Chapter 7
“Mommy look!”
I looked up from my phone immediately to see Serenity wiggling her tiny fingers dramatically in the air while sitting in the pedicure chair beside me.
Pink glitter polish covered her little nails while the nail tech laughed softly at her excitement.
“You like them?” I smiled.
“They look like princess nails.”
“They do.”
“And I picked the sparkles myself.”
“As you should.”
Serenity grinned proudly before going right back to sipping her little Shirley Temple like she paid bills in here.
The nail salon buzzed softly around us with conversations, dryers humming, and the smell of acrylic and cuticle oil floating through the air. I leaned back deeper into my chair while my nail tech shaped my medium square set.
Ombre pink fading into nude. Simple but cute.
My phone buzzed again in my hand.
Steph:
BITCH SO YALL REALLY KISSED??????
I smiled immediately.
Yes
AND???
I stared at the message for a second before typing slower this time.
His lips soft as hell
The typing bubble appeared instantly.
OH MY GOD
Like… surprisingly soft
And the kiss was intimate
Intimate???
Idk how to explain it but it wasn’t a horny kiss
Because it wasn’t. That was the part still sitting heavy in my chest days later.
I’d kissed plenty of men before. Good kissers too.
Experienced men.
Confident men.
But kissing Kasen felt different. He paid attention to every little thing. The way his hand held my waist carefully. The way he paused slightly between deeper kisses like he was making sure I was okay. The way he inhaled softly against my mouth like he actually wanted to remember it.
That kind of intimacy did something to me.
It was better than any kiss I’ve ever had honestly
OH YOU IN TROUBLE
Maybe.
Because finding out Kasen was a virgin should’ve shocked me more than it did.
Instead…I respected him more afterward. Most men moved through women carelessly. Collecting bodies just to say they could. Treating intimacy like an accomplishment instead of an experience.
Kasen wasn’t like that. He valued access to himself and for some reason that felt incredibly attractive to me. Not because he was inexperienced but because he was selective.
That was rare as hell.
“Mommy.”
“Hm?”
Serenity looked over from her chair. “Can I get gems on my toes too?”
I gasped dramatically. “Girl you trying to bankrupt me?”
“Yes.”
The nail tech started laughing.
I shook my head smiling. “One gem.”
“Two.”
“One.”
“Three.”
“You negotiating and can’t even read contracts yet.”
She grinned proudly. “I’m smart.”
“That’s debatable.”
My phone buzzed again.
Steph:
So when yall getting married?
I snorted softly.
Girl bye
He taking me and Serenity to the movies tonight though
A MAN THAT GOOD WITH YOUR CHILD???
OH YEAH THATS YO HUSBAND
I rolled my eyes smiling to myself, but truthfully…Watching Kasen with Serenity had softened my heart.
He was patient with her.
Gentle.
Never talked down to her and Serenity adored him already. Probably because he actually listened when she talked.
“You smiling hard,” my nail tech teased while painting the final layer of gloss over my nails.
“I am not.”
“You definitely is.”
I looked down at my phone again just as a text came through.
Batman:
What time should I pick yall up?
And like a fool…My stomach fluttered immediately.
The fact this giant intimidating man willingly let me keep calling him Batman was still funny to me.
Movie starts at 7:30
Serenity needs at least twenty minutes to decide if her outfit cute enough first though
The typing bubble appeared immediately.
Batman:
Understood.
I’ll prepare accordingly.
I laughed softly under my breath.
“Mommyyyy,” Serenity whined dramatically from beside me. “I’m hungry.”
“You been eating snacks this whole time.”
“That was little hungry. Now I’m big hungry.”
“That don’t even make sense.”
“It do to me.”
I shook my head smiling while reaching for my purse just as another text came through.
Troy:
You still bringing her later?
My expression flattened slightly.
If Serenity still up after the movies I’ll bring her tonight. If not just come get her in the morning.
The response came almost instantly.
Movies with who?
I rolled my eyes immediately.
Damn he nosy.
A friend
Three dots appeared then disappeared.
Then—
Troy:
The Batman nigga?
Now how the hell?—
Why Serenity know everybody business?
Cause she talk more than you
I sighed and leaned back in the pedicure chair while the warm water bubbled around my feet.
You like him?
I didn’t know how to answer it fully yet. Because what Kasen and I had didn’t feel rushed or overly flirtatious all the time.
Mhm
What that mean?
Nothing…Just don’t let Serenity get attached to somebody temporary.
That one irritated me immediately. Not because he was wrong, but because it was already a real fear of mine. I stared at the message for a second before locking my phone instead of answering. The truth was… Kasen didn’t feel temporary and maybe that was the scary part.
“Mommy look!” Serenity held her little feet up proudly. “I got gems!”
I looked over and immediately gasped dramatically. “Oh these fancy.”
“I know.”
“You paying for these yourself?”
“Nope.”
“Exactly.”
She giggled loudly while swinging her feet.
I smiled at her for a second before glancing back down at my phone again.
Another text from Kasen waited there.
