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She stared at me for a long time before nodding. "Okay."

I felt like a weight had been lifted from both of us. "Good," I murmured, reaching for my drink. "Now, talk to me about your parents."

She let out a humorless laugh. "What is there to say?"

"Everything."

She took a deep breath, her fingers gripping her glass a little tighter.

"I don’t know," she admitted. "I just don’t know. My whole life, they were this… solid unit. This perfect, untouchable love. And now? It doesn’t sit right with me." I stayed quiet, letting her talk. "But at the same time, my daddy had a baby on my mother. A baby, Creed." She shook her head. "That’s something I can’t ever get behind."

"Have you talked to him?"

She shook her head immediately. "No. I’ve been ignoring his calls. I’m just not ready to talk to him. I don’t even know what to say. What is there to say?"

I sighed, nodding slowly. "But you’ve talked to your mom?"

"A few times. She’s in New York doing press for her movie."

I could see the conflict in her eyes, the unspoken thoughts running through her head. I knew what she was thinking, she was thinking about us. So, I said the words for her.

"You’ll never be able to fully understand why he did what he did. Hell, he probably doesn’t even know.” She looked up at me, eyes narrowing slightly. "Mistakes really do happen, beautiful. Believe me, I know from experience." I exhaled, rubbing a hand down my face. "That doesn’t mean he doesn’t love your mom. That doesn’t mean his love for her was a lie."

Her jaw clenched, her eyes burning into mine.

I leaned forward. "Your dad is human. I’m not telling you to forgive him, but… maybe try to remember that, before anything else, he’s a man who made a mistake. A man who deserves grace." She looked away, silent. "Your whole life, you put yourfather on a pedestal," I continued, my voice softer. "And I get it. He’s a great man. But he’s not perfect." She let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping. "I see the way your parents love each other. I’ve always seen it. I think they can overcome this. But either way, I just want you to be okay."

“Why?”

I reached across the table, taking her hand again. "I miss my wife," I said honestly. "I just wanna be up under you again."

She bit her lip, staring down at our joined hands.

"You gonna be good to me?" she asked softly.

I grinned. "I’m always good to you."

She snorted. "That’s a damn lie."

I chuckled. "I swear, from here on out, no more dumb shit. Just me and you, the way it should be."

She sighed, rubbing her thumb along my palm. "Okay."

"Okay?"

She nodded.

"Good." I grinned. "Now, hurry up and finish eating so I can take you home."

She arched a brow. "And do what?"

I gave her a slow, knowing smirk.

"Shit, I’m about to fuck my wife, fuck you mean?"

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SERENITY