Page 99

“To fuck you? You needed me to hand out dick like I’m some nigga in a candy store.” I started to remind him that he had been handing out dick like a nigga in a candy store when he fucked his baby mama in our bed, but I bit my tongue. “Damn beautiful.”

“I know…”

"So, what now?" he asked.

"Now?" I exhaled. "I focus on growing our daughter. You focus on your season. We coexist, Creed. But we’re not... we’re not an us anymore."

He nodded slowly, his jaw tightening. "Aight," he murmured.

I forced a sad smile. "It’s for the best."

He didn’t respond. He just stood and grabbed his bag. I felt his lips press against my forehead before he gave me one last lingering look and walked out the door. And this time, I let him go. I had to set him free.

28

SERENITY

**Week 22**

Your baby is the size of a sweet potato. Senses are growing stronger. Now she can hear your heartbeat, your breathing and digestion. Sense of sight is becoming more fine-tuned and he or she can perceive light and dark. Their hormones are now developing which will provide the organs the commands they need to operate.

The sound of my phone vibrating against the nightstand woke me up before the sun had even fully risen. I stretched and yawned, the weight of my belly almost holding me down, before rolling over and grabbing the phone.

Creed…I sighed, my heart doing that stupid little flip it always did when I saw his name before I swiped my hand across the screen to answer.

"Happy Birthday, Beautiful," he said, his voice deep and groggy like he just woke up too. It was way too early in Phoenix, three hours too early.

I smiled, sinking back into my pillows. "Thank you, Langston."

"How does it feel to be 22?"

"No different than 21," I teased.

He chuckled, and for a moment, I let myself relish in the way his laugh still had the power to make my stomach flip. "You got plans today?" he asked.

"Birthday dinner with the girls. I think Ari has something planned too, but I don’t know what yet."

"I hate I can’t be there," he admitted. "Got a game tonight against Cleveland, but I sent you a little something."

I sighed, already knowing what that meant. "Creed, you didn’t have to?—"

"Too late."

I rolled my eyes, but smiled anyway. "You are ridiculous."

"I just like taking care of what’s mine."

My heart clenched, but I didn’t let myself dwell on his words.

An hour later, the house phone rang letting me know it was the front desk. “Good morning, Gregory.” I answered the phone as I bit into a piece of bacon.

“Good morning Ms. Bradshaw. There’s a delivery here for you.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll come down?—”

“Um, I think it may be easier if we send them up. Is it okay?”

“Oh, um, yeah, that’s fine. Send them up.”