Batman:
What’s Serenity wearing tonight?
My heart softened instantly.
Probably pink.
Definitely sparkles.
And a lot of tiny terrorism lol
By the time seven o’clock rolled around, Serenity had changed outfits three times. First it was a tutu, then a sequined jacket. Then somehow she ended up settling on pink flare leggings, light-up sneakers, and a sparkly jean jacket with butterflies on the back.
“Do I look beautiful?” she asked for the fifteenth time while spinning in the living room.
“You look expensive,” I corrected while fixing my earrings in the hallway mirror.
She grinned proudly. “That means yes.”
I laughed softly and grabbed my purse just as the doorbell rang.
My stomach fluttered immediately.
Niggas didn’t ring doorbells or knock on doors no more. Batman definitely was gaining coochie points at this point.
“There go Batman,” Serenity announced dramatically before sprinting toward the door.
“Walk!” I called after her.
Too late.
She already swung the door open with all the confidence of somebody paying rent.
“Kasen!”
The deep laugh that answered made warmth creep up my chest before I even reached the doorway.
Then I saw him and Lord have mercy.
Kasen had on a soft rose-pink fitted tee stretched across his chest beneath a light jacket with black cargos and fresh sneakers.
And the craziest part? He matched Serenity on purpose.
My ovaries folded immediately.
“Hi Batman,” Serenity beamed while holding her arms up.
Without hesitation, Kasen bent down and picked her up easily onto his hip like he’d been doing it forever.
“There goes my movie date,” he said warmly.
She giggled instantly. “You match me!”
“I noticed that too.”
His eyes lifted then found mine and everything else around me blurred for a second. Because the way this man looked at me now compared to months ago? It was different, more comfortable.
His gaze dragged slowly over me standing there in my fitted dark jeans, cropped pink cream sweater, and curls falling down my back.
Then softly— “You look pretty.”
And the sincerity in his voice made heat spread straight up my neck.
“Thank you,” I smiled.
His ears turned faintly red immediately afterward and I almost laughed.
Still shy.
Still adorable somehow.
“Okayyyy,” Serenity interrupted loudly from his arms. “Can we go now before the popcorn gone?”
Kasen smiled slightly. “Lead the way.”
The ride to the theater felt comfortable in the way only familiar things did. Serenity sat in the backseat rambling nonstop about school drama and princesses while Kasen listened to every word like it actually mattered.
Then before getting out at the theater, he reached toward the screen attached behind the headrest.
“Wait,” he told Serenity.
A few taps later, cartoons and built-in games lit up across the display.
Serenity gasped so loud both of us laughed. “Oh my Godddd!”
“You can play while we wait for your mom,” he explained.
She immediately started pressing buttons excitedly. “Best car ever,” she whispered dramatically.
I looked over at Kasen and smiled softly. “You spoil her already.”
“She’s easy to spoil.”
Definitely gaining coochie points.
Kasen climbed out first afterward, walking around to open my door before I could touch the handle myself.
Gentleman as always.
The cool evening air brushed against my skin while he held the door open for me.
Then quietly, close enough for only me to hear—“Pink is a good color on you.”
I could feel myself blushing.
Dangerous ass man.
Because Kasen didn’t flirt often, so when he did? It hit different.
“Thank you,” I said softly, looking up at him.
His eyes held mine for a second too long before he finally stepped back enough for Serenity to climb out behind me.
The movie theater buzzed with noise and bright lights once we stepped inside.
Kids running everywhere. The smell of buttered popcorn and candy floating through the air.
Movie posters lined the walls while Serenity bounced excitedly between us holding both our hands like she’d already decided this arrangement made sense.
“You getting popcorn?” she asked seriously.
“Yes,” Kasen answered immediately.
“With extra butter?”
He glanced down at her. “That’s the only way to eat it.”
Her mouth dropped open dramatically. “Mommy he smart.”
I laughed loudly while Kasen shook his head beside me.
“I’m standing right here.”
The line moved slowly while Serenity debated candy options like national policy depended on it.
“Gummy worms or sour patches?” she whispered to herself.
“You asking us or the universe?” I teased.
“The universe.”
Kasen leaned down slightly toward her. “The worms got more candy per ounce.”
I stared at him. He stared back calmly.
“…Did you just use math for candy?”
“Yes.”
“You’re such a nerd.”
“And yet,” he replied smoothly, “you keep hanging around me.”
That shut me up quick and his ears turned slightly red right after saying it too like he surprised himself.
By the time we got into the theater, Serenity was overloaded with snacks and excitement. She sat between us kicking her little feet while the previews rolled across the giant screen. I couldn’t remember the last time something this simple felt this good.
At one point during the movie, Serenity slowly leaned against Kasen’s arm while chewing popcorn sleepily.
Without even looking away from the screen, he adjusted his arm around her carefully so she could get comfortable.
My chest tightened immediately.
Troy was a good father…A great father actually, but seeing another man naturally move around my child with gentleness and patience? That touched a completely different part of me.