Page 59 of Breeze and Melodie

“Thank you,” I responded when he released me.

“When do you plan to do it?”

“This weekend, if possible. I don’t have anything special planned, but I know she’d want her family present.”

“What about Raine?”

“Raine would disown me if I proposed without her. Shyne told me to keep him posted with my plans, and he’d have Raine and the others here for the proposal. You think we can have a small gathering tomorrow and not make Mel suspicious?”

“Party planning ain’t my thing, but I’m sure I can put something together under the guise of celebrating my wife’s birthday.”

“Mel said she didn’t want to do anything.”

“She says that all the time, but we rarely pay her any mind.”

“I appreciate you, and I promise . . . Melodie is in good hands.”

“I have no doubt about that.”

“What did you say to my father?”

“Nothing much.”

“You had to say something because I was sure he’d make you sleep in the guest room.”

I laughed because that shit was funny. Melodie and I hadn’t slept separately since the first time we had sex. I had every intention of christening her childhood bedroom while we were here, so it was a good thing her father knew what was up.

“Nah, your pops knows the deal. I’m too old to be pretending like I don’t bury my face and dick in his daughter’s pussy every chance I get, and tonight will be no different.”

“Breeze, I am not having sex with you in my parents’ house.”

“First of all, we don’t have sex. We’re either making love or fuckin’, and I plan to do a little of both before we hit the road on Monday.”

“Are you crazy? We can’t?—”

“We can and we will. You’re lucky we haven’t already checked one of them off the list. Are you ready?”

“Yeah.”

We were headed out to dinner with Melodie’s family. She and Harmonee, who currently had faux locs and looked more like her big sister than I’d previously thought, decided it would be the perfect time to share Harmonee’s news. They wanted to do it in a public place, just in case their parents’ reaction wasn’t positive. I didn’t think they had anything to worry about, but it wasn’t my parents we were talking to. The two knew their parents much better than I did, so I went along with whatever they wanted.

Everyone could fit in my truck, so we piled in, with the ladies choosing to sit in the back while Mr. Norwood sat up front with me. The restaurant was only ten minutes away from the Norwood residence, so the ride was quick, and we were seated as soon as Harmonee gave the host our name.

We’d been having small talk since we left the house, but there was some nervous energy in the air. I noticed it, so I wasn’t surprised that Mrs. Norwood did as well.

“When you two get together, you’re usually chatterboxes. Today, all I’ve heard is a few whispers between you two. What’s going on?”

We were seated at a round booth, with Harmonee in the center and on the other side of Melodie. She nudged Melodie, causing her to choke on her water.

“Ma, Daddy, Harmonee has something she wants to tell you,” Melodie announced after clearing her throat.

“Mel,” Harmonee whined.

“Tell them.”

“You said you would tell them.”

“I’m just here for support. Tell them, Harm.”

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