Dream was just saying that to hide the fact that she didn't mind staying with him. She didn't want to seem like she was too eager so she had to downplay the situation. After today, for some reason, she felt more drawn to Carmelo. Most dudes would have said to hell with her and went on their way. But not Carmelo; he committed a murder just to save her life.
Carmelo waved her off. “Cut it out, Ma. I already said you can stay, so therefore, you're staying.”
Dream smiled and wrapped her arms around him tightly, kissing his cheek.
“Thank you, but umm…Melo?”
“What's wrong?” he asked.
“You're not going—“
Carmelo already knew what she was about to ask so he nipped it in the bud. “Nah, don't worry I'm good. There's no body and you're the only witness.”
Dream sighed with relief. She didn't want him being snatched from her because of her bullshit. Plus, she could tell that there was something good brewing between them, so she wanted to see where it was headed.
Chap ter Twelve
Lately Caiden had been trying to spend some quality father-daughter time with Summer, but all she wanted to do was kick it with his brother. Before it never bothered him because he knew how close the two were with him being her only uncle and her being Carmelo's only niece. But now, now it seemed as if Carmelo was taking over his role as Summer's father. All Summer ever talked about was 'Uncle Melo this' or 'Uncle Melo that' and he was tired of hearing it. To make matters worse, Carmelo took it upon himself to go out and buy Summer a car without his permission or consulting with him about it.
He felt like that was supposed to be his job, after all, Summer was his daughter. Carmelo was starting to swerve out of his lane. He needed for him to stay in his place as an uncle and nothing else.
"Yo, Sum!" he called out to his daughter.
"Yea?" she asked as she came bouncing down the stairs.
Caiden looked up at his daughter and noticed that she had her purse and her keys.
"Where the hell you going?" He asked.
"I'm going out with Uncle Melo and his lady to get acquainted," she said.
"Why don't you stay home with your old man sometimes?"
Summer sighed, "Because dad, all you like to do is stay at home. I'm young and I like to get out and do things. Not sit in the house like I have no life."
"No, you like to run up behind Carmelo all day. You need to chill out on all that and act like I'm your dad, so like I said, stay home," Caiden said.
Summer chuckled a little. "Dad, you can't be serious. Not today, I have too much to do."
"It wasn't a question Summer, give me your keys," he said as he got up with his hand out.
Summer looked at her dad then at his hand with a raised eyebrow. She knew he just had to be joking with her because he had never told her what she could and couldn't do, so she was confused as to why he was doing it now.
"I'm not going to ask you again," he said.
Summer had never disrespected or disobeyed her dad a day in her life, but she wasn't about to let him take her car keys, especially when she didn't do anything to have them taken.
"Sorry dad, but you didn't buy that car and I didn't do anything, so I don't feel like you need to take them. Plus, Uncle Melo said to not hand them up to anybody but him," Summer said.
Pissed, Caiden walked up on Summer and snatched the keys out of her hand. Summer flinched because she didn't know what was about to happen next. Her dad had never acted this way and she was wondering what had gotten into him.
"I wish, Uncle Melo was my dad," she mumbled, as she tried to stomp away.
Caiden reached back and slapped Summer on the side of her face. Both of them stood there in shock at what had just taken place between them. Summer was hurt. Nobody had ever put their hands on her a day in her life, not even for a whooping, but her dad had just taken it to another level. She took off running for the stairs, slamming and locking her bedroom door.
She reached in her purse and took out her phone, calling her Uncle Melo.
"What's up, baby girl? You on your way?" Carmelo asked.
"Uncle Melo," Summer cried into the phone.
Instantly, Carmelo froze up at the sound of his niece crying. He started fearing the worst and was ready to kill whoever did it.
"What's wrong, baby? Talk to me," he said.
"He hit me," she broke down. "I didn't do anything to him and he hit me!"
"Who?" Carmelo yelled as he jumped up, alerting Dream.
"Daddy. I told him I was going out with you and Dream and he started flipping."
"Where are you now?" he asked as he grabbed his car keys.
"At home, in my room," she answered.
"Stay there, I'm on my way," he said before hanging up.
He turned to Dream who wore a look of concern. "Some shit just went down with my brother and Summer. I don't know all the details, but I do know that he hit her so I need to go...”
Dream put up her hand to stop him from further explaining anything.
"You don't owe me an explanation. Just go make sure everything is okay. I'll be here," Dream said.
Carmelo smiled before kissing her forehead. "Thank you."
Carmelo pulled up to Caiden’s house pissed off. Summer had never done shit that would ever require them to put their hands on her, so he was wondering what the hell she possibly could have done to make him hit her. Not bothering to knock, and using his key to let himself in, he instantly went in on his twin brother.
"What the fuck, dog? So we putting our hands on her now?"
Caiden looked at Carmelo like he had shit on his face. "Don't come in my shit questioning me about anything I do to my daughter."
"Fuck that shit you talking right now. All I wanna know is why the hell you felt the need to put your hands on her though."
"Because that's my seed. Whatever I do to her is none of your damn business. When you have some kids then you can dictate shit, but that one up there is mines," Caiden yelled.
