6

Evan's POV:

Saturday night

"Mom! We are going to be late." Grace sasses, tapping her foot impatiently as I help Mason out of the backseat.

"Relax. Thirty minutes of previews before the movie starts, Grace." I remind her.

Rather than spending the night in, the girls talked Mason and I into going to see a movie that just came out.

As we walk across the parking lot, Grace and Ava whisper to one another and giggle like usual, making me grin.

Having twin girls my very first time being pregnant was the most nerve-wracking things I've ever experienced, but now it is the most comforting thing to me. Knowing that the two of them will always have one another to lean on, that is. Especially with how cruel this world can be toward girls and women.

Once inside, my two (very mature) daughters approach the counter and begin ordering popcorn, candy and drinks.

"Who is paying for all of this?!" I laugh, finally catching up to them. The cashier smiles and lets out a laugh too.

"Please mom?!" Ava frowns, glaring up at me.

I sigh and roll my eyes, "alright. Nothing else tonight. I mean it." I assume them, forking over my debit card to the cashier.

She swipes the card and hands over four tickets, four drinks, two large popcorns, and two boxes of candy.

I shake my head subtly, realizing that was probably a seventy-five dollar purchase. Oh well, one of the many sacrifices we make for our kids I guess.

"Girls! Stop running!" I hiss as I speed walk to try and catch up with them. "Do you even know which theater we are in?!"

"This way, mom!!" Ava exclaims, pointing towards the theater down the hall.

I nod and she turns to run around the corner, but I watch her smack right into someone. She drops her drink and popcorn, making a huge mess.

"Ava..." I groan, highly irritated with her not-listening.

She lays on the floor and glances up at me, mortified. I shake my head and look to the woman she collided with, prepared to offer a major apology for my daughter's recklessness.

"Mia, Lexi..." are the words that come out instead.

Mia looks at me for a moment before smiling widely. She quickly helps Ava up, who just rammed into her, and then walks to me and gives me a gentle hug like we have been friends for years.

"Oh my! Evan! So crazy running into you here." She chirps.

"Technically it wasn't that ran into you." Lexi chimes in, her eyes studying the three kids surrounding me.

I laugh a bit and look at my daughter, "ha, you're right about that. Ava, what do you say?"

"I- sorry." My daughter frowns.

Mia shakes her head, "oh, don't worry! I understand the excitement to see a movie."

Ava cracks a smile, "Mia, these are my kids. Ava, Grace, and Mason." I say, shifting my eyes to Lexi's girlfriend.

Mia flashes a smile and greets all three of them, cheerful as ever. "You girls look just like your mom. Beautiful!" She compliments.

I give a timid smile, "you're too sweet, Mia."

The girls look over Lexi a bit before speaking, "you look really familiar." Grace points out.

Ava joins her sister, "yeah... I- wait...I remember you!" She exclaims, victoriously. "You used to live in the house beside us!"

Lexi eyes me hard and her jaw drops.

Shit. The one time I actually want the kids to forget something...

"How do you know them, Lexi?" Mia asks, carefully slipping her arm around Lexi's.

"I- I used to babysit... for their dad. I didn't realize Evan was their mom until now. Small world!" Lexi lies, sounding a little unsure of it

Mia seems to buy it, and Grace almost ruins it. She starts to speak, but I gently tap her back, telling her to shut the hell up.

"Really small world." I say. "Well, it was nice seeing you guys. We should probably get in here before the movie starts."

"But mom I don't have popcorn or a drink now." Grace whines, stomping her foot.

"Too bad. Movie will be starting and you shouldn't have been running." I shrug, playing a totally bitchy-mom card.

She scowls hard.

I roll my eyes at the ungrateful, dramatic action and look to Lexi and Mia again. "Nice seeing you two. Enjoy the rest of your weekend." I nod.

We part ways there, and I'm able to breathe again.

Keeping my Lexi secret was a lot easier to do when I didn't have Lexi around every corner. I'm sure she feels the same about me too.

Having to make up one lie after another to keep anyone from finding out about something that happened five years ago...it is exhausting and something bad is bound to happen eventually.

* * *

Sunday comes quickly, meaning my least favorite part of the weekend is not far off.

Around five o'clock I drive the kids back to Scott and Lanie's house.

