Page 16 of Breeze and Melodie

“About seven.”

“Please tell me you didn’t spend the night with that bitch.”

“Hold up, Tia. You ain’t gotta call her out her name because you’re mad at me.”

“I just found out you spent the night with another bitch after I damn near begged you to come over, and you’re worried about me calling her outta her name. Are you fucking serious?”

“I told you, Mel is like my little sister,” I lied.

“Little sister my ass!”

“Aye, you need to chill. Her nigga put his hands on her and she was a little shook up after I got his ass to leave. She asked me to stay, and I did.”

“Why didn’t she call the police?”

“Because she called me.”

“Where did you sleep?”

“Why does that matter? Nothing is going on with me and Mel. You need to?—”

“No! You need to answer my fucking question. Where the fuck did you sleep?”

I could’ve lied to save her feelings, but I didn’t like her tone or how she was questioning me like I was a weak ass nigga.

“In her bed, but?—”

“Fuck you. I knew you were fucking that bitch.”

She shot to her feet and angrily marched to the kitchen to grab her purse from the counter. I caught her as she reached for the doorknob.

“You need to chill, but I’m not about to beg you to believe me.”

“Good because it would be a waste of time. Nothing may have happened this time, but what about the next time she needs you in the middle of the night?”

“If it’s under the same circumstances, I’ll be there for her.”

She released a deep breath. “I’m a very observant woman, and I’ve always had my suspicions about you two. It’s never been blatant, but I noticed the subtle glances, the quick winks, and the way you’re always throwing shade at her man when he’s around. Maybe nothing happened, but it’s only a matter of time.”

“Tia, I?—”

“She’s probably the reason we’ve been fucking around for six months and haven’t defined exactly what we’re doing. I’m too old to commit myself to a man I can’t introduce as my man. If you truly wanted me, you’d let it be known that I belong to you, and I’d be able to confidently say you belong to me.”

“That’s how you feel?” She nodded. “You haven’t exactly let it be known that being locked down was what you wanted.”

“Oh, so you’re playing dumb now? What thirty-five-year-old woman—you know what, Breeze? I don’t have the energy or desire to do this with you right now. When you’re ready to fully commit, hit me up.”

I could’ve said something to convince her I wanted something long-term with her. However, I would’ve been lying to both of us. Tia checked almost all the boxes for what I wantedand needed in a woman, but I couldn’t lie to her or myself. If I were honest, Melodie was who I wanted.

Although I enjoyed spending time with Tia, it was better this way. She broke it off with me, so I didn’t feel like the bad guy. I’d done a lot of fucked up shit in my life, but I was never one to intentionally hurt a woman. I thought I’d hidden my true feelings for Melodie around Tia. It was a lot easier when I didn’t see Melodie regularly. Being in close proximity to her on almost a daily basis made it damn near impossible to disguise how I felt. It was time for me to stop fucking around and claim my woman.

“Are you fucking Breeze?”I heard an angry woman’s voice say.

I closed the trunk of my car and was greeted by a pissed off Tia.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

---