Page 80 of Breeze and Melodie

“Are you happy?”

“Happy is an understatement, baby. This might sound like some sucka-ass shit, but you really making a nigga’s dreams come true. You giving me the family I never had, and it means a lot.”

“Aww, babe. You’re so sweet.”

“Thank you, Mel. I mean that shit with everything in me. Thank you for trusting me with your mind, body, heart, and soul. I love you.”

“I love you more.”

With the help of Raine,Harmonee, Yvonne, Mari, Aunt Pat, Mrs. Norwood, and Shyne’s mother and sisters, the baby shower Melodie thought she’d been planning wasn’t a baby shower at all. Raine allowed her to continue to believe all the plans they’d made were for them to celebrate their upcoming births. However, all the intricate details were for our wedding.

Although it was risky to have so many people involved in planning our surprise wedding, the whole crew was in on it, except for Melodie. She’d been through a lot over the past six months, and everyone was determined to make the day memorable for her.

The ‘baby shower’ had a princess theme, and all our guests were asked to dress in formal attire. Melodie’s dress was astrapless Cinderella-style number, where the top stopped just under her breasts, and the skirt was big, puffy, and full, almost completely camouflaging her stomach.

I wasn’t sure how they did it, but the ladies transformed one of the classrooms into a fairytale theme. It was done so well, it didn’t look like a classroom at all. I still wasn’t sure how they managed to do all that was done without Melodie finding out it was for our wedding, but I was thoroughly impressed.

Raine suggested all the women in our crew meet at Black Reign to get ready. Once Melodie was occupied, I got dressed and met the fellows at the barbershop. I’d been nervous about how all this would work out, but once I sat at my station and took a deep breath, a calm took over.

“You ready?” Shyne asked as he sat at his station across from me.

“Been ready. We could’ve done this shit months ago.”

“I feel you. Y’all been dealing with some heavy shit, but it seems things have settled down.”

“About fuckin’ time.”

After I put a hot one through Arielle’s skull, things had been relatively calm.

“Did you see the news this morning?” Adan asked, and I shook my head. “It’s kinda ironic that I saw this as I was about to leave and come here. Tia and her brother both lost their jobs and have to pay a hefty fine for the stunt they pulled. No jail time though.”

“Our attorney told us a few weeks ago that she’d lost her teaching license. Her brother was still on paid leave at the time, so knowing they finally fired him is good news. We’re still negotiating a settlement, but please know that the twins' college, and then some, will be covered. As long as they don’t fuck with us, I won’t have to take matters into my own hands.”

“If they knew what we knew, they’d pack up and move far, far away,” Zayn said, jokingly but with a serious undertone.

Although they’d asked, I’d never confessed my crimes to them. It wasn’t because I didn’t trust them, but because if they were questioned, they could truthfully deny knowing anything. Of course, they were aware of how and why I killed Arielle, because that was public knowledge, and I wasn’t charged with any crime. However, I’d never confirmed their suspicions about Sean, and they had no clue about Sean’s friend Dak. Only Rocky and a select few in his crew knew the whole truth.

Not long after Melodie summoned me to her apartment to make Sean leave, Dak came to the barbershop one evening, near closing time. I recognized him from the one time we’d met at OC Grill. Shyne and Zayn had already left for the day, and Adan and I were preparing to do the same.

When Dak asked for a cut, lining, and shave, I offered to do it because my gut told me it was me he wanted to see. As soon as Adan left, Dak began to question me about Sean and my relationship with Melodie.

“I thought you and Mel were just friends,” he said as he sat in my chair.

“What me and Mel are ain’t your business.”

“You right, but Sean told me y’all exchanged some words and had an altercation a few weeks ago.”

“You his bodyguard or something? Did he send you here to set me straight?”

Dak was a big guy and probably considered the tough one within their circle of friends.

“Nah, but he did share the situation with me, and I offered to scope the scene before he tries to mend things with Mel.”

“You’ve met Melodie, and I’m sure you know she’s ain’t the type of woman to tolerate abuse.”

“Yeah, but every couple gets physical with each other sometimes.”

“That’s how you feel?”

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