The Flashbacks

Chapter Fourteen: LOVE Wins

I sat crisscrossed on Ethan's new bed while he moved in the last couple of boxes of his stuff. He smiled slightly at me as he put the last box down in the stack.

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" He asked while hanging clothes in the closet.

"Sarah, Ryan, and I were going to go out to a family dinner tonight with the kids. Sarah's gender reveal is this weekend and the pregnancy is starting to feel real to her." I ran my fingers through his hair.

"That's great. I'm glad you guys are spending some time together. I feel like I've been taking all your time." Ethan smiled, sitting next to me.

"I mean, you kind of have been." I smiled teasingly and he laughed. "I'm honestly lucky that I'm able to walk after how much time we've spent together."

"I can change that." Ethan smiled, pushing me back on the bed and pressing his lips to mine. I giggled against his lips and wrapped my arms around his neck. I felt him rub up and down my sides with his fingertips. "I should let you go or you're going to miss your dinner." He got up and pulled me up with ease. "Come on, I'll walk you down." We went back into the main house and down the stairs. He had two doors to his apartment, one in the garage and the other in the upstairs hallway to the house. We went back downstairs and I smiled when I saw Elyse rocking Ava to sleep. Jax and Luna were eating animal crackers on the couch and watching Bluey.

"Hey, buddy, it's time to go have dinner with Auntie Sarah and Uncle Ryan." I ran my fingers through his hair and he nodded his head. He got up on the back of the couch and jumped into Ethan's arms. Elyse handed me Ava and I bounced her a little to keep her calm.

"Say bye to Jax, honey." Elyse picked up Luna. Her mouth was full of animal crackers so she just waved. Elyse smiled and kissed her temple, putting her back on the couch.

"Bye bye, Moon!" Jax waved back at her. Ethan went out with me to the car to load the kids in. We actually lived closer to each other now that they were in their new house.

"Thank you for helping us with the moving process. I'm glad that you were here today." Ethan told me as he strapped Jax into his seat.

"I was happy to be here. I know Jax is always happy to spend time with Luna." I got Ava strapped in and she yawned.

"I'll see you tomorrow for lunch?" He asked and I smiled, nodding my head. Alex, Elyse, and I started having lunch together twice a week.

"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow." I got into the car and Ethan waited on the curb with his hands in his pockets until I got all the way to the end of the street. It was a good day.

When we got back from the restaurant, I decided to get the kids ready for bed. Ava went to bed at 7 every night, but I usually let Jax stay up until 8. Today, he seemed extra tired so I didn't want to keep him up. I put Ava's bath seat in the tub and started running the water. I got Jax undressed and in the tub with his favorite toys. I made sure to keep an eye on him while undressing Ava. I put her in her chair and sat in front of the tub. I picked up the washcloth and poured some body wash on it.

"Scrub, scrub." I sang softly to Jax. He started giggling, which made Ava start giggling too. She loved hearing her brother laugh. It always made her laugh. I loved the sweet sound of my children's laughter. I got the kids clean and dressed, taking them into my bedroom with me. Once we got settled in bed with a movie playing, my phone started to ring. Ethan was Facetiming me.

"Hi, gorgeous." He was smiling as soon as I picked it up. I could tell that he was lying in bed, Spike's head next to his.

"Hey, baby." I ran my fingers through Ava's hair. She was sucking on her pacifier and falling asleep against my chest.