Page 6 of Free to Fall

“Yeah.”

“Egypt Egypt?As in my wife’s best friend? As in the Egypt you always argue with like you can’t stand her?”

I gave a dry laugh. “Yeah. That one.”

He stared at me for a long second before shaking his head slowly. “Damn.”

“I didn’t plan it. We ain’t even like each other for real, or that’s what we told ourselves. But that night... somethin’ shifted. Shit got outta control. We dipped out together, didn’t say nothin’ to nobody.”

Creed let out a low whistle again. “And that was it?”

I shook my head. “Nah, bro. That was the beginning.”

He leaned forward, mouth twitching like he wanted to laugh but knew better.

“So y’all been sneakin’ around ever since?”

“Yeah,” I said quietly. “Always the same secret meetups. I took her to that club ole girl introduced me to, Pleasure. We usually meet there a couple times a week. She dips before the sun comes up like I don’t mean shit. And I let her. Cause she don’t want nobody knowin’. Says it’s just physical.”

Creed nodded slowly. “And it ain’t?”

I looked at him, voice low. “Not for me.” He didn’t say nothing. Just sat back with a thoughtful look on his face. “I want more,” I continued. “I’m tired of hidin’. Tired of her treatin’ it like it ain’t real. I wanna pull up to her crib in the daylight. I wanna wake up with her still in the bed, not slippin’ out like I’m just some side mission she ashamed of.”

Creed took a sip of his drink, then finally spoke. “You in love with her?”

I didn’t answer. Because I didn’t know. I had honestly been grappling with those feelings for a while. I felt like I did. I didn’t feel like this with nobody else and them bitches was for real situationships. “Ion even know.”

His eyes softened. “I can’t lie—I ain’t shocked. Y’all chemistry been suspicious for a minute. Serenity and Ave been lowkey speculatin’.”

I laughed once. “Egypt would lose her shit if she knew people were catchin’ on.”

“Then why not just tell her what you want?”

I shrugged. “She don’t trust love. Neither do I. But I’m tryna figure out how to.”

Before Creed could respond, we heard the front door swing open, followed by the familiar chaos of kids’ footsteps and bags dropping.

“Daddy! You home?” Cree’s little voice echoed down the stairs in the basement where we were. “Uncle Nas here too?”

Seconds later, she came flying downstairs into the mancave, long braids swinging, wearing leggings and an oversized hoodie that almost reached her knees. Giovanni followed behind her, taller now, deep into that preteen energy with his basketball shorts sagging and socks halfway off his feet.

“Uncle Nas!” Cree beamed leaping onto the couch beside me and throwing her arms around my neck.

Giovanni fist-bumped me, then dropped into the recliner like a grown man.

“You still comin’ to my game next week?” he asked.

“I wouldn’t miss it, young king.”

Serenity appeared at the bottom of the steps, car keys in hand, looking equally tired and relieved. She took one look at us and smiled.

“You wanna feed them?” she asked Creed.

“They came in like they already ate,” he replied smirking. “But I got you baby.”

Serenity walked over giving Creed a quick peck before she gave me a small hug. “You good, Nasseem?”

“Yeah,” I said, nodding. “Just needed some real energy tonight.”

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