Page 27 of Breeze and Melodie

The timing of the server with our food couldn’t have been better. I was ready to move on from the conversation and hoped Melodie was too.

“Is there anything else I can get for you right away?” the server asked.

“No, thank you. We’re good for now,” I responded before she left.

“A nigga like you, huh?” Melodie circled right back to where the server cut off our conversation.

“That’s what I said.”

She looked at me a while longer before using her fork to lift a piece of lasagna to her mouth. I kept my eyes on her as I swirled spaghetti around my fork before enjoying a forkful.

“I can’t wait to see exactly what kinda nigga you are.”

“I can’t wait to show you.”

“You niggas need to hurry up and start your season. I’m tired of getting my ass beat every other Sunday,” I said on my way to the bleachers.

Since the end of the last professional basketball season, Shyne, Adan, Zayn, and I had been playing pick-up basketball games with Dakari Bentley and Bronx Ravens, who are three- and two-time world champions with the Onyx City Blazers, respectively.

“Quit complaining,” Bronx said.

“I ain’t complaining, but y’all don’t have to play like it’s a championship game every time.”

“Nah, y’all need to step up your game,” Dakari teased.

“Just make sure y’all thank us for helping you keep your game tight during the off-season when you give your championship speech,” Shyne said.

“You were sluggish as hell today, Breeze. What’s up with you?” Adan asked.

I ignored Adan’s question as I guzzled the water from my bottle.

“It’s not what, it’s who,” Shyne said before laughing.

“Mel wearing your ass out?” Adan continued.

“Nah, I’m good. Just a little tired.”

I’d only had one other serious relationship that came close to what I had with Melodie, and I was a teenager. Even then, I was smart enough not talk to other niggas about the goodness between my woman’s thighs. All the women I’d dealt with between my first relationship and Melodie were just something to do, including Tia, if I were honest.

It had been a few weeks since Melodie and I made things official, and things couldn’t have been better. Our chemistry was off the charts, which made our lovemaking too good to express with mere words. Beyond the bedroom, I enjoyed her company and simply being in her presence.

I’d never dated a woman I’d considered a friend well before we dated. Whether Melodie and I had sex or not, we had a great time talking, watching movies, sitting quietly while she was engrossed in her phone, while I played my video games, even though she teased me about being too old to still play them.

“Your silence speaks volumes about this new relationship,” Dakari said. “When are you planning to propose?”

Dakari was at least a decade younger than me but very mature for his age. Whenever I’d been around him and the topic of relationships came up, he gave sound advice.

“Is it that obvious?” I asked with a smile.

“Yeah. I noticed something different about you the moment you walked in. There’s a light around you, and your spirit doesn’t seem as heavy.”

“Shit, as slow as he was on the court, I was thinking the exact opposite,” Adan joked.

“Physical heaviness isn’t the same as your spirit being or feeling heavy,” Dakari told him.

“He’s right. Raine and I have noticed how different you and Mel have been since you finally hooked up,” Shyne added.

“See, y’all got lucky,” Zayn began. “The women you settled down with are good women. Granted, I don’t know Jahzara and Yazmeen personally, but I’ve met them a few times, and it's clear they’re different. I can’t tell you the last time I hooked up with a woman who was worth taking out a second time.”

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