Cassiopeia Odette.
Downtown French Quarters, New Orleans LA
Twenty-One things I love about Lamelo:
1. His smile. 7. 13. 19.
2. His touch 8. 14. 20.
3. 9. 15.
4. 10. 16.
5. 11. 17.
6. 12. 18.
21. Him
I wouldn't say I'm in love with him, because I'm not. I will say I have love for him though, I've grown to care about him over the months. In our months of "seeing where things go" I think I formed an attachment to him that I was trying my hardest to avoid or recognize.
I don't think it was a specific moment that drove this feeling for him, but more so an accumulation of events that formed this connection driven by the realization that he had already fallen.
Let me fill you in.
August 22nd
7:15am
Melo and his friends had been in New Orleans for the past three days getting drunk and crossfaded every night in pre-celebration of his birthday. I'm sure he probably brought females back to the AirBnb but, quite honestly, I didn't really care. It was all fake, as long as he didn't get caught I wasn't going to stress myself. We hadn't established our 'situationship' yet and I didn't want to be that girl that bugs her boyf- situation to put a title on what could just be a fling. Even if the fling is bound to end in a wedding; no need to rush.
Since my visit to him in LA we were making a conscious effort to get to know each, get comfortable, and had gone on a date the other day, which went pretty well. He was a touchy person, often puttin his hand on my back, waist, or shoulder; I didn't mind it, it was always respectful and never led to much else. Surprisingly, the closest we had gotten to 'intimacy' so far was a kiss on the corner of my lips that somewhat excited me for a moment but nothing ensued. I'll admit, I was quite shocked (and still am) that he hasn't pushed for more, based on my previous observations and rumors he wasn't a 'slow and steady wins the race' type of guy.
Nonetheless, today Jelly, I, and the rest of the family girlfriends are coming in to ruin the affairs and get some dick; except me, of course. Melo and I had vaguely spoken of the arrangement for this weekend. We would be sharing a room to keep up the act, not that we hadn't shared a bed before but that was innocent. Today- tonight, I didn't care about keeping things uncomplicated anymore. What happens, happens. Maybe something more tangible might come from tonight, or maybe a one night type thing.
"So, how are you and Melo? Excited for his birthday?" Evoni asks
"Yup" I push a smile, exchanging glances with Jelly
I can't stand Evoni, the whole plane ride here all she could talk about was Melo being great for me and Gelo not doin enough for her. I'm really starting to think she wants Melo cause, be so serious, no one cares about their boyfriend's brother and girlfriend this much.
"Are we gonna have to put a towel under the door tonight," she give a breathy laugh and looks at me, waiting for recognition of her joke
"I dont get it " I mumble
I actually do get it, I'm not dumb or innocent. What I don't get is how she thought that was an appropriate thing to say, especially since I don't know her to be joking like that.
Anyway, after a moment of silence we walked to our drivers and got in two seperate cars. Jelly, Ali, and me in one and then Evoni, Jhay, and Blake (Tomi's boo) in the other
~~
French Quarters Airbnb
8:45am
"Mellyyyyy," I creep into our room and put my luggage down before sitting on him under the covers
"Ow, fatass" he readjusts so I'm no longer sitting on his hip and instead pulled into his chest
"Boy bye, I was gonna be nice and say happy birthday but nevermind" I try to get out from his grip
"You could still say it"
"Ion wan to" I turn away from him and try to scooch off the bed
"Where you goin" he pulls me closer to him
"Take a shower" I move his arm and get out of bed
"Happy birthday, Melly" I smile and walk into the bathroom
"Yo aluhfa" Melo mumbles
"Huh" I poke my head out the bathroom
"Yo leggings," he smirks "Da hoe movin"
I suck my teeth and hide my smile, "Stop lookin at my ass"
Melo mumbles something about eating and pulls the covers back over his head
At this point everything is fine. This is our normal banter, somewhat flirty but not so much that it feels forced or uncomfortable.
~~
10:15am
"Come on bruh, we finna leave yall" Melo yells.
We were supposed to leave to go to brunch at 10, but Evoni, Ali, Zo, and Blake weren't ready
"She finna blow me bruh," Gelo huffs and stomps up the stairs "Evoni!"
"How much longer?" Jelly looks at me
"I give em 3 months before he breaks up with her"
"I think it's over when they get back from this trip" Jelly says
"Nigga, today is they last day" Melo puts his arm around my shoulder
"He said sumn?" I look up at him already looking at me
"Nah, but his whole mood changed when she got here" Melo shakes his head and kisses my forehead
"My boy ain't smiled once since she got here" Tomi buds in
"Melo on the other hand..." Ant whistles under his breathe and rolls his eyes around. Tomi laughs loudly
Melo sucks his teeth, "Bruh y'all could chilll"
"Nah, nah my nih was over here," Tomi picks up his phone to act out what Melo was doing: typing on his phone with a large, goofy smile.
"N then when you took too long luh nih saïd," hé sucks his teeth and slams the phone down, crossing his arms with a pout plastered on his face.
Jelly and I laugh at his comedic recital
"Aw who you was texting?" I raise an eyebrow at him. Jelly face palms and flicks my neck
"Don't even worry about it," Melo laughs and pulls my head condescendingly into his chest
Now I'm suspicious, cause why are you smiling and obsessing over textin somebody n not telling me? Like it's fine, our relationship is an arrangement but at least let me know
I scrunch my face and subtly push away from him
"You bout slow as hell, Dee" Melo pulls me back in "It's you, foo"
"Oh," I smile and chuckle.
This is where I begin to realize that he was committing.
Zo, Ally, and Blake finally make there way downstairs
"At this point you could stay yo ass the fuck home," I can hear Gelo yelling from his room upstairs.
Everyone downstairs quiets and stands awkwardly, waiting for more to come
Evoni shouts something unintelligible to Gelo. I'll assume it was something out of pocket because Gelo lost it
"What? Nigga pack yo shit and get the fuck on. Tired of yo ass always sayin some shit slick out yo fuckin mouth. Yo shit better be out my house when I get back to Chino bro. I'm done with this shit" Gelo slams a door and stomps upstairs. He stops a moment later when the door swings open and Evoni yells out,
"Fuck you, bitch. You lucky you even got a chance with me, can't even get into the fuckin NBA. Sorry ass nigga, I been outta your league since day one. Was tryna see deeper but you're just a bitch. Plain and simple"
I clap my hand over my mouth to hush my gasp. The whole room was gagged at her comments
"Word? Last time I checked you was broke n searchin fo a place to lay your fuckin head when I met you. Didn't make it to the NBA but put a fat ass roof over yo nappy head. You a sorry ass songwriter that can't get signed or pay your bills, so who's really a bitch? Pack yo shit luh nigga" he starts stomping down the stairs
"Sorry y'all" he huffs "Let's go"
There's a moment of still silence between everyone in the room, trying to digest what just happened. And then, to avoid making it more awkward, everyone moves to go out the door and to the cars.
"Shoulda put money on it," Melo mumbles. I hit him in the ribs and shush him
We make our journey through crowded streets to a beautiful brunch spot on the corner of Bourbon street.