My Melody (Downtown Book 3) by TJ West

looking at me when I come out onto the patio. They can see I am pissed. They don’t see it often, but they know when I am lit - they fucking know. I walk up to Harmony and rudely interrupt her conversation with Faith. She knows exactly what this is about. Her eyes say it all. “I need to talk to you,” I say, as calmly as possible. She slowly gets up and walks into the house. I follow her into the kitchen. I cross my arms, then ask, “What did you say to Melody?”
    “Wayne, I am so sorry -”
    I raise up my hand, “Stop,” and snap at her. “Spare me the runaround. Just tell me what you said.”
    “I said she was using you, and that she was going to hurt you and it would be best to break things off.”
    I stand very still. I keep my arms crossed, look down and do my best to breathe. “I don’t get angry very easily. It takes a lot for someone to piss me off.” I pause, then continue. “You have stepped over the line and it doesn’t sit well with me.”
    “I’m sorry, but look who’s talking,” she argues with me. “You butted in my relationship with Danny and it almost destroyed us!”
    She’s right, I did and I’ll never do it again. “Lesson was learned. Never meant for you to do the same to me.”
    “Again, I’m sorry, but my sister does not stick around long enough to fight. She’s a runner. She’ll hurt you - not on purpose, but that’s how she is.”
    “I guess you don’t know your sister all that well then.”
    “Excuse me?”
    I inch my way closer to her, to tell her exactly what I think. She just pissed me off even more. “She feels something for me. I know she does. And for you to mess all that up because you’re so worried about my ego being bruised? You’re not who I thought you were either.” Her eyes widen and I know I’ve struck a nerve.
    “We got a problem?” Danny asks, in a defensive tone. I don’t blame the dude. I’d do the same thing if I were in his shoes.
    I am still looking in Harmony’s bugged out eyes; she’s on the verge of crying. I don’t like knowing I am the cause of it, but I don’t regret a single word. “No. We’re done here.” I swiftly walk off, accidentally bumping shoulders with Danny. Thank God he didn’t try to punch me. I’d have him down in less than a second.
    Lucky, Slim and Jason are inside the house. They must have thought with Danny protecting his girl, there was going to be a fight. I briefly look outside on the patio. June and Phillip are talking with Faith. Faith keeps looking back at Harmony. She’s worried about her friend. Just as she gets up to come inside, I head out the front door. I’ve got to find Melody.
    Lucky and the others follow me out. “You okay?” Lucky asks. He puts a hand on my shoulder, stopping me.
    I turn around. “No, not really.”
    “Need a shot? I can make something in the back for ya?” Slim suggests.
    “No. I need to go find Melody.”
    Lucky pipes in again. “You want me to come with? Not sure you’re okay driving.”
    “I’m okay to drive, Luck. I need to do this on my own. Gotta find out what the fuck is going on with her,” I irritatedly answer back.
    “I hear ya.”
    Jason speaks up, “Call us if you need anything. We’re here for ya.”.
    “I will. Thanks, man.”
    Next, Slim pitches the the van keys in my direction. “Keys, bro.”
    “Thanks. Hopefully by the time I get home, Melody will be with me.”
    “Hope she does too. I like her. She’s a cool chick,” Slim adds.
    No doubt she’s a cool chick. A fucking hot one too. She’s perfect for me and no one else will ever come close to her. My eyes and heart have it in for her. Now it’s just convincing her that I’m it for her as well.
    I screech the van into the parking lot. I see Melody’s bike before going inside the building. Glad she’s home. Gives me some hope that she’ll hear me out. I race up the stairs, skipping four steps at a time, until I make it to her floor.
    I start banging on the door. “Melody, open