Page 21

CREED

I leaned against the counter in my apartment, one hand gripping my phone, the other rubbing the back of my neck as I listened to my mama go on another rant about Gianna.

"So you really gon’ sit here and tell me that you’re choosing some girl over the mother of your child?"

I sighed, closing my eyes. "Mama, I ain’t choosing nobody over nobody. I’m telling you—for the last damn time—me and Gianna are over. That was done before I even knew she was pregnant."

"So, you just gon’ abandon her then?"

My jaw clenched. "I ain’t abandoning nobody. I told you, I’m gonna take care of my kid, but that don’t mean I gotta be with Gi. I’m not sure why you not understanding this."

"You really think some girl you barely know gon’ stick around once the real work starts? Once that baby get here and you gotta divide your time?"

"She ain’t just some girl, stop saying that shit.

" I snapped, tired of the disrespect toward Serenity. “If you would even take a short amount of time to consider that, in less than a year of knowing her, that girl, has me loving her in ways I have never even loved Gianna. She makes me happy, she keeps me sane. I ain’t no dummy, to be messing with somebody that is using me. Serenity don’t got a single reason to use me. ”

I hadn’t mentioned the fact that Serenity was well off to anybody but Nasseem who only knew because of the help he was receiving from Mr. Bradshaw who had Nas up in Las Vegas, training.

According to Nas, Mr. Bradshaw was paying for all of his expenses.

At first, Nas insisted on contributing something, but Mr. Bradshaw insisted.

He said all he wanted was for Nas to take care of himself and listen to his trainers.

"Mhm, well, I know you think that now. But trust me, son, when the pressure’s on, you gon’ see what’s real and that little gold digger is gonna leave you when push comes to shove."

I took a slow, deep breath, my patience hanging by a damn thread.

"Ma, I already had this conversation with you. And I’m telling you now like I told you before; leave this alone. It’s done, and it ain’t shit you can do about it."

She sucked her teeth. "Watch your fuckin mouth when you speak to me Creed Langston. I’m tellin you, that you makin’ a mistake.’

"Nah, I ain’t. What I ain’t finna do is be trapped in some forced-ass relationship just ‘cause it makes sense to you. I told you—I love Serenity. I’m stayin’ with her."

She scoffed. "You really think it’s that simple, huh?"

"Mama, I gotta go. I got practice."

"Yeah, I bet you do," she muttered. "You just wait. One way or another you gon’ see I was right."

I hung up, frustration boiling in my chest. She wasn’t gonna change my mind. Nobody was.

After practice, I was back in my apartment, throwing a few things in my duffle bag for our away game in D.C. when Brodie leaned against the doorway of my bedroom, arms crossed.

"You good?" he asked, watching me carefully.

I let out a dry laugh. "Define good."

He smirked slightly. "Let me guess. Yo moms?"

"Who else?” I shuck my head. “And SB too. Shit weird as fuck right now. I don’t think she really in this Bro.”

He shook his head, pushing off the wall and stepping inside. "If there’s one thing I know, it’s that the Bradshaw women love their men hard."

I looked at him, raising a brow. "Oh, so now you the expert?"

He shrugged. "I been with Ari long enough to know it ain’t no halfway with them. When they in, they in. All the way. And you got Serenity locked in, Creed. So, stop stressin’. Everything’s gonna work out."

I sighed, dropping onto the bed, rubbing my hands over my face.

"Shit just feel… off," I admitted.

"That’s ‘cause you overthinking. Just be real with her, man."

"I been real."

"Then trust that she meant what she said when she decided to stay."

I sat there for a second, letting his words settle. Trust, I was trying. But something inside me felt uneasy. And I couldn’t figure out why.

We made it to DC in a little over three hours. We ate dinner as a team before we were assigned to rooms. As always, Brodie and I roomed together. While Brodie was out in one of the other rooms with some of our other teammates, I showered then got in bed so I could make a call.

