Page 21 of Perfect Rhythm

ELI

“Open the fucking door,” I shouted as I slammed my fist against Nimah’s front door.

“I’m not opening shit. Leave before I call the police.” Her frantic footsteps echoed behind the door as she raced to her living room window and held up her phone for me to see. “I promise you I will.”

“I just want to talk,” I said calmly. “I need to know why you sent that message to Nyx.”

She lifted her front window, pressing on the dark mesh screen to make sure it was locked in place. Despite being one of the highest-paid actresses in daytime TV, Nimah lived modestly. She wasn’t into flashy cribs or overpriced lifestyles, so her home was small and quaint.

“What message? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit! You really thought I would forget about that fake page you told me about? The one you use to talk shit on the blog pages when they piss you off?”

Her face dropped, recognizing she was busted.

“Fine, I did it. But Nyx deserves to know about the piece of trash she’s dealing with. You’re a fucking liar, Eli.”

“Oh, and you felt like you should be the one to share that with her?”

“Hell yeah!” She rolled her eyes. “The fact that she went to you instead of talking to me tells me just how clueless she really is.”

“Nah, she came to me because she’s not a dummy. She knows how crazy bitches are out here, and what they’ll do for a little clout.”

Nimah jerked her head back. “Bitches? Clout? Why the hell would I need to use you for clout? Did you forget who the fuck I am? I’m Nimah fucking Watts. I was famous before your stupid ass could even spell famous.”

“Yeah, well?—”

“No! Let’s be clear...I’m the reason you’re even being talked about right now. Before you were on the screen with me wasn’t nobody checking for your ass. I made you famous, not the other way around. So if anyone was fucking anybody for clout, that would be you, not me.”

I clenched my jaw, fighting not to show how deeply her words cut.

But it was damn near impossible. What Nimah had, I wanted, and I was so close to getting it.

Would I be lying if I said getting close to her didn’t boost my career?

Hell yeah. And fucking her had boosted it even more.

Because of our relationship, she’d mentioned my name in rooms I never would’ve been spoken about otherwise.

My cell phone beeped, knocking me out of my thoughts.

I looked down at the screen and saw Nimah’s name. “Why the fuck are you texting me?”

She smiled. “Just open it. I have a special link in there just for you.”

“I don’t have time for this shit,” I replied in annoyance. “I’m done playing games with you.”

“Fine. But after you hit that link, I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one you’ll be done with.”

Blowing out a heavy breath, I tapped on the link.

In seconds, I was directed to the FDL website, where the latest clickbait bomb was front and center: From Whisper to Reality: Shade and Nyx Spotted Out Together, Again.

“What the fuck?” I whispered before hitting play on the video.

Waves of heat surged through me as I took in the bullshit that was playing out in front of me.

Why the fuck is this nigga holding Nyx’s hand?

“Mmhmm,” Nimah said with a smirk. “Good for her. I’m glad to see that she’s not as clueless as I thought. Karma is a bitch isn’t it?”

“Fuck you!” I stormed off.

I called Nyx as soon as I got in my car.

One ring. Straight to voicemail.

I froze, disbelief washing over me. I know damn well her phone isn’t turned off .

“What’s the matter, baby?” Nimah yelled. She’d made her way to the porch, amusement on her face. “You probably can’t get her on the phone right now. Shade’s fine ass is probably somewhere fucking the shit out of her.”

Fuming, I jumped out of the car and raced toward her.

But she was too quick. Before I made it to the stairs, she was back in the house and at her window.

“Don’t you dare try to take your anger out on me because you’re getting a dose of your own medicine.”

“I’m not getting shit. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good explanation for all of this. It’s probably for a music video or something.”

“Yeah, okay. Tell yourself whatever you need to make you feel better.”

“Fuck you!”

I spun back around. I could feel my heart thumping against my chest. My anger had turned into fear.

The shit Nimah was saying couldn’t be true. Nyx would never cheat on me. She just wouldn’t.

Once I was back in my car, I attempted to call Nyx again. But still, it went straight to voicemail.

“Fuck!” I slammed my hand against the steering wheel, my fear quickly turning into rage. “She better not be with that nigga for real. I swear I’m going to fuck her up.”

A text came through on my phone.

Nimah: Still no luck, huh?

I looked back toward the house, and she was back on the porch. Smiling, she lowered her hands in front of her pelvic area and positioned them like she was grabbing someone’s waist from behind.

“What the hell is she doing?” I whispered.

“I bet he’s giving it to her in the ass right now,” she said before thrusting back and forth. She let out a loud moan, then followed it with several screams while calling out Shade’s name.

Wow, this bitch is really fucking crazy .

Over it, I sped out of the driveway and onto the street.

The ridiculous sounds didn’t leave my mind. The thought of Nyx screaming another nigga’s name had me ready to break all kinds of shit. But I had to stay composed. The last thing I needed was to end up in an accident.

I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel. “Think, Eli, think.”

I needed to talk to Nyx before I made it to her crib. I didn’t want to show up throwing out accusations when there could be a perfectly good explanation.

I refused to think the worst.

Finally, it hit me.

I’ll just call Skye. Maybe she knows what’s going on.

It didn’t take long for her to pick up the call.

“Hey, Eli. What’s up?”

“Nothing much,” I said, trying to stay as calm as possible. “Your girl with you?”

“Who? Nyx?”

“Yeah.”

There was a brief moment of silence, then finally, she said, “Yeah.”

Relief washed over me. “Okay, cool. Put her on the phone.”

“What?”

“I said, put her on the phone.”

“She’s in the bathroom. Did you try calling her?”

“Yeah, but it’s going straight to voicemail.”

“Oh.” Again, there was silence. “Shit, her phone is right here, and I think it’s on vibrate or something. I’ll tell her to call you when she gets out of the bathroom.”

“It’s cool. I’m headed that way right now.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I need to talk to her.”

“Yeah, well, she can’t talk right now. She’s not feeling too good. I think I hear her throwing up in the bathroom.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I gotta go. Don’t come over here,” she said before the line went dead.

I stared at my phone, trying to make sense of our exchange.

Something was off.

Then it clicked.

That bitch is lying .