"How sure are you?" Carmelo asked.
Remembering the dream where Alex came to him telling him that there was a possibility that Summer could be his ignited something in him at that moment. Even after her telling him that there wasn’t a possibility, he still felt as if there was something she wasn’t saying. Carmelo told himself that he wasn't even going to speak on the matter, but Caiden was pissing him off. There was no reason for him to put his hands on Summer, period.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Caiden asked as he stepped back.
Choosing to ignore his brother, Carmelo walked over to the stairs.
"Yo, Sum! Pack a bag and let's go," Carmelo yelled.
"Nah, bitch. Answer my question. What the fuck was that supposed to mean?" Caiden reiterated.
"Watch ya mouth," Carmelo warned.
Caiden had a mind to punch the shit out of his brother but he wasn't stupid. He knew there was no way in hell that would be a fight he would win due to his working out three times a day Carmelo had more muscle on his bones and had always hit hard. He was just going to sit back in his little corner and let Carmelo have this one, for now at least.
When Carmelo and Summer walked through his doors, they smelled food that instantly made their stomachs growl. Summer put her bag by the door and followed behind her uncle as they headed for the kitchen. Dream was just taking something out of the oven when they walked in.
"It's about time," she said. "Regular garlic bread or cheesy garlic bread?"
"Cheesy," Carmelo and Summer answered simultaneously.
"Okay, go wash your hands while I finish up, everything will be done in a few minutes," she said as she busied herself.
When they left the kitchen, Summer looked over at her uncle and smiled a big smile despite the pain that was on the side of her face. "She's a keeper."
"You think so?" he asked.
"I know so. I got an awesome vibe from her. I can tell she'll be around for a while, if you act right," Summ
er said.
Carmelo just shook his head at his niece. How the hell was she going to act like he had a habit of running women away? He didn't have time to worry about a relationship because of his street affairs, but for some reason, he felt like all that would change if he kept Dream around.
While they ate, the trio laughed, talked, and laughed some more. Dream didn't know what had taken place between Summer and her dad but she wanted her to take her mind off of it for a while so she kept her laughing. Carmelo just sat back, amazed at how Summer was interacting with Dream.
He couldn't even get Summer to utter a simple 'hello' to Christina, but here she was acting like she and Dream were long lost friends. They were talking about some girly shit that he had no idea about so he just fell back and let them have their moment. He thought it would be cool for Summer to have a good female role model in her life that she could look up to since she had been around men all her life.
He often wondered why Alexandria would want to miss out on being around or knowing such a beautiful young lady. Summer never even received a phone call, letter, birthday card or anything. It seemed like Alex had fallen of the face of the earth after Summer was born. The way he looked at it was that it was Alex's loss and she was the one missing out, not Summer. That was, until she popped up out the blue, trying to shake shit up. Since them initially meeting at Melo’s mother’s house, Alexandria reached out to Summer numerous times but Sum just wasn’t with the shit, at all.
"What you over there thinking about?" Dream asked.
He was so deep in thought that he never noticed Summer had left the table.
"Just life. Where Summer go?" he asked.
"She's tired so she went to take a shower and get ready for bed. I can tell that whatever went on is really bothering her, no matter how much she tries not to let it," Dream said.
"I bet. My brother on some other shit and all in his feelings about something. Instead of dealing with it like a man, he wanted to take it out on her and I'm not feeling it."
"I feel you. Did you try talking to him about it?" she asked as she cleaned off the table.
Carmelo shrugged. “I guess you can say that. I went in there trying to be logical with him and he was talking out the side of his neck. Talking about he can do whatever he wants to with her because that's his daughter. He got me and life fucked up if he believes that's true."
"I'm not the one to pry in family business, but maybe you two need to sit down and talk about it. Maybe you can add Summer into the conversation," Dream said.
"I'm going to give him a few days to get his mind right and get over whatever he's dealing with, then we can talk. Until then, Summer stays here. I'm not going to allow him to put his hands on her again," Carmelo huffed.
Dream walked behind his chair and rubbed his shoulders. "Why are you so tense?" she asked.
"Dealing with shit like this makes me that way," he said.
Without saying another word, Dream did her best to massage all of the knots and kinks out of his broad shoulders. Carmelo closed his eyes and let his mind drift off as Dream worked her hands. For some reason, they felt magical as he felt himself begin to loosen up.
With everything that was going on in the streets with Shondrell and trying to get his money back right, he had been stressed out. On top of that, he had to deal with a shady ass ex-best friend, and now his brother wanted to act a damn fool. He had too many issues to deal with a one time but it had always been like that with him. He was never hit with just one thing. His troubles or problems came in threes, and sometimes fours.
"Uhn uhn," Dream said as she stopped massaging his shoulders. "I don't want you getting used to this. I would hate for you to end up spoiled." She laughed.
"What? Don't play. Finish what you started girl. You damn near put my ass to sleep."
"I know, that's why I stopped. You need to get over here and help me with these dishes," said Dream.
"Oh hell no. I don't wash dishes, ma." Carmelo shook his head quickly.
