"Thank you so much for coming and bringing Izzy. I know Maddie had a really good time with her today." I tell Evan walking him to the door with a sleeping Izzy in his arms. After how today has been, I'm not very shocked that Izzy is asleep and Maddie is passed out in my mothers arms on the couch.

"It's no problem. I'm sure Izzy would love to come back and play with Maddie. I wouldn't mind it either." He tells me looking me up and down as I laugh.

"Charming," I tell him as he smiles. "I try" he smiles as he adjusts Izzy on his shoulder. Her little dress goes flying up when the door opens and I instantly reach forward and cover her mermaid underwear as he smiles.

Today's been a lot better after Jax left me alone. He's outside cleaning so he won't bother me and after drying my eyes and cleaning up my face I know I look like nothing is wrong.

"Thanks. So Umm, would I be too forward if I asked you for your number? You know so the girls can hang out?" He asks making me laugh as he smiles at me.

"No. You know for the girls." I add as he nods. He pulls out his phone and hands it to me as I put in my number and text myself so he knows I have it.

"I'll call you" he whispers looking over my shoulder to see Jax walk through the backdoor with the boys.

"Yeah. Please do. I'll see you later. Bye sweetheart." I whisper to Izzy as I kiss her little cheek. He waves as he descends the stairs and goes to his truck in the driveway. It's huge, with chrome and black, and looks really expensive. Like more than I make in a year expensive. I wave when the air comes through the door.

"Shut the door Ry. You're letting the heat in." Jax spits out behind me as I slam the door shut and turn.

"You don't pay the bill so don't fu-, mess with me." I change my language when I see Kurt at his feet.

"The boys want to come with me." He tells me as I shake my head no. "It's my weekend. No. They aren't going. Have a great afternoon, boys let's go." I demand as they suck their teeth.

"Ry don't be like that." Jax spits out crossing his arms as I do the same. "It's my weekend. You had them last week." I tell him as I look down at Kurt. I'm not having this conversation with him right there.

"Kurt baby can you go find your grandpa for me?" I ask down at his height as he nods and runs off with Lance.

"No. They aren't going." I tell him as he rolls his eyes. "Yes, they fucking are Rylee." He spits out to me stepping to my face trying to intimidate me.

"Get out." I spit at him pointing to the door. "Fuck no. My name is on the damn house and I own this bitch." He tells me as I take a step back floored by the way he's acting.

"Fuck you. Don't worry, it'll be your house soon enough. I've already found a new one." I tell him back as I open the front door for him. I think he realizes how much of a dick he is when he tries to step to me and I pull away. I didn't lie, I've been looking at houses for years and I finally found one that I really love within my price range.

"You don't have to do that, I'm sorry." He tells me as I shake my head yes. "Actually I do because you hold this house over my head along with my kids and I'm not allowing that anymore. I'm the mom, I'm the one that's with them most of the time and I have plans with them for this weekend. They are not leaving with you. Now tell them goodbye and sign the divorce papers so I never have to talk to you again." I tell him containing my fucked up emotions.

"No. Rylee please just sit down and talk with me. Please." He asks as I shake my head no. "Absolutely not." I spit out opening the door further. He steps to the door and shuts it before coming closer to me.

"I don't need to talk to you. Please leave." I tell him as he grabs me by my hips and I instantly reach up and slap him.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" I ask as he looks back at me and laughs.

"Do you really think that's going to work? Huh? I'm still married to you and as far as I'm concerned that's never fucking changing." He spits out in my face as I glare at his big blue eyes.

"I will put a restraining order on you," I tell him as he laughs. "No, you won't." He tells me as I reach up to slap him again and he grabs my hand stopping me.

"I'll serve you. I'll get a lawyer and serve you." I spit out trying to take my hand out of his grip when it gets tighter. He pushes me towards the wall and my back hits the drywall when he enters my personal space.

"You won't do that because you know just as well as I do that our kids wouldn't have a father if you did. And I'm not walking away from them, they deserve to have parents who care about them, and I'm not backing off." He tells me as I slump against the wall quietly.

"Why do you insist on making my life miserable? Do you get that? I was so happy with you and you ruined that, ruined it all. I fucking hate you. There's not an ounce of love in my heart left for you. Maybe for being a dad a little, but for being a shitty husband, there's no love anymore only regret and wasted tears." I tell him pushing his chest off of me.

"For our kids' sake, I hope you would realize the best decision. Fuck my emotions because you don't care about them, but for them have some respect." I tell him as I break out of his grip and walk off.

