The next weekend I'm running out of my mind trying to get ready for my date. I haven't been on one in so long I don't know what to do with myself. The red dress maybe?

I'm freaking out. Jax is supposed to be getting the kids in fifteen minutes but I'm still not ready and Evan is going to be here in an hour. Plenty of time, I think. I take the hot curlers and put them in my hair before cleaning my face. I'm about to start my makeup when the bathroom door abruptly opens showing me a very happy Lance covered in dirt.

"Lance! Your dad is going to be here soon." I tell him as he laughs. "Look what I found." He tells me as I look in his arms. Oh my fucking god, a kitten, a solid gray kitten. The only cat the kids had ever known was Bee, and he passed away two years ago.

"Lance where did you find that?" I ask wiping my face as I adjust my tank top and shorts. "Outside mama!" He tells me as I take the little thing out of his arms. It looks newborn, and the mom is probably wondering where it is.

"Come show me, baby," I tell him pulling his hand with me out the bathroom door to the patio door. I see the evidence of the dirt when the siding on the side of the house has been messed with.

"Daddy used to go down there and spray for bugs all the time but I hear meows so I went down there. There's more mama." He tells me as I palm my forehead with a small kitten in my arms. I hear Jax's truck doors as he pulls into the garage and comes around the back.

"Jax" I spit out as he follows the sound of my voice. He ruffles Lance's hair when he runs up and hugs him before looking at my hands and Lance's clothing.

"Want to take a guess at what your son did?" I ask as he laughs. He looks at my hair rollers before staring at my whole body.

"Maybe. Where are you going?" He asks as I sigh. "None of your business. Out with the girls. Now, will you please go down there and get the kittens out so I can take them to the no-kill shelter." I tell him as he laughs.

"Why would I do that?" He asks crossing his arms as Lance looks at his and does the same thing.

"Because he did and almost gave me a heart attack. What if there was a snake down there or some sh- stuff, you've lived the longest not Lance or me, it's a natural selection if you die. Now in you go." I tell him pulling him to the side.

"If I do this we don't get a divorce." He tells me as I glare at his head. "You should be medicated. We're done, this will be your house in about a month anyway, so I suggest you get them now." I tell him as he glares at me.

"Ry-" he goes to start as I shake my head no. "No. I'm not living here anymore and I'm not doing this when I've got other stuff to do." I spit out as I look down at Lance staring at us. He doesn't deserve this at all.

"Lance baby why don't you get cleaned up before you go with daddy?" I ask him extending my hand to him while still holding the little kitten.

"But Mama you can't take away Boots!" He shouts as he points to the kitten in my arms meowing its little heart out. Oh my fuck he's named it.

"Lance we can't have any animals," I tell him wiping the dirt off his face as he shakes his head yes. "Mama I'll take care of him and I'll feed him and I promise I'll do it all." He tells me begging with his blue eyes that he knows I can't say no to.

Thankfully Maddie is with Kurt in the living room and they have no idea what's going on right now. Because if they came out and begging for the little kitten too I know I wouldn't be able to say no.

"Come on Mama." Jax nags on as I look up glaring at him. "You know what Bud, daddy used to have Bee remember?" I ask him as he nods and I smile at Jax, two can play at his game.

"And he still has all the talent to take care of a kitty. Unlike Mama who doesn't know what to do." I edge on as Jax's face pales. "Ry don't you-" he goes to start when Lance cuts him off.

"Daddy, can we take them to your house?" He asks turning around as I smile at him. I just won. "But son, Bee lived here with mama and me for a while so I think the kitty would be happier here. Especially since you spend most of your time here." He tells him as my face pales. Jax laughs as I flick him off behind Lance's back.

That fucking asshole.

"Oh, so we should keep him here mama. But what if Maddie and Kurt want one? Two more are under the house with the mama!" He shouts as I palm my forehead.

"Lance please go wash your hands and I'll come in to help you clean up in a few minutes. Your dad and I will talk about the kitties." I tell him as he sighs and then nods. He walks off leaving me with Jax as I sigh.

"Just get them out." I spit to him walking to the patio door before placing the kitten into the flower bed right next to the pulled away portion on the bottom of the house's siding. He tries to talk but I don't speak to him before I close the door and find Lance washing his hands upstairs. I quickly help him undress before I hear Kurt meaning he's awake from his nap.

