Page 30

CREED

I could feel the tension before I even walked outside. That shit was thick, like the Texas heat sitting heavy in the air. It didn’t matter that the backyard was lit up, music playing, and people drinking and laughing.

I knew. I knew somebody was about to piss Serenity off. And I had a pretty good idea who.

"You know, I really don’t think it’s fair." I heard her voice before I even saw her. My jaw locked instantly. Here we go.

I turned, catching sight of Serenity standing stiff, holding her drink while Gianna stood too damn close, smirking like she knew exactly what she was doing.

"What’s not fair?" Serenity asked, her tone already tight.

"That my son loves you so much." I sighed.

Here she go. Serenity adjusted her stance, rolling her shoulders like she was bracing herself. I watched as Serenity closed her eyes as if she was counting to ten. Still, I didn’t make my way over there because I knew she could handle it on her own.

“Look, I’m not about to do this with you tonight?—"

“Yeah.” Gianna continued cutting Serenity off. Serenity bit down on her bottom lip she was trying to keep it together. “I just think it’s wild. I mean, I carried him for nine months, birthed him, raised him, and yet… he acts like you’re his second mama."

"I’m not tryna take your place, Gianna. I never have. But I love Gio, and he loves me. That’s just what it is."

Gianna fake-smiled, sipping her drink.

"For now," she said.

Serenity stilled. "The fuck does that mean?"

"Just that things change," Gianna mused. "You and Creed aren’t married, you’re not permanent in his life. You might be around for now, but who’s to say you’ll always be?"

I saw the way Serenity’s eyes darkened, the way she held herself back from making a scene at my mama’s house.

And truth be told? Gianna was playing with fire.

I knew the moment the chuckle escaped Serenity’s mouth that shit was about to go very left.

I was just about to walk over there when I saw my granddad step in, calling Serenity away.

And thank God, because if she had swung first, I don’t know if I would’ve stopped her.

Besides that the party was going well. This was my mama’s first party at the new home I’d purchased for her in Lancaster. The huge backyard held so many of our friends from our old neighborhood along with my mama’s co-workers and some of the people from Pop’s community center he always went to.

Still, I wasn’t expecting shit to pop off this fast. But when I stepped into the living room, I already knew I was too late.

Sienna Bradshaw and Tasha Langston stood face to face, the tension between them thick enough to choke on.

And standing right beside Sienna was Lenox my girl’s daddy, the man whose name rang bells in every industry he stepped foot in.

And from the way he was standing tall, shoulders squared, his hand lightly resting on his wife’s lower back…

Yeah, they were a unit. And they weren’t intimidated, not one bit.

I had seen my mama go at it with plenty of people before. But this? This was different. This was a whole other battlefield and I wasn’t sure he was going to win it. Still, I watched as it all unfolded.

"I was just telling your mother how interesting it is that you’re so involved in my grandson’s life," my mama said, her arms crossed, looking dead at Serenity.

Serenity stood calm; her expression unreadable similar to how she always handled my mama. "Oh yeah?" she said. "Interesting how?"

"Well, most women would know their place."

Before I could even process what the hell my mama just said, Sienna scoffed. And when she finally spoke? Her voice was smooth like honey, yet sharp like a dagger.

"Tasha, right?"

My mama’s eyes narrowed. "That’s right."

"Right." Sienna took a sip of her wine, her lips curving into a slow smirk. "See, I’ve been hearing a lot about you. And now that I’ve finally met you in person, I have to admit…" She tilted her head slightly, her voice dripping with condescension. "I’m disappointed."

Lenox cleared his throat, rubbing his jaw, but his eyes gleamed with amusement. My mama’s face twisted.

"Disappointed?" she repeated, her voice tight.

"Mmhmm," Sienna mused. "I thought you’d have a little more grace. A little more… class."

Oh, shit. I barely held in my smirk, leaning against the wall. This was getting real good.

Mama squared her shoulders. "I don’t know what you think you know about me, but one thing I don’t do is let people disrespect me."

"Oh, I’m sure you don’t," Sienna said with a carefully crafted smile. "But let’s get one thing straight—my daughter is not some random girl in your son’s life. She’shis partner, and that little boy you’re so concerned about? He is loved. Deeply. By my daughter, my family, by all of us."

Lenox finally spoke, his deep, commanding voice cutting through the air like a blade.

"Giovanni is family," he said. "Which means he will always be taken care of. Always be protected. And if you have a problem with that…" His eyes hardened. "Then that’s something you gon’ have to work through on your own."

Mama pressed her lips together. Sienna smiled, smug as hell.

"I don’t have time for this," my mama muttered.

"Oh, I think you do," Sienna countered. "Because as long as my daughter is in your son’s life, we will be having this conversation anytime you forget to act accordingly."

Mama exhaled sharply, her whole body tense.

"You done?" she asked, her voice clipped.

"For now," Sienna said lightly, lifting her wine glass before walking off with Lenox, her head high.

I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. I had never seen my mama lose a battle like that. And from the way she stomped off, I knew she was pissed. But me? I was impressed. And for the first time since this whole situation started… I knew Serenity was damn sure her mother’s daughter.

