Page 6 of Breeze and Melodie

“Umm, nothing. What’s up with you?” I countered.

“You hungry? It’s been a minute since we caught up.”

“We only go out in groups, Breeze.”

“You got a problem going out with me alone?”

“No, but?—”

“Meet me at OC Grill.” He walked away before I could respond.

I sighed as I slid behind the steering wheel. Breeze and I were cool, but there'd been tension between us since I startedseriously dating Sean. It wasn’t so much tension that we didn’t get along or couldn’t be in the same space, but things were different.

In all the years I’d known Breeze, we’d never been alone, and I wondered why he suddenly wanted to change that. I thought about what his reason might be until I pulled into the parking lot of OC Grill. Somehow, he beat me there and was already seated.

“Hey,” I greeted when I sat across from him in the booth.

“Thank you for coming.”

We picked up the menu at the same time, and when the server arrived, we were ready to order. When he left, we sat in an awkward silence for at least two minutes, staring at each other.

Breeze was more than handsome, with his dark skin, low, penetrating eyes, and thick brows resting above them. His perfectly shaped lips sat below a broad nose and were encased in a thick, yet nicely trimmed mustache and beard.

Caesar cuts and waves may have gone out of style for some men, but he made sure to keep his edges lined and his waves deep. The tattoos covering his neck, chest, and arms added to his rough exterior and were the icing on the chocolate cake.

“Breeze, I know you didn’t ask me to come here just to stare at me.”

“Nah, I didn’t, but the view is breathtaking.”

I rolled my eyes to cover up the fact that I was blushing. “Whatever. Do you need to talk to me about something?”

“How are you?”

“I’m great. How are you?”

“I’m cool. You sure you good?”

“Yes.”

“Arewegood?”

I tilted my head to the side as I pondered his angle. “I don’t have any problems with you, so unless you have problems with me, we’re good.”

“Things could be better between us, but you’ve been different since you hooked up with your boy.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re the one that’s been different, but that’s neither here nor there. I’m good.”

Our eyes locked, and it felt like he was trying to read my mind. “You sure?”

“Were you expecting there to be something wrong?”

“Nah, but I noticed you seemed bothered at the grand opening.”

“Really? How so?”

“You kept checking your phone and looking toward the door.”

“Why were you watching me? I’m sure Tia would prefer you pay more attention to her.”

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