(Ravine POV)

"So you used to be daddy's boyfriend?" Ally asked Sash during dinner.

"Ally, mind your food for a while." I said.

"No, it's okay. I can answer that, Ravine. Yes, I did and it was probably one of the best moments of my life. We used to do so many things together. Your dad is a very good and supportive boyfriend towards me." Sash smiled.

"So have you guys had sex yet?" Roman asked making Sash laugh out loud. 

"ROMAN! Please, be discreet with your words." I scolded.

"Even if they did, it's none of our business." Ally smart-mouthed his brother and it felt satisfying as hell.

"That's right. Now, eat your food and the next time you talk like that again, I'll be confiscating your PS5, okay?" I said.

"It was just a joke, geez." Roman whispered.

"I'm so sorry, I don't really know where he learned that kinds of stuff." I said to Sash.

"It's alright, Vinny. You know, Roman? It's normal to be curious about that but your daddy is right. You're much too young to know about that stuff as of now but don't worry, when you're a bit older, you're finally going to know more about that." Sash said.

"Did people give you both a hard time when you were dating each other?" Ally asked.

"Not really a hard time but we would always get strange looks from conservative people. It's normal for people to react like that. If they have a different belief, it's their opinion but they can't dictate how I live, that's for sure." Sash said articulately.

"Amen to that." I agreed.

"You guys are so brave." Roman said.

"It's not really about being brave, it's more about following your heart." Sash said.

Wow! Sash really has an impressive words of wisdom. He's not even the parent to my kids but I feel like he's already being a better parent than me.

"Oh, I almost forgot, dad! We have a mother-and-daughter day next week." Ally told me.

"Alright, I'll tell your Auntie Gwen about it." I told her before she nodded her head.

"Are kids mean to you at school for having a single dad?" Sash asked Alliah.

"Sometimes but I pay them no mind because I know that my dad is more successful than all of their parents put together." Ally said.

"That's my girl." I said before high fiving her.

We carried on with our dinner and all of us had a very entertaining night and it was made ten times better by Sash's presence, there's no denying that at all. Eventually, the night has to come to an end too and Sash has to go home already.

"I hope you come back again, Sash! I really loved hanging out with you." Roman said.

"I second that. Please, come back soon, okay?" Ally said.

"Well, it depends if your dad wants me to come back." Sash said to them.

"Guys, would you mind going inside for a while? Sash and I have to talk for a minute." I told both of them before they complied. Once they're inside safe and sound, I gave Sash a piece of my mind.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked.

"What am I doing?" Sash said.

"Trying to win my kids over, is that it?" I said.

"Wow! You're welcome by the way for picking your kids up at school." Sash replied.

"I didn't ask you to pick them up for God's sake. I am perfectly capable of taking care of my kids ON MY OWN. I don't need you. I don't need your help." I said.

"Selene said something different actually."

"Go to hell, Sash!" I said to him.

"I wasn't really going to pick them up, you know? I just wanted to ask you for a date and then Selene, your house helper said that you have been struggling for a while now because everyday, you get busier and busier so to give you one less problem today, I decided to pick your kids up at school." Sash said.

"Thank you. Now, go away!"

"I know you, Ravine. I know you still have feelings for me and I have feelings for you too. I am not going to give up that easily now that fate brought us together again." Sash said.

"I do. I still do actually. I still love you to be honest and I am not going to deny that anymore but that doesn't mean that we are going to have a second chance. My kids are getting bullied enough at school for having a gay and single dad and I am not going to create any more controversies that are just going to add fuel to the fire. If people find out that we're in a relationship and if the media finds out, God knows what's going to happen to me, to you and to my kids. Didn't you ever think about that? Of course, you don't because you don't think about anybody other than yourself. How will your fans take it if they find out that the heartthrob of all time is actually having a relationship with a gay single dad? They're going to burn you at the stake. I am going to be bashed relentlessly by people for turning you gay and people will mock my kids ruthlessly at school for that scandal. Is that what you want to happen, huh? I am sorry but I am not going to subject myself and my kids to that kind of treatment. No way!" I ranted.

"Who cares what they think?" Sash said.

"I care and you should care too. People are giving me mean looks sometimes when I do my grocery shopping and I am already stressed out about these rumors and hearsays every fucking day of my life. I don't need another burden, okay? Go home, Sash! Thanks for making my kids happy but it's just not going to work. Everything's different now." I said before storming inside my house.

It hurts, it hurts to deny my heart the love of its life but it has to happen. I love my kids more than Sash, that's for sure. Being a parent entails a sacrifice and this is the sacrifice. Deal with it. My kids will always come first and that's that.