"Mama" Maddie yells from downstairs as I sigh. I clean Lance and help him get dressed before slipping on clean shoes to his feet. I brush his hair before he's running off downstairs and I find Kurt with Maddie in the living room. I take him into my arms when he wakes up moody and instantly give him goldfish before he's happy again.

Lance walks to the patio doors and almost goes outside when I stop him. I see Jax come out from under the house with two more kittens and a mom who's very unhappy. Seeing as he has nothing to put them in, I grab a plastic container from the kitchen that's big enough for the kitties and throw an old towel and blanket in it. I walk back outside with it and help him sit them in it before the mom.

I don't speak to Jax once everything is done. "The kids are ready. Have a fun weekend. Do what you want with the kittens, if not Lance can have one and I'll keep it here." I spit out trying to walk away from him. He stops me by grabbing my arm and spinning me around as I see his shirt covered in dirt.

But what stops me is when I look at his hand. With his wedding ring back on it. "Why the fuck are you wearing that?" I ask looking down at his hand.

"I Umm-, I told you Ry, I want this." He tells me as I laugh loudly.

"No, you don't. Whatever." I scoff trying to leave as his grip stops me. "Rylee. Stop." He spits out.

"Please. I'm serious." He tells me staring into my eyes. He's calm and I almost believe him when he's softly rubbing my arm. "Please." He whispers rubbing me softly as I look back between him and his lips.

"Almost had me fooled." I smile shoving him off as I walk back into the house. I go into my bedroom and start getting ready for my date before the kids run in telling me goodbye and how much they love me. I give them all big kisses and tell them how much I love them before they're off with Jax.

I start back on my makeup and looking at the time I don't have as much as I hoped. I go for a simple look with a pink lip. I slip on my dress and zip up the back without help, something I'm proud of when I take the curlers out of my hair and finish my whole look with black heels. When I stop and look in the mirror I look good. I'm happy and looking at this dress, it doesn't hold bad memories anymore. It was going to be for Jax and I's anniversary, but it didn't fit at the time before I lost weight and now it's perfect.

Or so I think. When I walk back into the living room with my red dress on, I stop when I see Jax coming back into the house grabbing Lance's football bag. Then he stops when I'm walking out of the bedroom.

"Oh my god." He whispers looking me up and down as I stare at him. I didn't want him to see me like this.

"What are you doing back? I thought you left!" I ask shout as he grabs the football bag. I go to turn around when he drops the bag and comes walking to me.

"Where in the fuck are you going dressed like this?!" He shouts coming closer to me as I push him away immediately.

"You need to go. Take Lance's bag and go!" I shout back walking past him. He follows me into the kitchen but stops when he looks onto the countertop and sees the roses that were sent to me at work. Thankfully the card isn't on them anymore.

"Rylee you have two seconds to answer me before I take you over my fucking knee." He tells me back as I turn around fuming in anger.

"No." I spit out grabbing my purse. Evan was supposed to come and get me, but if Jax is here that will not happen. I won't let it happen because Jax thinks that we are still together but we aren't and I will not let him tell me what I can and can't do with my life anymore. I grab my phone ready to walk out when Jax grabs my hips and stops me.

"Stop fucking touching me" I spit out as he pushes me into the wall. "Are you going where I know you are?" he asks as I glare at him. "That's none of your business. Our children are probably waiting in your truck, so go. Now" I demand crossing my arms.

"Wear protection when you fuck him then." He spits out walking off grabbing Lance's bag leaving me alone. Usually, his words would hurt, but I don't give a fuck what he thinks about me anymore.

"Fuck you asshole." I spit out as he slams the backdoor. I lean across the countertop trying to contain my emotions before they take over and I'm rushing to the bathroom popping my anxiety medication again, crushing them with my teeth so they dissolve quicker.

Three pills and a bottle of water later I'm okay. I'm in the process of keeping myself together when the front doorbell rings. Meaning he's here, and I'm not ready.

I grab my hair and fix it before reapplying my lipstick and walking to the door. I smile when I see Evan adjusting his tie. I open the door slowly and see red roses in his hand as I smile at him. More flowers, I'm never had so many.

"Hi" I whisper as his mouth drops while looking at me. It makes me feel more confident when he blushes and I smile when I see his gray suit with his black tie and shoes. He looks so handsome with his hair pushed back, and his beautiful eyes.

"Hi to you too," he tells me as I open the door and he walks in handing me my flowers as I smile.

I have a feeling tonight is going to go extremely well. I'm moving on, with him.