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serenity
los angeles, california

Weeks began to pass and life began to feel a bit simpler, talking with Paul really was nice, although he'd flirt with me every sentence it was nice to have someone other than my fire squad to talk to.

Especially since he fully recovered and was back home, he even kept his promise to Sarai which really made my heart smile, because Rai doesn't have that from her dad.

Paul's spirit was calming and the goofy personality he wore on his sleeve, it seemed to have me cheesing like a fool each day.

"You ready to go to the Carnival!" I said lifting Sarai in my arms throwing her up a bit making her squeal

"With Brian!" She yelled making me smile, she's going to be calling Paul that for the longest and he loved every bit of it.

"Yes." I said hugging her as the doorbell to my house rang

Sarai ran to the door and I jogged behind her before calling after her "Sarai!"

She stopped in her path and I said "You know what I tell you about going to the door right?!"

"Yes...you said don't ever go to the door before you."

"That's right, kiddie." I said as I opened the door seeing Paul and Meadow

"Hi, Ms. James!" Meadow said happily hugging me, making me return the favor with a smile before she went over to Sarai

"Just call me Serenity, Meadow." I called after her with a smile before I heard her and Sarai begin to play around the corner.

"Mr. Walker." I said leaning against the open door slightly looking up at him

"Hello to you too, beautiful." He replied walking into my house before hugging me tightly, lifting me off of my feet a bit making me laugh.

"Let me go, Speedy!" I whined as he began to shake me, he sat me down and rested his hands on my lower waist before saying "You ready!?"

"Yeah and I'm driving."

"Oh come on." He whined

"Nope."

"Why not?!" He rebutted

"How many speeding tickets have you gotten in the last month or two?!"

"Really...? None." He lied making me snicker lowly before sending him that motherly glare I give Sarai when she lies.

"Okay, maybe 4...or 5." Paul replied making my eyes grow wide before I laughed

"Nope." I concluded before he groaned "Alright, here." as he tried to hand me his car keys.

"Nope, I'm driving my car." I retorted

"Is nope all you can say, woman, what? You don't trust me?!" He teased tickling me softly

"I already set up Sarai's car seat." I contended making him sigh "You win."

"I know." I replied before walking off and walking around the corner seeing Meadow and Sarai playing making me smile as I felt Paul's warm body press slightly against mines as he hugged me from behind.

"We're going to have fun." He said lowly with his warm minty breath tingling the back of my neck sending a slight shiver down my body.

"Brian!" Sarai yelled excitedly before running over to Speedy with open arms as Paul kneeled down letting her run into his arms before he picked up hugging her.

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I pulled into the dirt roads of the carnival that laid on the outskirts of Los Angeles in a little town.

"And we made it!" I announced as I swiftly pulled into a nearby parking spot.

I looked over at Paul who wore an unreadable expression making me laugh "What!?"

"And I drive fast. You made an hour and a half drive 30 minutes." He joked making me slightly roll my eyes

"And you would've made it 10." I rebutted making him laugh

I got out of my Hellcat and then closed the door swiftly before opening the back seat door as Sarai unbuckled her seatbelt sliding out of her car seat.

I picked her up and she squealed "I love you Mommy!"

"I love you too, Kiddie." I replied kissing her cheek as Paul and Meadow just smiled at us before he wrapped his arms around me and her shoulders.

We walked up to the ticket booth and I pulled out my wallet before Paul said "Don't."

"I got it." I replied with a smile

"No, it's my treat. Let me fulfill my promise" He implied pulling out his wallet, handing the man at the booth the money for the all day passes.

"Thank you." I said nudging his shoulder softly before Sarai said "Thank you so much."

"Well thank you Dad." Meadow laughed making him pat her head before shimmying his hand through her hair making it sprawl out messily as she yelped with a laugh "Stop!"

He then kissed her forehead and said "You girls are welcome."

I smiled at his fatherly mannerisms and couldn't help but wish that Sarai had that.

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Me and Paul stood on the outskirts of this swing like ride watching Meadow and Sarai with smiles on our faces.

"How old is Sarai again?" He asked looking over at me as I bit a small piece of my cotton candy

"4, she'll be 5 a few days before my birthday." I answered looking over at him

"I see I'll have to throw you guys a joint party." He said before taking a bite out of his funnel cake

"She's like her mom. Doesn't like a lot of attention, settles for the minimum." I answered making him smile

"Like her mom huh...?" He asked making me nod

"When'd you become a father?"

He laughed and said "25 and I don't regret any of it...Meadow is one of the best things that's ever happened to me."

"I guess I was late to the party finally having a baby at 34" I sighed

"Why do you say finally?!" He asked eagerly furrowing his eyebrows

"When I first got married at, 26, I had gotten pregnant maybe a year in and my ex-husband stressed me out so much that I lost him. Then maybe two years later I got pregnant again and that baby was still born, and having to go through with the delivery and not being able to hear my baby even cry broke my heart and it sent me in a downward spiral...then I got pregnant with Sarai years later, he was still doing the same bullshit, but I was determined I was going to have my baby. And I had her. Thats when I sort of began to notice I was fighting for a love that wasn't there, bastard cheated on me my entire pregnancies and that man really told me I was broken and couldn't have kids. Jokes on him I guess." I said concluding my rant

"I-i'm so sorry." He stammered

"Don't be. I was stupid for staying." I replied bluntly

"You're not stupid, you were just in love with the wrong person."

"Yeah." I laughed smugly

"So wrong that I thought it was right." I said trying to make light of a dark situation

Paul then entangled his hand with minds and said "You ever think about righting your wrongs?"

"All the time. I resent him, not my daughter, I never will. She's the only beautiful thing that came out of that so called marriage I was trapped in." I said making him squeeze my hand reassuringly.

"Serenity, what if I told you I wanted to take a step forward with you." Paul said lowly

"I'd tell you to open your eyes, respectfully." I said letting go of his hand

With the whole situation as far as fighting with Aiden in court and Paul being a movie star a step forward wouldn't be possible.

I couldn't be with another man without it not being thrown in my face by Aiden's lawyer in court. And Paul is a movie star intrigued with a firefighter, and he acts as if the world will accept it.

"What if I wanted you to open your eyes and see what I see." He asked standing face to face with me while towering over me

I pursed my lips together and said blankly "There's nothing to see. I'm a train wreck and just not the one for you. But your friendship is something I do cherish."

He grabbed my hands softly and said "See what I see. You are so beautiful and your ex is a gotdamn fool if he doesn't believe so, well he's moronic anyway for losing you. I'm looking at a beautiful strong and independent single mother. And I'm not letting go without a fight because you've made me happier than I've been in months. Just give me a chance."

God, why does he like me so much? I don't understand what attracts him to me, I'm not what he needs. All that comes with me is problems.

"Paul list-" My speech was cut off by him softly resting his hand on the side of my face before pressing his lips against mines.

I froze. I was in shock, I hadn't kissed anybody in years, but I still found myself kissing back.

He pulled back slowly before resting his forehead against mines and saying "You're so beautiful."

I then looked him in those piercing blue eyes before he kissed me again.

A/N: 😃💃🏽🖤 I know somebody's heart just danced. How are you guys feeling about Paul's feelings toward Serenity? What about her second guessing her feelings? Does it feel real? How are you guys feeling about the intimacy between these two? What about Serenity's reveal about losing two babies before Sarai, because of Aiden's stress and abuse?

What about Paul kissing Serenity? How are you guys feeling? Remember to vote, comment, share and add to your library!! Love yaaa🖤🖤🖤🖤