Dream stopped and looked at him with her hands on her hips. Carmelo looked her up and down and couldn't help but to lick his lips. Her body wasn't built like a supermodel or video vixen, but it was just right to him.
"Don't be looking at me like that," Dream sassed. "What you meant was you didn't wash dishes until today, right?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No. I meant I don't wash them, ever."
"Oh, I see. Well, I guess I better stop doing all this cooking for you then, Mr. I Don't Wash Dishes," Dream smirked.
"Don't play. I gotta eat to live," he said.
"If Carmelo doesn't clean, Dream doesn't cook. So what do you say?" she asked as she held up the dish rag for him.
Shaking his head and getting up, he walked over to her, standing all up in her personal space. He towered over her short frame. "Why you trying to con me into doing something? Knowing damn well I done got used to your cooking."
"I'm not conning you into anything. I can't force you to wash the dishes, Mr. Love." Dream smiled.
Without another word being exchanged, Carmelo bent down and pressed his lips against Dream’s. He couldn't resist it anymore. He had been wanting to taste her lips since the day he laid eyes on her. The kiss got a little hot and heavy, so he had to reluctantly break it. This was their first kiss and they hadn't slept together yet so he didn't want her to think he was moving too fast or rushing her into anything. He took the dish rag from her hand and walked over to the sink while she gave him a funny smile. He just shook his head. He knew Dream was about to have him doing some things he would never do. This was just the beginning.
Chapter Thirteen
It had been two weeks since the incident had taken place between Carmelo and Brock. Dream had gotten so comfortable at Carmelo's that she was in no rush to get back home, not that she wanted to go anyway. She couldn't imagine or picture herself stepping one foot back in that house after what went down. She still had a hard time sleeping at night sometimes due to the fact that Brock’s lifeless face would haunt her in her sleep.
Even in his death he wouldn't leave Dream alone. He always said that Dream would be his no matter what, and that he was always have a hold on her. Sadly, it seemed to be that way. She was wishing that she could erase all memories of Brock from her life completely.
“Dream!”
She was jarred from her thoughts by her name being called. “Huh?” she said as she turned to find Carmelo standing over the stove shirtless, removing some burnt pancakes from the stove top.
“Where ya head at this morning, Ma? I been calling you for a minute and these pancakes are done for,” Carmelo said.
Shit, Dream cussed to herself. She was so busy in la-la land that she almost burnt the house down.
“Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking,” she said as she rushed to clean up the mess she had made.
Carmelo lightly grabbed her arm and walked her to the dining room table, sitting with her on his lap. He had noticed she had been a little distant lately so he wanted to see what was up.
“Alright, talk to me. What's going on?” he asked.
Dream put her face in her hands and took a deep breath, trying not to cry.
“Nothing, I'm fine,” she lied as she tried to get up.
Carmelo wrapped his arm around her tightly so that she couldn't move. He buried his face in her neck and inhaled her natural scent.
“Dream, you know I hate being lied to, so cut all that bullshit out and tell me what's wrong,” he said with his face still in her neck.
“It's Brock,” she said with a sigh.
Carmelo had already figured that one out. Once again, he was starting to feel bad about his decision to kill Brock. If he had been thinking clearly, he would have thought about how his actions would affect her in the end. But all his logical thinking went out the window when he saw that gun pointed at her head.
“It's like he won't leave me alone,” Dream continued. “Every time I close my eyes, I see a
picture of him just lying there on the ground.”
“I understand. I should have just wounded him instead of killing him because that's not fair to you to have to deal with that shit. I'm not trying to sound mean, rude, or insensitive about the situation, but the only way you'll be able to forget about it is you have to get over it. You have to try and act like that day never even happened. It's not going to be easy and it's going to take some time, but I'm here to help you,” Carmelo said.
“Why do you seem too good to be true?” Dream asked after a long silence.
“I don't know. Good question.”
“I wanna put my house up for sale. I feel like I have overstayed my welcome so I'll go stay with my parents until I find somewhere else,” she said.
Carmelo groaned. “Yo, didn't we talk about this already? Ya ass is staying here until I say you can't no more. Cut all that foolishness out,” he said as he bit her neck and tickled her.
Dream couldn't help but to bust out laughing as she tried to get away from Carmelo but he wouldn't let her go. “Melo, stop!” she yelled.
Ignoring her, he continued to tickle her. This was the first time he had seen her smile since she had been staying with him.
“Okay, okay. I'm done,” he said as he let her go. “You owe me though. You done burnt a nigga breakfast and everything.” He shook his head.
“I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you.” Dream flirted as she ran her hands over his bare chest.
“Is that right?” he asked.
“Yup,”
Dream looked into his eyes as she let her hands travel down his body. When she reached the crotch of his basketball shorts, she was surprised that he was blessed. She could tell that he was holding his breath and she was trying not to laugh at the look on his face. She gave it a gentle squeeze and he tensed up. Dream couldn't hold it in any more. She cracked up laughing at him.
“Let me leave you alone,” she laughed as she jumped off of his lap.
Carmelo sat there giving her the evil eye as he readjusted himself. It had been a while since he’d had some and Dream wanted to play with him.
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