Page 43 of Breeze and Melodie

He chuckled. “Oh, you peeped that too? I thought I was slick with it.”

Ms. Natavia shook her head. “Not even a little bit. You were so focused on Melodie that you didn’t see your woman and her man giving you dirty looks.”

“I couldn’t help myself.” He wrapped his arm around me. “This woman is my future wife. I ain’t never been drawn to a woman like I have her, so I can’t help but stare when she’s in my presence.”

“Whew! Okay, Cool Breeze. I’m glad y’all stopped denying your feelings and playing with other people’s. That can be dangerous.”

“Now that you’ve grilled us, where is everyone else?” I asked.

“Y’all are the last to arrive. I think everyone else is out back. Jacob is on the grill, and most of the sides are ready.”

She turned and led us through the house, stopping in the kitchen as we continued to the backyard. As soon as we opened the patio doors, the aroma from the grill hit my nose, causing my stomach to growl.

“Hey, Jacob. The food smells amazing. I can’t wait to eat,” I told him as we passed him on the deck.

The three of us exchanged a few words before he returned his focus to the food on the grill. We left him to do his thing and headed down the deck stairs to the yard.

“About time y’all came up for air,” Raine said.

I rolled my eyes. “Girl, I know you not talking with the way Shyne be having you?—”

“Aye, chill with all that, Mel. I’m not trying to hear all that,” Breeze said.

“Your baby sister is somebody’s mama. I know you know how that happened.”

“Yeah, and I don’t want details. Where’s my nephew?”

“Over there in that playpen taking a nap, thank goodness. Mari just put him to sleep.” Raine nodded toward RJ, who napped peacefully in the shade. “He’s been so crabby lately, and I can’t figure out what’s wrong with him.”

“Nah, he hasn’t been crabby. He’s just not feeling you right now unless he wants to nurse. He’s cool with me,” Shyne said.

“You don’t have to rub it in, Shyne. My baby will be a year old in a few months, and he’s already kicking me to the curb.”

“Maybe you’re pregnant,” I said.

She reared her head back and frowned. “Why would you say that?”

“Because there’s an old wives’ tale that says something about babies shying away from pregnant women, even their mothers. You should take a test,” I suggested.

“I’ve heard that too,” Yvonne added.

“Shyne, I swear, if you got me pregnant again already, I’m cutting you off.”

“It’s not nice to threaten your husband,” he stated.

“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise. I better not be pregnant.”

Indira, Shyne’s youngest sister, finally tuned in to the conversation. “Oh my God, Raine. You’re pregnant again?”

“Raine’s pregnant?” Noelani, the oldest of Shyne’s three younger sisters, asked as she ended a phone call.

“Oh my God, Mel. Look what you started,” Raine whined.

“I ain’t start nothing. It was just a theory about why RJ ain’t feeling you right now.”

“Hey, y’all. What are we gossiping about today?” Talia, Shyne’s middle sister, asked as she descended the stairs of the deck.

“Raine’s pregnant!” Indira announced with excitement. She was known for not being able to hold secrets.

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