Page 97 of Set me Free

His hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me into his hard body. He placed a kiss on my lips; several soft pecks, and God I missed his lips on my body.

Still, I knew I needed to say something, to have the conversation we’d been avoiding, but not yet. I just wanted to enjoy this—for a little while longer.

After lying in bed little longer, Creed and I finally got up. We showered together. The intimacy of it strangely bittersweet.

He reached for me, his lips tracing my shoulder, his fingers splayed across my belly, but I only lingered for a moment before stepping out, leaving him under the spray of hot water alone. I needed some space.

Throwing on black leggings and a cropped sweatshirt, I crept out of the room, heading straight for the kitchen. Egypt was already sitting at the counter, a bowl of Fruit Loops in front of her, scrolling on her phone.

She took one look at me, raised an eyebrow, and then smirked. "So... you good?"

I rolled my eyes, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. "Shut up."

Egypt grinned, stirring her cereal. "You seem... relaxed," she teased.

I tried not to blush, but failed miserably. "You were right," I admitted, taking a sip of water.

"Of course, I was right," she said matter-of-factly. "But... be careful, Serenity. With your feelings and his. You know how Creed is."

I sighed, pressing my fingers to my temple. "I know. And I already know I gotta talk to him about it. I just... I don’t know how."

"Rip the Band-Aid off," she shrugged. "No point in dragging it out."

I didn’t respond, just stared at the counter, lost in thought. A few minutes later, Creed walked into the kitchen, fully dressed, phone in hand.

“What’s up Egypt.”

“Good morning.” Egypt gave me a knowing look wiggling her eyebrows playfully, then grabbed her bag. "Alright, lovebirds, I’m out. Tootie, send me pictures of my baby."

“Yo’ baby?” Creed asked.

“Yeah, she both our baby mama; the fuck you thought?” I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped my lips. Egypt looked dead serious when she said it, leaving Creed confused and silent.

“She’s crazy, don’t listen to her.” I went back to the fridge to see what I could make in a short amount of time. Settling on a bowl of cereal, I pulled out the milk and went to the pantry to grab myOh’s. A silence resounded over the room and I felt Creed watching me.

“Please tell me you been feeding my baby more than just think junk.”

“It’s the only thing they like really. I never have to throw up after I eat this. Don’t be mad at me, be mad at them.” Creed fell in step behind me, wrapping his arm around me and placing his hand on my belly.

“We haven’t talked about it, but do you have any names picked out?”

“I have a few ideas, you?” I poured my milk in over my cereal and took my first bite, savoring the honey nut flavor of the cereal.

“I got a few,” he kissed my neck.

“Tell me.”

“You first.”

“Well for a boy, I want to name him Cevyn Joseph Bradshaw-Langston.”

“Bradshaw Langston? Aw naw shawty, you got me fucked up.” Creed laughed. “Ain’t no hyphenation.”

“Fine, then Bradshaw.”

“SB, find somebody else to play with bruh.” He rubbed his temples clearly irritated which caused me to smile. “My baby gon have my last name and my last name only. I’m cool with you naming him after your brother but he gon be a Langston.”

“Fine.” I relented rolling my eyes. “Cevyn Joseph Langston if it’s a boy. I don’t really have any girl names picked out, I just know I want to give her my mom’s name as a middle name. It’s weird, to think I want to honor her in that way after everything I’ve been through with her. But my mama has been on it with me through this entire journey. So, whatever her first name, Sienna is going to be her middle name.”

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