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Instead of searching for flights home, instead I searched for flights to Atlanta. The first one would be leaving in four hours, which gave me time to get back to the airport with time to spare.

I clicked off the website for the flights and instead, I went into my text thread with Creed, it had been silent on both ends since our blow up a few days ago.

But in this moment, I needed him. It was another thing I hated; how fucking weak I was when it came to him.

This kind of love, I knew could be dangerous.

I had already seen some of the effects of it, the heartache, the pain.

Still, I needed him, wanted to see him, wanted him to hug me and hold me and tell me everything would be okay.

So, I went back to the browser to purchase my flight to Atlanta and purchased the ticket for the first flight out.

Not being with him in this moment, while I was feeling like this, was not an option.

Over six hours later, after a long flight, after Ari picked me up from the airport and after I had checked into my own hotel room, I paced back and forth in the middle of Ari’s hotel suite feeling like an idiot for being here.

I didn’t even know if Creed would be receptive to seeing me.

How we left things, with me leaving him in that dance studio that day, it wasn’t right.

Honestly, I felt terrible about it, but I had to stand my ground. We needed a break, a cool down where neither of us was talking to the other. We had been going too heavy since the day we met with the phone calls, texts, and all the time we spent consumed in each other.

I would be lying if I said Creed Langston didn’t have me acting dumb in love. The break was needed, but now I just missed him. So, that’s how I ended up here in Atlanta instead of taking my ass home to New York. I needed Creed, craved him and I wouldn’t be happy until I was back with him.

“Why you pacing Toot?”

“He’s going to cuss my ass out, I know it. The way I left him at the studio when he was just trying to surprise me, I don’t deserve that man.”

“Maybe he doesn’t deserve you.” She scoffed. “Give yourself more credit than that Serenity Bradshaw, you’re an amazing person and I’m not just saying that because we’re blood.” She winked at me and a smile crept on my face.

But I stood by what I had said; Creed had been amazing to me since the time we met and I kept giving him problems left and right. Honestly, it showed in the maturity between my 19 years and his 21.

“I never been in love with somebody like this before.” I sighed finally taking a seat on the couch.

I placed my head in my hands, anxiety creeping through my entire body.

“Not even Iman and I loved Iman a lot. It’s been a year since I met him, three months since we officially started dating and I am absolutely in love with that man. It’s childish right?”

“No baby, it’s beautiful.” Ari assured me.

“I’m so happy for you Serenity because you’re experiencing the kind of love I’ve been having with Brodie for years.

You’re experiencing the love Nona and Poppi have, my mama and Daddy, hell your mama and daddy.

I ain’t gon’ lie to you; this shit hurts sometimes, hurts so fucking bad.

You unfortunately got thrown a big loop early on in your relationship; but if this is the kind of love that I think it is, it’s gotta be worth it in the end. ”

“A baby though Ari, how the hell am I going to navigate that?”

“Together, with your man. Take his lead and let him navigate while you follow. And I don’t think he’s going to cuss you out; that man been roaming around here for the past few days looking like a damn zombie. If anything, I’m sure you’ll help brighten his spirits.”

There was a loud knock at the door and my stomach twisted in knots.

“Girl, you’re worried for nothing; I’m telling you.

” Ari chuckled, getting up and going to open the door.

I stood up and waited, with bated breath.

Brodie came in first, hugging Ari like they hadn’t been glued to each other’s hip whenever he wasn’t practicing or playing.

Then Creed walked in, gave Ari a quick hug and turned to look at me.

“Hey.” I waved—like a fucking idiot. Creed stood rooted to the spot, staring at me before looking over at Brodie and Ari.

I couldn’t read his face, couldn’t tell if he was happy to see me or pissed that I showed up here unannounced.

The last time somebody had done that to him, he got the news that he was about to be a father.

“We’ll give y’all a minute.” Ari said grabbing Brodie’s hand and escorting him into the bedroom closing the door.

“I missed you.” I said taking a few steps closer to him.

“I know you probably don’t want to see me.

I didn’t handle that situation at the studio in the best way.

I’m not used to feeling like this. I was overstimulated, overwhelmed with all the feelings.

I’m scared Creed, I’m fucking terrified that this situation is going to tear us apart and I didn’t know how to handle that any other way but to run, I guess. ”

“Why you here?”

