Page 45 of Nothing Like Your Ex

“Since now. And look at Cody’s bullshitting ass trying to push up on her. Nah,” East declared, stepping off toward them.

East was about to put an end to some shit before it could get started. Melo chuckled and drank from his cup as Kwinn made her way back to him. Smiling, she fluttered her mink lashes. She knew it was a bad idea to break her seal by going to the bathroom, but she couldn’t hold it.

“Babe! I’m a little fucked up.”

Grabbing one of the water bottles out of the bucket, Melo twisted the cap and handed it to her. “Sip on this.”

Doing just that, Kwinn planted her backside against him. Affectionately, he wrapped an arm around her as she sobered up some. It was a good thing she had, or she would’ve missed Melo shooing some chick out of their section. Shaking his head, he motioned for her to gon’ head about her business because he was no longer it and hadn’t been for a while. Kwinn didn’t bother to ask any questions, and she didn’t have to.

“My ex,” he grumbled in her ear, and playfully bit her neck. “You trying to back all this ass up on me. Let me see sum’.”

With a big smile, Kwinn winded her hips as the DJ set the tone and spun Melo’s new single. Hearing her voice float through the speakers, knowing how that intro came about made Kwinn put on a show. It was for her man, but of course the spotlight was on them both tonight.

“Fuck it up, friend,” Saiko hyped.

Bending over, Kwinn rode the beat just like she rode the dick to the man rapping the explicit verse. Melo held the hem of her dress down, with his eyes trained on her ass. He couldn’t wait to slide up in her. Standing up straight, Kwinn tried to move out of his embrace so he could have the moment, but he didn’t let her. Tightening his grip on her waist, Melo rapped in her ear.

“I gotta super bad bitch who don’t want for shit. She just tell me what she wants, and I go and get it.”

The raspiness of his voice made Kwinn’s nipples tingle like always in his presence. Though the song had been recorded before their time, Melo hadn’t told one lie. It’d been whatever for her and about her since day one. Watching everyone in their section and the club sing his lyrics word for word would never get old to him.

Another forty minutes floated by before Melo decided to call it a night. With a growling stomach, he had one spot in mind. He stopped to take a few pictures with people as they headed out. Protectively, he walked behind Kwinn while she and Saiko were in a fit of giggles about some shit he knew wasn’t that funny.

“Aye, Juvie’s still open?” Melo asked no one in particular as they made it outside. He had a taste for some chicken and knew it’d hit the spot. Before he could get his answer, the sight of a nigga tugging on Kwinn’s arm captured his attention.

“Let me talk to you right quick,” Jabari spat.

Jerking away from him, Kwinn stumbled a bit. “What the fuck!”

“Nigga, don’t be grabbing on her!” Lauryn and Saiko yelled, swinging on him.

“I just need to talk to⁠—”

Jabari’s sentence and vision were cut short as Melo smashed his gun across his face. There wouldn’t be no mothafuckin’ talking in his presence. Had there not been so many witnesses, there would’ve been no breathing for his bitch ass either. The blows were so vicious, Jabari crouched at the impact, and that was the wrong thing to do.

The women scrambled out of the way as a handful of trained-to-go EST niggas beat his ass. Foolishly, Jabari had chosen the wrong time and definitely the wrong place to try and plead his case. There wasn’t even one to discuss, yet here he was, having made the worst decision of his life.

“A’ight, a’ight. That’s enough,” Sarge asserted, making them retreat.

“Pussy-ass nigga!” Brash, the rowdiest of the bunch, spat, really wanting to let his gun talk.

Melo made sure Kwinn and her girls were tucked away safely, before addressing Jabari. A kick to his ribs made him groan in pain.

“Touch her again, and yo’ face gon’ be touching a shirt, bitch!” Melo spat. He ran his tongue over his teeth and addressed security, who clearly hadn’t been doing their job. “Move this crippled-ass nigga out of my way.”

Melo hopped in the backseat, sliding next to Kwinn, and Sarge maneuvered through the parking lot. Kwinn had her sister on the phone, who’d pulled off behind them.

“Saiko and Endie are good. She just texted me.” Kwinn huffed. “Yeah. Okay. Girl! I know. Weird-ass nigga. Mhm. Please do. I love you, too.”

Flustered and confused all at once, Kwinn hung up and replied to Saiko’s text before locking her phone. She didn’t know what to make of what had just gone down. Beside her, Melo’s chest heaved, and she saw his jaw flex under the passing streetlights.

“I haven’t talked to him, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Kwinn said.

Melo looked her way. “It’s not. I know you haven’t. You good, though? Come here. Let me look at your ankle.”

He grabbed her leg and lifted her foot onto his lap before Kwinn could do so. She limped a bit when he watched her get in the truck and knew it was probably from her slight stumble but still wanted to check. Kwinn groaned as he massaged her foot and the tender spot.

“You were risking catching a charge for nothing,” Kwinn fussed.