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"On the bright side, it should be an easy A," Averi finished.

"I mean yeah," Egypt nodded. "But, if I wanted to pretend, I would’ve told my grandma I was pre-law like she wanted."

"Same. My parents were pushing me to go into medicine or law, but I’m trying to be a producer," Averi added.

"What kind of music?" I asked, intrigued.

"Mostly R you good?”

“That is a conversation for another day.” I replied. “Y’all wanna go get some food, I’m starving.”

Later that night, when I had made it home I kicked off my shoes at the door before heading to my bedroom so I could wash this day off of me. I was tired and hungry. After a quick shower, I found myself wondering into the living room.

"Brodie’s coming over," Arielle announced, stretching her arms over her head as she lay sprawled out on the couch.

I barely looked up from my phone. "Cool."

"And he’s bringing Creed."

That made me pause. “Oh.”

I glanced at her, trying to keep my face neutral, but Arielle smirked like she had caught something in my expression.

"Oh?" she teased. “That’s all the reaction you gon’ give?”

"What other reaction is there?" I rolled my eyes, acting like my heart hadn’t just skipped a beat.

"Girl, don’t act brand new," she said, sitting up. "I know y’all been talking. I know y’all got close over the summer. Brodie said Creed been talking his ear off about you.”

"We just friends, Ari." I fought the smile from spreading across my face. I didn’t know why I was being coy about it; didn’t even know why I was holding back my thoughts and feelings with Arielle.

She was after all, my best friend and usually I told her everything.

But this thing with Creed, this seemed sacred in a way, and I wanted to protect the friendship we were developing.

"Uh-huh. We’ll see."

Before I could respond, there was a call on the landline phone. Grabbing it off the receiver, I knew it could only be the front desk, no one else used this number. My stomach flipped as Arielle answered it, but I pushed it down.

“Hey… yeah, they are fine you can let them up. Thank you so much.

A few minutes later the sound of the elevator dinged, and Brodie strolled in first exuding his usual confidence, but it was Creed who stole my breath for a second the moment my eyes landed on him.

Months had passed since I’d last seen him in person, but the energy between us hadn’t changed.

He walked in like he had been here before, like we hadn’t gone months without being in the same room.

His light brown eyes found mine immediately, and there it was—that same pull, that same intensity, that same unspoken understanding.

"What’s up Toot," he said, smirking as he took me in. He knew I hated when he called me that. "You really out here in the city now, huh?"

I crossed my arms fighting my own smile. "I been out here. You just late."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Word?"

"Mmhmm."

He stepped forward, arms open.

"Come here."

I didn’t hesitate.

I stepped into his hug, my arms sliding around his waist as his wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me close. And for a second, it felt like coming home. His scent was clean, warm, laced with something familiar. The way he held me, firm but effortless, like this was just natural.

I couldn’t wait to lay my eyes on him. It had been in March since I saw him last. Sometimes the phone calls and texts weren’t enough. I had longed to see him, feel him and breathe the same intoxicating air that he breathed. I was delusional I know, but it was what it was.

"Y’all gon’ hug all night or can we start drinking?" Brodie teased from behind him. I hadn’t noticed the bag in his hand, confused until he pulled out a bottle of tequila. “To help celebrate a new school year.”

I rolled my eyes, stepping back. "Don’t be jealous, and just because you’re legally able to drink doesn’t mean you should."

“You mad because you can’t go to the liquor store and get it yourself? It’s cool Toot, that’s why I went and bought it so you don’t have to.”

“You’re annoying.”

“My baby love me though.” Brodie gloated, pulling Ari closer to him and placing a kiss on her lips. “Ain’t that right baby?”

Ari nodded and smiled, causing me to shake my head. The entire time we were back in LA, she and Brodie were connected at the hip. I had barely gotten time with my cousin during the summer except when we went to Malibu with Sevyn and Aidan, Arielle’s little brother and my little cousin.

"Yo, this spot nice as hell," Creed said, running a hand over his short curls as he took in the apartment.

"Right?" Brodie added, whistling low. "The fam got y’all living good up here."

"I forget sometimes that your family got money, Serenity," Creed admitted, shaking his head. "You don’t talk about it much."

I shrugged. "What’s there to talk about? It’s just life."

He nodded like he understood, but I could tell he was still impressed.

"Come on, I’ll give you the tour," I offered holding my hand out which he quickly accepted.

Brodie was already heading toward the kitchen with Arielle, so Creed followed me through the apartment, taking in each room as I pointed things out.

"Living and dining room, there’s a balcony that wraps around to the master which unfortunately Arielle got.” I jokingly rolled my eyes. “The kitchen is that way, we can circle back in that direction later.”

"So when’s the first home-cooked meal?"

"When Arielle learns how to turn the stove on." I laughed. “No seriously, soon. We just gotta get in the grove of things. I’ll invite you back one day so I can cook for you.”

He laughed, shaking his head. "Let me find out you be throwing down in the kitchen."

“I be doing a little bit of something.” I popped my collar causing him to laugh.

I led him down the hall showing him the guest rooms and the balcony before finally stopping at my bedroom.

I hesitated for a second before pushing the door open.

"And this is me," I said, stepping inside.

Creed followed, looking around.

My room was soft, warm, personal—deep neutral tones, a plush king-sized bed, soft lighting, candles, photos of family and friends.

"This fits you," he murmured.

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," he nodded, stepping deeper into the room, hands tucked into his pockets. "It’s calm. Chill. Not all flashy like people might expect."

I smirked, sitting on the edge of my bed. "You still think you got me figured out, huh?"

He exhaled, standing in front of me. "I know so."

A pause.

A charged, heavy pause.

The energy in the room shifted. For the first time since he walked in, it was just us.

No distractions. No interruptions, just me and him.

The words we expressed to each other during our phone calls seemed to resonate around us.

The air felt thick, electric, like something was pressing down on us, pulling us closer, making it impossible to ignore what had been simmering for months.

His light brown eyes flickered to my lips.

My breath hitched. And for a split second, I thought he was going to kiss me.

Hell, I wanted him to. But then—reality crashed down like cold water. I snapped out of it, clearing my throat and pushing off the bed, stepping away.

"We should probably get back before Arielle sends a search party," I said quickly, my voice almost too casual.

Creed blinked, as if coming back to himself too. He nodded slowly, licking his lips.

"Yeah. You right." We walked back to the living room, the moment passing as fast as it had come.

But the tension was still there. Lurking…Waiting.

Later that night, as we sat on the couch, bellies full of Big Wong’s Chinese food, tequila shots and snacks, talking and laughing with Brodie and Arielle. Creed leaned over, lowering his voice.

"You know we cool, right?" he murmured, his light brown eyes searching mine.

I glanced at him, nodding. "Of course."

"I mean, I know we been talking a lot, and…" he paused, then exhaled. "I just wanna make sure we straight."

I smiled, nudging him playfully. "You worried about our friendship, Langston?"

He smirked, shaking his head. "Something like that."

I tilted my head, studying him. I could feel the pull between us. Could feel how much we both wanted to blur the lines. But I wasn’t ready.

Not yet, not when my breakup with Iman was still so new and especially not when he had his girlfriend Gianna back home waiting for him.

"We’re friends Creed. You’re probably one of my best friends." I said softly, but firmly.

His smirk faltered just slightly, something unreadable flashing in his eyes before he nodded.

"Best friends," he agreed.

But the way he said it? It sounded like he wasn’t fully convinced.

And maybe… neither was I.