Page 24 of Perfect Rhythm

NYX

“I think it’s fucked up that you’re running around holding another niggas hand knowing damn well it’s going to get back to me.”

“Yeah, well, I think it’s fucked up that other bitches are sending me cryptic messages about your ass. I guess we’re even.”

“I don’t know anything about that shit. I swear.”

I rolled my eyes. “Eli, please stop lying in my face and just tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m not telling you anything until you tell me why you’re running around the city holding hands with your boss. And where the fuck is your phone?”

I shoved my hands in my pockets again, wondering if somehow I’d missed it the first time.

But still, nothing.

Shit, I probably dropped it in Shade’s car.

“Eli, my phone is irrelevant. Explain the message.”

“Explain you being with Shade.”

Frustrated, I tossed my hands in the air. “Really? You’re going to stand here and be this childish?”

“You’ve got a lot of nerve calling me childish. Are you fucking that nigga?”

“What? No,” I fired back.

Thankfully, that was still the truth.

“I don’t believe you. Even Nimah can tell something is going on between you two.”

I arched a brow and tilted my head. “Nimah? Why the fuck would the two of you be having a conversation about me and Shade?” I looked him over, waiting for his answer.

No words left his mouth.

His eyes dropped, his shoulders stiffened, and guilt took over his face.

It took me a second, but when the pieces fully connected in my mind, my brows shot up. “Hold up! Is that who sent me that message? Did you screw her?”

“Nyx—”

“Answer the fucking question, Eli!”

Trying to hear what was going on between us, the dancers made their way outside.

That should’ve been my cue to take the conversation elsewhere. Especially since I knew our business would be all over the internet by morning. But I didn’t give a damn. I just wanted the truth.

Eli cleared his throat, then stepped toward me. “Okay, let me explain.”

Oh, wow, this nigga is really about to tell me he fucked Nimah Watts.

I held my tongue, my frown deepening as he tried to put his words together.

“What happened between Nimah and I was a mistake.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, and I’m fully aware of that now,” he said. “But before you go and start thinking the worst, it wasn’t like that.”

I sucked my teeth. “What was it like, Eli?”

“It was just a kiss. Granted, I’m sure that doesn’t make it any better. But I promise, that’s all it was.”

I tried to look into his eyes to see if he was telling the truth, but he was looking at everyone but me.

“I don’t believe you,” I said. He grabbed my hand, but I yanked away from him. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

The moment the words left my mouth, Shade’s Range rolled into the parking lot.

Antone had barely hit the brakes before the door swung open.

I met Shade’s gaze, silently pleading with him not to come our way. Eli and I were already drawing enough attention. I didn’t need him adding to the chaos.

Reluctantly, he eased back into the Range and closed the door.

Relief washed over me.

“Babe, please just listen to me,” Eli begged. “I promise you that there’s nothing serious going on with me and Nimah. I’m pretty sure she sent you that message because I told her that.”

“You told her what?”

“That there would never be anything between me and her,” he said. “Look, after that kiss, I told her that it was a mistake. I told her that we needed to keep things professional. But she wasn’t feeling that. The girl is crazy.”

“If she is, it’s probably because you made her that way.” I looked at him like he was stupid. “That’s the thing with you niggas. Y’all do dumb shit, then try to call us crazy for how we respond.”

“You know what? You’re right. I never should’ve kissed her. I just got caught up in the moment while rehearsing lines.” Laughing, he shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t even know if I should admit to doing anything wrong. If you really think about it, I was just acting.”

I jerked my head back.

“You must be out of your fucking mind if you think I’m about to believe that shit. How long have you been screwing her?” I shoved my finger into his chest, making sure he knew how pissed I was. “And I want the truth.”

He looked away from me and sighed. “I...I don’t know. It was while you were on the road. But I swear to God, it only happened once.”

“Bullshit!”

“I swear. Baby, I would never fuck around on you more than once.”

Once again, he tried to touch me. I stepped back and looked him over in disgust.

“More than once?” I wanted to take my knee and shove it into his dick, but I knew I would do it repeatedly, so I stopped myself.

“The fact that you can even fix your mouth to say that is crazy. Once was enough, Eli. I’m not like these other hoes.

I don’t allow a nigga to cheat on me over and over again.

One time is all you get. You’re not going to make a fool out of me. ”

“Oh, you mean like you’ve made a fool out of me?” he said with a lifted brow.

“What?”

“Come on now, Nyx. Don’t try to act like you’re squeaky clean in all of this. I’ve seen enough to know otherwise.”

I looked him in the eyes, no longer willing to give a damn about sparing his feelings. “What you’ve seen on the blogs is nothing in comparison to what’s happened. Trust me.” I gave him a smirk, then turned to walk away from him, but he yanked me back.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what the fuck I said.”

Suddenly, his grip tightened around my arm, and his glare darkened. He was furious, and rightfully so. Although I hadn’t gone as far as he had with Nimah, I was more than happy to make him think I had.

“Stop playing with me, Nyx. Did you fuck that nigga?”

I licked my lips before giving him a shameless smile and whispering, “Nah, but his mouth definitely fucked me.”

Within seconds, he slammed me against the building window.

The thud was loud in my ear, but nothing was as loud as Shade plummeting into Eli and knocking his ass to the ground. “Bitch ass nigga, don’t you ever put your hands on her!”

Shade hovered over Eli like a lion ready to rip into his prey.

Suddenly, everyone’s phones were out and aimed at us.

“Oh, so this is what we’re doing now?” Eli said as he stood up. “We got the pussy eating nigga sitting outside in the parking lot and shit?”

“You damn right,” Shade snapped. “And as soon as this is over, I’m gonna be doing a lot more than eating pussy. My dick is going to be all up in it. It’ll be like your hoe ass never existed.”

“Shade,” I yelled.

But he was already checked out..lost in his ego.

Eli moved forward, but Trace stepped between them.

“It’s cool, big boy,” Shade said, patting Trace on the chest and moving around him. “He ain’t about to do shit.”

Shade rolled up his sleeves, slow and deliberate, like he was daring Eli to test him. Thick muscles flexed beneath his dark skin. Every inch of him screamed, don’t fuck with me .

“Damn, bitch, are they about to fight over you?” Skye popped up beside me, eyes wide with excitement.

“I don’t know, and when the hell did you get here?”

“I just pulled up. I was trying to get here before Eli.”

“How did you know—” I shook my head. “Never mind. Let’s just go.”

“You sure?” Skye smirked. “Because this looks like front-row entertainment.”

I looked around. The crowd was growing by the second. “I’m sure.”

Disappointed, she snatched my hand. “Fine, party pooper. Let’s go.”