Page 51 of Set me Free

"Damn. I love you."

The second I said it, I froze. Shit. I hadn’t meant to say it yet at least not out loud. Not because I didn’t feel it—I did. Deep in my bones, I knew I loved this girl. But because I hadn’t planned on saying it first.

Serenity blinked, stunned for a second, but then, a slow, knowing smirk spread across her lips.

“For real?”

I swallowed hard, my hands immediately settling on her waist, feeling the soft warmth of her skin beneath my fingers.

"For real SB" I muttered. I groaned, throwing my head back. "Damn, I can’t believe I said it first.”

She laughed, her fingers tracing my jaw, tilting my face back to hers.

"For the record, I love you too, Langston. I been waiting for you to say it first." I chuckled, shaking my head, but deep down, I felt like I could float.I pressed my forehead against hers, our breaths mixing, our heartbeats in sync.

"You got me, Serenity." I murmured kissing her deep, slow. And for the first time in my life, I felt weightless.

I was in the kitchen,standing at the stove, flipping pancakes when I heard a knock at the door. It was nearly noon. Brodie was in New York with Ari, Trent was out with his girl and Donovan was at his part time job.

Frowning, I wiped my hands on a dish towel before heading over. The second I opened it, my entire body locked up seeingmy mama standing on the other side. She looked guilty and it didn’t take long to wonder why. Standing behind her? Gianna.

The sight of them standing in my doorway, together, looking like they had planned this ambush, sent a slow roll of frustration through me.

"Ma, what the fuck?"

My mama arched her brow looking at me like I was the one who was out of line. "What? We can’t visit you?"

"Not unannounced." My voice was tight, my grip on the door handle tighter.

Gianna’s sharp gaze swept over me, and I knew the exact second she realized I wasn’t alone. Her lips curled in irritation as she crossed her arms.

"You got somebody in there, don’t you?" she snapped. I clenched my jaw, already knowing where this was about to go.

"Y’all gotta give me a minute," I muttered, stepping back. "Don’t come in yet."

Mama gave me a look but didn’t argue, and I quickly closed the door, taking a deep breath before heading back to my room. Serenity had just finished getting dressed, pulling on her jeans, her smile easy and soft—until she saw my face.

Her brows furrowed instantly. "What’s wrong?"

I ran a hand down my face. "My mama’s here."

She blinked. "Okay… and?"

I hesitated.

"She brought Gianna with her."

Serenity froze. Her lips parted slightly, her body going completely still as she processed my words. I saw her lips moving like she was trying to figure out what I was saying, trying to process my words.

"Why?" Her voice was calm, but I could hear the tension underneath it.

I shook my head. "I don’t know. I swear, I ain’t know they were coming."

She stared at me, her jaw tightened. "Did you actually break up with her, Creed?"

My stomach tightened. "Yeah, I did."

"Then why is your mama still acting like she’s your girl? Why are they here together if she knows you’re not with her no more?"

---