My heart deflated, damn near crumbled inside of my body.

“I missed?—”

“Yeah, but why aren’t you in Barbados? What happened?” I wrapped my arms around myself, rubbing my arm, trying to control my emotions as I looked away from him. “SB…”

“Sienna finally admitted that she wished I wasn’t born.” I shrugged. “But, you know, I knew it so I don’t know why I’m so surprised.”

“What?” he closed the distance between us before pulling me into his arms. And the moment I was in them, I broke down letting out all the hurt, all the pain, it all came spilling out of me. “I’m sorry baby.” He whispered, rubbing my hair and hugging me tight.

Suddenly, he lifted me in his arms and walked me over to the couch, sitting down with me in his lap, consoling me, consoling the heart of a girl who only wanted to be loved by her mother, a girl who knew now, that was never going to happen.

“I’m sorry, I know you have a lot going on with the tournament.” I blubbered against his chest as tears continually fell down my face. “I just wanted to be here with you.”

“You can always come to where I am, no matter what.” He said. “Wherever I am will always be home for you, do you understand?” I nodded. “And no disrespect, but fuck yo mama.”

“Creed…” I laughed pulling away from his face and finally looking at him. He laughed too, before wiping my face with the sleeve of his hoodie.

“What? I’m dead ass. What the fuck happened that she would even say some shit like that?”

I sighed before firing off the story about what had gone down.

I told him about how I was talking to Sevyn about our situation looking for advice and how Sienna’s nosey ass was apparently eavesdropping.

I told him about how she had her opinions and I couldn’t stand to hear her talking about him like that but when she got to telling me I was an idiot I just snapped.

I admitted saying some not so nice things to her, and that’s when she just blurted out everything I had been feeling from her for 19 years.

“What did yo Pops say?”

“I didn’t give him a chance to say anything, but honestly I think him and Sev were just too shocked that the words came out of her mouth to say anything. When I left this morning, they were both upset but I refused to stay longer. I knew if I stayed I was going to beat her ass.”

“You can’t be out here fighting ya mama now Tyson.” He said. “But, I’m glad you got yourself out of that situation. Damn baby, I hate this for you.”

“I knew it all along.” I shrugged as more tears fell down my face. “But damn, it sucked to hear it; not gonna lie. I don’t even think there’s ever any coming back from this.” I looked up at him, puffy eyed. “I missed you, so much.”

“I missed you too Beautiful. And I just wanna say I’m sorry about how I came at you?—”

“No, I know how it looked. I tried to warn you before how the dance was.”

“You did, but in that moment all I saw was a nigga too close to what was mine. I ain’t like that shit.

It’s crazy, I used to see Gi talking to niggas and would be like whatever, I don’t give a fuck.

But seeing you dancing with that nigga, that shit caught me the fuck off guard. I was gon beat his ass.”

“You were jealous?”

“Hell yeah.” He admitted. “But, I shouldn’t have blown up on you saying that shit like you was on some get back shit. I was trippin.”

“I know how we got together; I know our circumstances. I was fucking with you heavy while I had a whole man, but I would never do that to you. You were a one off for me. Our connection is something so unexpected, I didn’t know how to handle it.

But now that I have it you will never have to worry about me having a wandering eye.

I love you Creed. It’s crazy, we only been dating three months and even before you told me how you felt about me I was imagining our life together. ”

“And what that life look like beautiful?” he rubbed the side of my face.

“You are my endgame.” I shrugged getting to the bottom line.

“And if that means I have to figure out how to navigate a life with you and whatever role I’m allowed in your child’s life I’ll do it because I love you more than I have ever loved anybody in this world.

” I felt another tear fall down my face which Creed quickly swiped away.

“All I ask is that you give me grace because I’m figuring this out just like you. ”

Creed exhaled, hard, before rubbing his hand down the front of his face. “I’m scared as fuck SB. How the fuck am I going to be a parent? I can barely take care of myself, now I’m going to be responsible for another human being?”

“The first step I think, is to have a discussion with your child’s mother about how y’all will coparent. After that, I think everything will fall into place and I’ll be there to help you figure out everything else.”

“I love you Beautiful.”

“I love you more. We got this!”

“Yeah, we got this.” He agreed before pulling me close and placing a kiss on my lips. “As long as I have you, I know ain’t shit I can’t do.”