___

Leaving the kids home for the day with my mom is so unusual to me. They had an in-service day at school since it's a Monday holiday, but I had to work. Thankfully my mom wanted to stay with them since she had the day off so I know that they're okay before she goes back to Florida tomorrow evening.

Maddie's birthday was two days ago, and I haven't seen or spoken to Jax since. Not that it bothers me because he can suck a monkey dick for all I care, as long as my kids aren't hurt.

I changed my job about three years ago because of how much-having kids changed me. I moved to the pediatric emergency unit and became a head nurse because helping children keeps my mind off of what my kids are currently doing and it makes me feel that much better. I love seeing my little patients healed up, and I especially love it when I get those rare moments to go into the neonatal unit and see all the new babies and families.

I thought I would have trauma after Jax, and I did but my heart slowly healed being around children all day, or at least I think my hearts healed.

"RJ, you have a personal call," one of the girls tells me from the front desk as I make my way to the phone. "Thanks, I'll be in my office if you need me," I tell her as she nods and I walk off towards my office. I sit down before taking the call on my office phone. My cell phone is linked to my office phone because of emergencies and I find it helpful for me to be sane with the number of calls I get.

"Rylee Jane Rut- Parker, RN, BSN speaking," I answer as I palm my forehead. I'm technically still a Rutledge but I won't be much longer before I'm a Parker again.

"Umm, RJ?" The voice asks and I instantly know who it is. I gave him my number two days ago. Evan Chamberlain.

"Yeah who is this?" I ask trying to act oblivious. "Oh sorry, it's Evan." He tells me as I smile.

"Well, Evan, what do I owe this call for?" I ask opening my files to control all my paperwork that needs to be done.

"Well, you see. Izzy wants to see Maddie again, she wants a sleepover. But I don't want you to be uncomfortable with Maddie at my house so I was wondering if you'd let them have a sleepover this coming weekend at yours?" He asks as I smile. Maddie only goes to a handful of people's houses and Evan seems nice but I don't trust him with her because I don't know him well enough and I think he realizes that.

"I wouldn't mind at all except for the fact that her dad is taking her and her brothers for the weekend. We aren't on speaking terms right now so it'll be the next weekend before I can host a sleepover for the girls." I explain.

"Okay. So you're free this weekend then?" He asks as I laugh. "Besides cleaning the house and packing yes I'm free," I tell him.

"Packing?" He asks as I start, "Yeah I'm moving out of that house because it's technically Jax's and he holds it over me. So I already put in an offer that got accepted for a home a few blocks away, the kids will love it and it's closer to my job and their school." I tell him.

"Well, I was hoping you'd let me take you out. I have Izzy Friday night since Isabelle is working but I'm free Saturday" He spits out vastly as I smile.

"I'd like that. Seven work?" I ask. "Absolutely. I'll pick you up, wear something nice." He tells me as I smile. A date, I haven't been on a real date since Jax and I's anniversary six years ago and I'm looking forward to this.

"And if I don't?" I ask. "We'll get McDonald's happy meals instead and I promise it will still be unforgettable." He tells me as I laugh.

"Well, I'm looking forward to it. I'm at work so I've got to get back but I'll see you this coming weekend." I tell him as he starts, "You will. And RJ?" He asks.

"Yeah?" I ask back moving to hold the phone between my shoulder and face as I use both my hands to type onto a patient's file.

"Just in case nobody's told you today, you're beautiful and I hope you enjoy my gift. I'll see you later, bye." He tells me before hanging up as a blush rises into my cheeks making me smile. I don't really remember the last time I was called beautiful and honestly, I love it. But a gift?

He's charming his way into my heart already. I never blush at all, but he's charming. "RJ?" One of the girls comes knocking as I cover up my blush.

"What? Yeah! I mean-, huh? Or go ahead" I spit out fixing my curled hair as she smiles at me stumbling over my own words.

"There are roses for you." She tells me pulling white roses off the desk and bringing them to me. They're breathtakingly beautiful and I finally realize what the gift Evan told me was about. He got me roses, beautiful roses.

"Someone has a secret admirer." She whispers walking off as I reach for the card and open it. I'll see you soon. - Evan. That confident man knew he'd be asking me on a date and had it all planned out, what a smug act. I laugh reading it as I place it on my desk and get back to work. Not before smelling the roses and smiling at the quantity of all fifty of them.

I could get used to this.