Page 122 of Set me Free

“Yes Sir.”

“Good. I think I can convince Mommy to let you on sooner, okay?” she nodded and I smothered her with kisses to her cheeks.

“Okay guys, it’s almost time for dinner go wash up; I’ll be there in a minute. Gio, help Sissy okay?” Gio nodded beforetaking Cree’s hand and pulling her to the guest bathroom. When they were out of sight, Serenity turned to me.

“Welcome home Langston.” I smiled at her, hard and wide. She was beautiful, of course she fucking was. Time had been good to Serenity. Her chocolate skin was still blemish free and at 27 years old she still looked like a teenager. Like the same 18-year-old I met nearly ten years, only a lot more mature.

“Thank you for letting me stay Beautiful.” I pulled her into a tightly wrapped hug before kissing her cheek. She snuggled into my chest, same as she had been doing since we were just friends. I loved that shit, the way she made me feel like she knew she was safe with me.

“Come on. Let’s get you unpacked so we can have dinner and then you get to do bedtime with the kiddos while Mama Ren takes a long hot bath.”

“You been waiting on this huh?”

“All day. Ms. June had an appointment today so I had them all to myself.” I swear, we need to give that woman a raise. I would be so lost without her.”

“You better pay that woman Ms. Number One TV show lead actress.” I chuckled. “You think I don’t know how much money you make. I be googling shit too since you stingy wit ya numbers.”

“Google all you want; that shit ain’t accurate anyway.” She laughed. “You on the other hand Mr. 130 Mill… I need some new ice on my neck. Tiffany’s has some good options, I’ll send you a list.”

“I know what you like tho Baby, no need.”

“Uh huh.”

After a week of practices,games, and spending time with the kids, I seemed to be developing a steady routine. It wasn’t any different having both kids in the same proximity as it was when I had them with me in Phoenix. The real difference was having a woman in the same house as me on a consistent basis again.

When Jailah realized I was staying with Serenity full-time, she lost it… again. It was as if we never talked about it to begin with, like she all of a sudden forgot. Or maybe, she thought I was lying.

I was sitting in my room having just gotten out of the shower when Jai had called me. I wasn’t wearing shit but a towel and that was barely on when Serenity came barreling through my door as if it was no big deal, asking what snacks I wanted for when we finished watching our show together. Currently, we were binge watching Game of Thrones. She’d seen them all, multiple times like the nerd she was, but this was my first go round as I had refused to watch them before.

We watched the show normally late at night, she’d usually crawl into my bed. We’d fall asleep watching the show, it was comfortable for us. We never crossed any lines, it was just like when we were friends and I’d stay at the apartment. We’d curl up in her bed and just chill, eating snacks, laughing, vibing.

“Hey baby daddy.” Serenity walked in without knocking. “What kind of snacks should I—” she paused seeing my phone in my hand. “You taking nudes?”

“No SB, I’m on the phone.” I replied trying to hide my laugh.

“Oh.. Ohhhhh—I am so sorry. I’ll just pick some stuff and meet you back in here in what like 20 minutes? You should be done talking by then right?”

“I don’t know SB, might.” She was fucking with me, she knew exactly who I was talking to and she knew exactly what she was doing putting a time limit on the call.

“I’ll come back in 10 then.” She smiled before walking out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

I shook my head before turning back to look at Jailah who was fuming. If we were in a cartoon, there would be literal steam coming out of her ears.

“Are you fuckin serious right now? I don’t know SB, might? What the fuck does that even mean?”

“It means what I said… I might.”

“So you just gon let her put a fuckin time limit on how long I can be on the phone with my man?”

“It ain’t even that deep Jai, chill.”

“This is insane, Creed!” she yelled over the phone. “You expect me to just sit here and be okay with this?”

“I expect you to trust me.”

She let out a humorless laugh. “Nah, I ain’t stupid.”

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Jailah, if you don’t trust me, what are we doing?”

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