at our house again tonight?"

In all honestly, I don't know the answer to that. I know she's supposed to go look at an apartment, but from what I understand, the landlord doesn't have his shit together.

She's been over so much it feels like she lives there. She's claimed a whole shelf in my shower for her hair and body products.

I wouldn't be opposed to the idea of her moving in, really. I just don't think she feels the same way.

"She may. Is that okay?" I ask my kids, interested to hear their opinions.

I get three nods.

"What would you guys think if Lexi lived with us?" I ask them, just playing around with the idea now that it's in my brain.

Mason's face lights up like a Christmas tree. "Yes! She plays with me all the time!"

I giggle and look to my daughters, "and you two?"

"Mom?" Grace asks. "Do you like-like Lexi?"

The question throws me off balance for a moment. I could lie or play dumb, but I think back to the conversation Lex and I had. What good would it do? I can't hide from them forever.

"Can you keep a secret?" I ask, leaning in closer. Both my girls nod, anxiously awaiting my answer. "I more than like-like Lexi. I love her... is that cool with you guys?"

I won't lie and say my heart beats in my throat after I admit it to them, but their response let's my heart return to my chest.

They nod quickly and smiles appear on their faces. "Like... you love Lexi how you used to love dad?"

I shake my head and sigh softly, "you know, baby... I wish I could say that it was the same, but it isn't. I love Lexi more than anyone else- except for you three. I loved your daddy too, but it was hard to love him sometimes. The way I love Lexi is easy, and it makes me feel good all the time. Does that make sense?" I explain. Trying to explain my love life to three kids under the age of twelve is challenging, especially when I'm trying not to call their father a piece of shit right to their faces.

"Yeah, it makes sense." Ava nods, as if she understands everything flawlessly.

I grin and reach across the table, grabbing her chin. "I love you... all three of you."

Three small smiles flash back at me and all I can do is shake my head.

I honestly didn't see this day coming a few months ago. I really thought Scott would have me in a (figurative) chokehold forever, and that I'd never get the chance to be a real mother to my kids again. It's crazy how much that's changed... and I know that most of that change happened at the hands of Lexi.