I stared at the ceiling before I called Serenity. She picked up after a couple rings, her voice soft, tired.

"Hey, Langston."

"Hey, Beautiful."

Silence. Not comfortable silence—the kind we used to have. This was different; hesitant, uncertain even.

"You good?" I asked.

"Yeah," she murmured.

I sighed, running a hand down my face. I was frustrated and I was tired of shit feeling off without me addressing it, so I said; "Look, if you want an out, you got it, Serenity."

"Creed,” Her voice sharpened. "Why the fuck you keep saying that shit?"

I swallowed hard. "I just… I don’t wanna hold you back from somethin’ else."

She huffed, clearly irritated now. "You know what? At this point, it feels like you want me to be out."

I frowned. "What? Hell nah, Serenity, you know that ain’t true."

"Then why do you keep saying that?"

I sighed. "Because shit’s been weird between us."

"Because we’re figuring out how to navigate something complicated," she corrected. "Not because I don’t wanna be here. So, stop trying to push me away, Creed. I’m not planning on going anywhere."

I closed my eyes, her words settling something in me.

"Aight," I murmured.

"Aight?" she teased.

I smirked slightly. "Yeah. Aight."

We won our game in DC by two points; two measly points. Thank God for Brodie making the game winning shot. My game was off, I was too focused on some other shit going on outside of basketball; that was my mistake.

I needed to be near the only person who was capable of bringing me peace. So, when we got back to the school the next day after the game and when Brodie told me he was on his way to the city, I hopped a ride, having him drop me off at Serenity’s school.

The second I stepped into Tisch’s dance building, I knew this was a mistake.

I was already in a bad mood, already on edge from the long travel day and the weird energy between me and Serenity. But I was determined to lay eyes on my baby, needed to feel her. And then, I found her through the small window of her favorite dance studio with her dance partner, Monty.

They were close, moving in sync, his hands gripping her waist as he lifted her effortlessly, his eyes locked onto hers. I clenched my jaw, watching, waiting, wondering when the dance was gonna end and then, he leaned in.

My body moved before my mind could catch up. I pushed the door open, the sound echoing in the studio. Serenity and Monty both jumped, turning to me.

“Y’all done?”

"Creed? What the hell are you doing here?" she asked, frowning.

I folded my arms, my voice flat. "Came to surprise you. Thought we could spend some time together before you go to Barbados. Clearly, you busy."

Monty cleared his throat, mumbling a quick "I’m out," before grabbing his bag and dipping. I watched him the whole way out, not missing the way he looked me up and down like I was the one intruding.

"What the fuck is your problem, Creed?" Serenity demanded. I turned back to her, my frustration bubbling over.

"My problem is the way y’all lookin’ at each other. Y’all was mighty fuckin’ close too."

Her eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"

"You sure y’all just dance partners?" I asked, voice sharp. "Or is this some revenge plot you got going on?"

Her jaw dropped. "Nigga are you crazy," she scoffed. "Monty is my dance partner, that’s it."

"Bullshit."

"Bullshit?" she repeated, stepping closer, her voice low but heated. "You know what, Creed? I can’t do this with you right now. You’re projecting your bullshit on me and I’m not going for it.”

“Projecting what?”

“The fact that you put us in this fucked-up position, and now you’re looking for something, anything, to make me the bad guy." I stared at her, my body tight with tension.

"That ain’t what this is."

"Isn’t it?" she shot back. "You came in here looking for a problem. You started this argument because you obviously want to end things with me. So, just say that shit and let this be done."

My stomach twisted. "That ain’t what I want, Serenity."

"Well, guess what? It’s what you about to fuckin’ get." She exhaled sharply grabbing her bag. "I need a break. I feel like I’m suffocating, Creed. You got a lot going on, I get that but so do I. I’ll reach out when I’m ready."

“Serenity, are you fuckin’ serious right now?” She shook her head before walking out of the studio and I stood there, confused, frustrated, and completely lost.

What the fuck just happened?