Page 17 of Nothing Like Your Ex

Melo nodded. Had he not been obligated, he would’ve been on the same thing. “I feel that. You coo’ with DMacc’s people?”

“My best friend’s sister is Demarcus’ best friend.”

Melo chuckled. “It’s funny hearing you call him that.”

Giggling, Kwinn shook her head. The world knew him as DMacc, but he introduced himself as Demarcus, and that’s what she was going to call him.

“That’s what he said earlier.”

“I already know, but what’s up with you? You been good?”

Kwinn nodded. “I have. Busy as always, but I’m sure you can relate.”

“Fasho, but I enjoy my off days too. The business got you going, huh?”

Melo was nosy. He didn’t care that he’d just scrolled her page, making himself privy to a life he had no idea about.

“It does, but I’m not really trying to talk about work at three in the morning. So, what’s up, Mr. Melo?” she said, smirking.

He’d asked to call her for a reason, and Kwinn was sure it wasn’t to listen to her run her mouth about work. Her nerves settled as she relaxed in the lounge chair, tucking her feet beneath her. She watched intently as Melo placed a lit blunt to his mouth, took a deep pull, then exhaled. Smoking wasn’t part of his daily routine, but Kwinn was glad he’d indulged. To her, it was the sexiest thing to watch.

“No small talk. A’ight. I got you. And call me Malone. Save Melo for the fans,” he said, taking another pull.

Kwinn smirked. “What if I’m a fan, though?”

“Let me hear you scream my name, and I’ll believe you.”

Lowering her phone, Kwinn grinned hard. “I’m sure you’d love that.” She chuckled, reappearing. “What’s your full name?”

“Malone Christian.”

“Malone Melo Christian,” Kwinn said, then gasped. “Wait! Your initials are literally MMC,” she exclaimed, giggling.

“Yeah, what else does that mean?” Melo asked, curious about her excitement.

“Book talk. Your initials mean you’re the main male character of a book,” Kwinn explained.

Melo smirked. “Shit, a nigga wouldn’t want to be the side character. So, that fits. What kind of books you be reading?”

“I bet it does.” She chuckled and answered him. “All kinds, but I’ve always been an urban and romance lover since a teenager. I read a few thrillers here and there too.”

Melo nodded. “That’s what’s up. Give me a book you read recently that you’d think I’d fuck with.”

Giggling, Kwinn shrugged. “Um, that’s hard to say. I don’t really know your taste.”

Melo licked his lips. Truthfully, he had a taste for her, but he’d let the weed fill the space she couldn’t yet. “Something that’s gon’ keep me entertained. Some real nigga shit. They be saying nigga in the books you read?”

Kwinn laughed and nodded. “Of course they do, but not all of them. They have to be Black main characters for sure, though.”

“Okay, okay,” Melo said, more than interested. “Bet. Give me your top two. One urban and a romance, and I’ma see what they’re about.”

“Just so you know, they be fucking in these books, too,” Kwinn informed.

“Even better.” Melo chuckled.

Quickly, Kwinn went down the Rolodex of books she’d enjoyed so far this year and even a few from the years prior. She was mostly an audiobook listener due to her workload, but when she got a chance, she’d pick up a physical book from her growing personal library.

“Okay, so for an urban book, I’ma go with a classic. It’s called Animal by K’wan.”