"Be good at school this week. Call me, please." I say and place a kiss on Ava's head. She squeezes me tight, refusing to release me.

"I don't want to go." She whimpers against my stomach.

I fight the frown that wants to appear on my face and play with her hair softly, "I know, but you have to baby. I promise it'll be over just as fast as it starts. Maybe if you're good I'll come get you guys on Wednesday and take you to dinner. How does that sound?"

Grace sighs and nods, Ava soon agreeing.

"I love you, all three of you. Okay?" I say, kneeling down and tapping Mason's chin.

He grins and hugs me tight, "love you too, mama."

"I was wondering if you three were ever coming home." The deep voice sends chills down my spine.

"Hi, Scott." I scoff and stand again, folding my arms over my chest.

"Evan..." he nods. "Mas, Lanie has something for you inside. Go check it out!"

I bite my cheek and Ava and Grace cling to both my legs, not wanting to part ways.

"I'm gonna go, okay? Promise me you'll be good." I say, petting both their heads softly.

I get two sad nods and feel their hands slip away from me, walking right past Scott and into the house.

"They always look so sad after being with you." Scott points out, being an ass.

I roll my eyes, "oh whatever. You know they're only like that because they don't want to be here with you, Scott. This is getting ridiculous. You really think two eleven year old girls want to be away from their mom?" I point out, knowing everything I say is true.

His eyes roll too, "they have Lanie."

"That bitch is not their mother." I hiss, angry with what he was implying with that statement.

"Whatever, Evan. Have a great week." Sarcasm drips from his tongue and he turns his back to me, walking back into the house.

I get into my car and drive away, tears flowing only after I've left sight of the house.

Saying goodbye to them every other weekend is the most painstaking and cruel thing about Scott and I's arrangement. Me sleeping with a consenting, legal (though she is younger) adult should not have these repercussions.

It's fucked up... and it needs to be fixed.

* * *

Lexi's POV:

"I will! Have a good day. I love you." I tell Mia over the phone as I walk toward the school.

She tells me the same and ends the call. From one conversation to the next, someone says my (nick)name.

"Lex." Even if I didn't know her voice, I know it's her because she is still the only one who calls me Lex.

I glance over my shoulder and she trots up beside me, a little out of breath.

"Morning." I say, not in the greatest mood to start off the week.

"Glad you got your car fixed." She says. I nod and there is a brief pause before she says what she really wants to. "I'm sorry about the whole situation at the movies. For the fact that Ava ran into Mia and almost blew your, well... our, cover."

"Don't say it like that. Makes me feel guilty for hiding it." My eyes roll. "It's fine. She didn't really ask any more about it."

Evan nods her head and I pull the door open, letting her walk in before me. "Thank you..."

"The kids are big now." I point out.

Evan giggles, "well, that's kind of what happens when they're given food and water on a regular basis."

My lip curls at her sarcastic remark, "Ava and Grace turned out to look more like you than I thought they were going to. I hope they don't have your personality... that would suck for them."

Evan's jaw drops and she slaps my shoulder playfully, "rude!"

I giggle like a child and bite my lip, "I'm kidding. They're good kids, I can tell."

She gives a soft smile and we turn down our hallway, continuing the small-talk.

"I never got to ask your honest opinion on Mia." I sigh, genuinely curious to hear her thoughts. "Not that what you think necessarily matters, but yea."

"I told you I think she's sweet, and she's cute." Evan explains, shrugging. I give her a look and she sighs, "I think she's good for you. I'm a little surprised seeing you with someone like her, but it's a good pairing."

My brows furrow, "surprised? By what?"

"I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you aren't necessarily the easiest person to put up with and get along with, and Mia just seems so... fragile." Her face scrunches and I can't help but let out a laugh. "I'm happy for you nonetheless..."

I nod slowly and lick my lips, "thank you. I'm pretty happy too."

Evan nods and as we approach our rooms, she adds one last comment. "The other thing that surprises me is her age."

Once again my brows furrow, "huh?"

She glances over her shoulder at me as she unlocks her classroom door, "what happened to having a preference for older women?" She smirks, not really looking for an answer.

Evan closes the door as my lips part and form a smile.

Crazy how she is able to remember all the little things that I thought we would have both forgotten by now.