Page 3 of Breeze and Melodie

“So, what did he say?” Raine asked.

“Something came up at work, and it took longer than he expected. Oh, and his phone died.”

It was a week after the grand opening and Black Reign's first official day of business. We’d arrived hours before opening to make sure everything was ready. Raine and I had been doing hair all our lives, and we still would, but not as often.

Today was the first time we’d had a chance to talk without other ears around eavesdropping, so I had to give her the rundown of what had happened with Sean.

“You don’t sound like you believe him.”

“I want to, but . . . it’s always something. I’m starting to think our relationship has run its course.”

“Really?” I nodded. “Are you sure?”

“I hate to say it, but I have to be honest with myself.”

“I kinda felt like things were off between y’all, and I’ve been trying to get you to open up about what’s happening. This is the first time you’ve actually shared anything.”

“I know, sis. Things were going well for a long time, and I was hopeful about our future, but Sean has changed, and not for the better.”

“I really hate this for you, Mel. Sean has so much potential.”

“ Had , sis. He had so much potential. Do you know he had the nerve to get mad and leave because I wouldn’t let him hit it raw?”

“Nooo!”

“Yes, girl! And I let his ass leave because one thing I’m not gon’ do is chase after dick. I got too many toys to ever feel that desperate.”

“Have you seen or talked to him since?”

“Yeah, he came over the next morning to apologize . . . with his mouth and his condom-covered dick that I supplied. For now, we’re good, but we’ll see how things go from here.”

“Listen, Mel. I want whatever you want. If you think he’s the one, I’m rocking with you. If you change your mind, it’s fuck him and his mama. Okay?”

“And that’s why you’re my sister for life.”

“For infinity and beyond.”

“Here’s to day one being a success!” Shyne announced as he opened a bottle of champagne.

“Cheers!” everyone shouted.

It was the end of our first full day in business, and what a day it was. Although there were a few hiccups, overall, it was a great day.

“Praying for an even better day tomorrow and beyond,” I added as the six of us brought our champagne glasses together.

“Today was more fulfilling than I thought it would be. I still consider myself a new barber and never thought I’d be mentoring aspiring barbers so soon,” Breeze said.

“You have a lot to offer, big bro, and not just as a barber. These young men can learn a lot from your life experiences,” Raine said.

“True,” Shyne agreed. “You can be the catalyst they need to help them fight the lure of the streets.”

“That’s the goal,” Breeze said.

“I’m more concerned about managing so many people,” I commented. “We have almost thirty employees.”

“That part!” Raine exclaimed.

“There are six of us,” Adan said. “If one of us don’t know how to do it, somebody else will. We got this.”

“We most definitely do,” his twin, Zayn, agreed. “I have no doubt we have enough knowledge among the six of us to figure out any problems we may run into.”

We talked a while longer before finally heading out. Before I got into my car, Breeze stopped me. “Wassup?”

“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 started seriously 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.”

“Are we good?”

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.”

“I wasn’t watching you, per se, but when I looked in your direction, you seemed preoccupied and anxious instead of enjoying our celebration.”

“Sounds like you were watching me, but I’ll take your word for it.”

“Are you gon’ answer me?”

I sighed because I didn’t want to have this conversation with Breeze. “I was a little preoccupied, but it was nothing serious.”

“Did it have anything to do with your boy?”

I cocked my head to the side and pursed my lips. “That’s what this is about? You want to know why Sean wasn’t there and if his absence bothered me, right?”

“I already know you were bothered. What was his excuse for missing such a monumental moment for you?”

“Had an emergency at work.”

“Is that what he told you?”

“Yeah, and he has no reason to lie.”

Breeze nodded, but not in a way that said he agreed with me. The server returned with our drinks and appetizer, and after we doused our hands with hand sanitizer, we ate in silence for a few minutes.

“Is he the one?”

“Is who the one?”

“You know who I’m talking about. You think y’all gon’ get married?”

I shrugged. “We’ve only been together for a year.”

“A year is plenty of time for a man to decide if he wants to marry you. Hell, men generally know within the first few weeks. Some know before they can officially claim the woman as theirs.”

He kept his eyes on me as he spoke, and it felt like his last statement was a message to me. My mouth suddenly became dry, so I tore my eyes away from his and took a few sips of water.

“I guess that means Tia ain’t the one.” Ignoring his words was probably the smartest thing I could’ve done.

He chuckled. “Tia is cool, but I don’t want to marry her.”

“Does she know that?”

It was his turn to shrug. “I don’t know. To be real, we don’t have a title.”

“After how long? Six, seven months?”

“About that long.”

“And she’s cool with that?”

“She hasn’t brought it up, so I guess so.”

Our food arrived, and I didn’t realize how hungry I was until my chicken sandwich was in front of me. As we ate, our conversation shifted to work. We discussed how things went today and what we hoped for in the future. Suddenly, someone was standing next to our table, causing us both to look up.

“Wassup, Melodie?” Dak, one of Sean’s friends, said.

“Hey! Good to see you. It’s been a minute.”

“Yeah, it has. How you been?”

“Good! Me and my business partners opened a spa for women and men. Sean didn’t tell you?”

“Nah. He hasn’t mentioned it.”

“Oh. Well, you should make an appointment to get pampered.”

“Congratulations, but I don’t think that’s my speed. Maybe I’ll make an appointment for my girl.”

“I think you should both come. Make it a date.”

“Is that what this is, . . . a date?” He looked back and forth between me and Breeze.

“What? Oh no. This is Breeze, one of my business partners. Breeze, this is Dak, one of Sean’s friends.”

Breeze gave him a head nod but barely looked up from his food.

“Well, it was good to see you. I gotta go grab our food,” he said, not acknowledging Breeze’s lackluster greeting.

“Bye. Oh, and tell Stacy I said hello.”

“Will do.”

“Why would he assume we’re on a date?” Breeze questioned before Dak could get more than a few steps away.

“I don’t know.”

We finished eating, and Breeze paid for our food. He walked me to my car and stopped me before I opened the door.

“Thank you for having dinner with me.”

“Thank you for asking me. Have a good night.”

He waited until I was safely inside my car before walking away. Tonight was interesting, but I wouldn’t think too much into it. I had a man, Breeze had a woman, and that was that on that.