Page 43 of Set me Free

"Merry Christmas Creed."

"Merry Christmas beautiful."

I ended the call and just stood there for a second, staring at the wall. Tomorrow was gonna be hell.

I knewwhat had to be done. But that didn’t mean it was gonna be easy.

By the time Gianna pulled up to the house, my stomach was churning with a mix of guilt and relief. I opened the door for her and she smiled bright before wrapping her arms around me and placing a kiss on my lips.

"I was starting to think I wasn’t gonna see you again before you left," she teased, as I led the way to the living room. She sat down on the couch, patting the spot next to her. I didn’t sit. Her smile faltered slightly. "What’s wrong?"

I exhaled, rubbing the back of my neck. "We need to talk."

Her expression immediately changed. "Okay…" she said slowly.

I looked at her, already feeling the weight of what I was about to say settle in my chest. "I can’t do this anymore, Gi."

She froze, staring at me like she didn’t just hear what she heard.

"What?"

"Us," I clarified. "It’s over."

For a second, she didn’t move but only for a second before she jumped up out of her seat. "You’re joking."

I shook my head. "I’m not."

Her face twisted, her arms crossing over her chest.

"Wow," she scoffed. "So that’s it? After all these years?"

"Gianna, I?—"

"No!" she snapped, stepping closer. "You don’t just get to drop this on me like it’s nothing, Creed! What the hell changed? We were literally just together two days ago." I knew whatwas coming next. "You found someone else, didn’t you?" she accused.

I clenched my jaw but didn’t answer fast enough. And that silence? I know it told her everything. Her face crumpled, but then it hardened just as quick, her fists clenching.

"You did," she whispered, her voice shaking. "Who is she?"

I exhaled. "It don’t matter."

"Like hell it don’t!" she shouted. Before I could react, she lunged at me, shoving me hard. "You fucking bitch!" I barely moved, but before she could try again, my mama was suddenly there, stepping between us.

"Enough!" my mama snapped, gripping Gianna’s arms and holding her back. Gianna was shaking, her chest rising and falling fast, her eyes wild with anger.

"I hate you," she spat. "I hate you so much, Creed."

I swallowed, my chest tightening. Because even though I knew this was the right thing, it didn’t make it any easier.

"I never meant to hurt you," I said, my voice lower than before.

She let out a bitter laugh.

"Well, you fuckin did." She turned to my mama, her voice breaking. "And you just gonna let him do this to me?"

My mama sighed. "Gianna, baby, this was his decision. There is nothing I can do about it. This is something I think you’re just going to have to accept.”

That seemed to break whatever fight she had left. My mama had always been on her side, or at least trying to talk reason into me. But on this, as I had made it clear with my mama before, I was firm and would not budge.

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