I should’ve known they wouldn’t let that shit go. Not even twenty minutes after my mama walked away from Sienna and Lenox, I found myself cornered in the kitchen, staring at the two most frustrating women in my life—my mama and Gianna.

Mama had her arms crossed, her expression tight. Gianna stood beside her, lips pursed, like she was preparing to be dramatic.

"I don’t know what the hell kind of circus you invited into my house, but I’ll be damned if I let some boujee-ass folks come up in here acting like they run shit," Mama snapped.

I exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Mama, come on."

"No, you come on, Creed!" she said, voice sharp. "I invited them here as a courtesy! And what do I get in return? Disrespect! In my own damn home!"

Gianna huffed, shaking her head. "They walked in here like they own Texas. And did you see how yo bitch just sat there while her mama talked crazy to your mother? That’s the kind of woman you want in your life, around my son?"

"First of all, watch your mouth," I said, my voice low, firm. "Second, let’s not act like y’all didn’t start that shit first."

"Excuse me?" Mama scoffed, looking genuinely offended.

I rubbed my jaw, already over this conversation.

"What did you expect to happen? Y’all been making it real clear from day one that you don’t like Serenity.

You think her people don’t see that? You think they don’t feel that energy?

Of course, they gon’ be protective of her.

Just like you would be if the shoe was on the other foot.

" Mama pressed her lips together, but the way her eyes flickered told me she knew I was right.

"And you," I turned to Gianna, my patience wearing thin.

"How many times I gotta tell you that Serenity is gonna be in Gio’s life whether you like it or not? "

Gianna’s face twisted. "Creed, she’s not his mother!"

"And she ain't tryna be!" I snapped. "But Gio loves her. And she loves him. So unless she decides on her own that she don’t wanna be in his life, you don’t have a say in it."

Gianna scoffed, looking at my mama for backup.

My mama sighed deeply, shaking her head. "So, what? You choosing them over your own family now?"

I stared at her, my frustration boiling over. "First of all, Serenity is my family and second of all, Mama, don’t do that. You know damn well I love you. But y’all gotta do better. Both of y’all."

"Oh, we gotta do better?" Gianna repeated, throwing up her hands.

"Yeah," I said, my voice dead serious. "Serenity has been nothing but respectful to both of you, but you think she just gon’ sit there and take y’all’s bullshit forever?

You think I’m gon’ sit here and take it?

Y’all acting like she ain’t been holding her own through all this, like she ain’t had every reason to snap on y’all but still chose to be cool.

But let me tell you something—" I leaned in slightly, looking them both dead in the eye. "She can only take so much. So can I."

My Mama stiffened and Gianna’s eyes widened slightly, like she was finally realizing that I wasn’t bending on this.

I exhaled, running a hand over my head. "I ain't gon' keep having this same conversation with y’all. If you got a problem with Serenity, that’s on you. But stop expecting me to pick sides, because that’s not happening."

Gianna let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Unbelievable."

"Believe it." I said, pushing past them, leaving them both speechless.

I didn’t have time for this shit. And if they thought they were gonna make me choose? They had another thing coming.

After letting my mama and Gianna take their L’s for the night, I walked outside to cool off.

I didn’t even get a chance to breathe before Serenity walked up to me, her Chanel purse in one hand, phone in the other.

"Baby, come here," she called.

I turned, looking at her smug little smirk.

"What’s up?" I asked, letting her pull me toward one of the empty patio couches before she handed me her phone.

"Happy birthday, my love," she said softly.

I frowned before looking at the screen. And my stomach dropped.

"Nah. Nah, you lying," I said, staring at the photo of the black G-Wagon sitting in the driveway of our Phoenix home.

Serenity grinned. "I don’t lie."

"SB… you got me a fuckin G-Wagon?"

"I did."

I shook my head, laughing. "Damn, you really tryna make me marry you."

She giggled, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Just showing my man some appreciation, that’s all."

"Appreciation, huh?" I leaned down, pressing a slow, deep kiss to her lips before pulling back slightly. "Nasseem told me I better not ever let you go."

"Nasseem is smart," she teased.

"Yeah," I smirked. "But he ain’t gotta tell me. I already knew."

By the time we were back home a few days later, we were both exhausted, but I was too wired to sleep.

Serenity laid curled up next to me, her head on my chest, tracing lazy circles on my abs.

"You excited about your acting gig?" I asked.

"Yeah, my lawyers finally got the contract stuff handled. And I am now officially apart of the Birds of a Feather family. " she admitted. "But I’m gonna miss you." I let out a deep sigh, tightening my hold on her.

"Imma miss you too, SB. But I know this is big for you."

She smiled, tipping her head up to kiss my jaw. "The time will go by quick. And before you know it, I’ll be back home to finish the summer with you and Gio before he goes back to Dallas."

I didn’t say nothing at first. Because I knew she was right. But I also knew something else. Shit was changing. Serenity was about to be on her own path, her own grind. And for the first time? I had to wonder if this fairy tale we built was as unshakable as we thought.