Page 36 of Perfect Rhythm

ELI

“Alright. I got this. Things aren’t perfect, but I can still fix it,” I murmured under my breath as I stepped into Nyx’s apartment building.

My hands were full. Flowers, clothes, jewelry.

I’d pulled out all the stops. There was no way she wouldn’t see how serious I was about making things right between us.

I hit the elevator button and waited, hands full and nerves buzzing. When the doors slid open, I stepped aside and gestured for the woman behind me to go first.

She walked past, and I took her in. Lean frame, defined legs, office wear that still managed to look sexy as hell. She was gorgeous.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to bother you,” she said as she turned to face me, “but I can’t help but feel like you look familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?”

Pleased to be recognized, I adjusted my collar with my free hand and smiled. “Um, yeah, you might know me from?—”

“The Bridgewoods!” she blurted. “Oh my God. I love that soap. You’re amazing.”

“Thank you.”

“Wow, this is crazy. I’m meeting a real-life actor.”

“Yep, in the flesh.”

She rambled around in her purse, then pulled out her phone. “Can I get a picture with you? My friends back home will never believe it. I just moved here.”

“Of course you can.” I placed the shopping bags down and leaned in so she could take a few selfies. The smell of fresh vanilla and coconut milk radiated off her skin. “You smell delicious. What’s that you’re wearing?”

“Thank you. I wish I could tell you. It was a gift, and I haven’t quite remembered the name yet.”

Nodding, I returned to my spot on the other side of the elevator and grabbed my bags. “Well, it smells really nice on you. I might have to grab a bottle for my fiancé.”

“Oh, you’re engaged?” She questioned, seeming somewhat disappointed. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you. I’m actually on my way to see her now.”

“I see. I guess that explains all of the shopping bags. She’s one lucky girl.”

“Yes, she is. But I must say, I’m the lucky one. Not everyone has the luxury of finding their soulmate, you know?”

“Trust me, I know. There are some real-life bums out here. I’ve come across quite a few myself. Well, not here. Back home.”

“Oh, I see. What made you come here?”

“Just looking for a change. I know a few people who live here, so I figured, why not?” she said with a shrug.

The elevator doors opened, and she stepped off.

I’d been so caught up in our conversation that I hadn’t even noticed that she was going to the same floor as me.

“Well, this is my stop,” she said.

“Yeah, it’s mine too.”

“Oh, wow. I guess I wasn’t paying much attention to where we were headed.”

“Neither was I.”

We held each other’s gaze for a moment, and for some reason, I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off of her.

It should’ve been awkward and weird. Especially since I’d just mentioned that I was here to see my fiancé.

But it wasn’t. In fact, it felt natural.

It felt like I could stare into her eyes all day. They were beautiful.

She cleared her throat. “Um, so, yeah, it was truly nice to meet you. Thanks for taking pics with me.”

“Yes, of course.”

She turned to walk away. The sway in her hips made me lick my lips, almost desperate to know what was hiding under her little business outfit. Still watching her, I realized that I never got her name. I was about to try and get her attention, but?—

“Eli?” I turned to see Nyx stepping out of her apartment. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Hey, babe. I’m here to see you.”

“Why? I didn’t tell you to come here.”

“I know, and you’re not responding to my calls, texts, or voicemails either.”

“That’s because you’re blocked.”

“Babe, we’re engaged. Don’t you think blocking me is ridiculous?”

“No, I don’t. But I do think that stunt you pulled at my father’s birthday dinner was ridiculous.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Just in case it wasn’t obvious, there’s no way in hell I’m marrying you.”

“What? But you accepted the ring.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out the box. “Here you go. Take that shit back where you got it from.”

“Okay, Nyx, I know you’re still upset about the Nimah thing, but I’m ready to move past that.” I held up the bags, making sure the labels could be seen, so she would know that I’d been to some of her favorite places.

She frowned. “Is this a joke? Did you really think that proposing to me and buying me a bunch of bullshit would make me forget about you cheating on me?”

“Not forget, but?—”

“But what? There isn’t a damn thing you can say or do to change my mind.

We’re over. I’m not marrying you... ever .

Get that through your head and move the fuck on.

” She pushed past me, and I grabbed her arm.

Her head spun around. “You do remember what happened the last time you put your hands on me, right? Don’t make me have to make a phone call. ”

Heat rushed through me.

Did she really threaten me with another nigga?

“Oh, so that’s what we’re doing now?” I let go of her arm. “You’re using the nigga you fucking as your bodyguard?”

“If that’s what gets you to keep your hands off of me, then I guess so.”

I dropped the bags. “Nyx, this is some bullshit. Since when do you act like this? You’ve always been loyal. One hit of some new dick and you’re willing to throw our relationship away like it ain’t nothing?”

“You’re fucking delusional, you know that?

The fact that you keep trying to put this off on me, like I’m the one who messed up, is insane.

New dick or not, you and I were over the moment I found out that you screwed Nimah Watts.

Oh, and the deal was sealed when she showed up at Shade’s talking about all of the bullshit dreams you sold her.

” Fuming, Nyx stepped toward me and stabbed a finger into my chest. “You actually told that bitch you were going to build a life with her? What kind of shit is that?”

Damn it.

“Okay...wait...”

“No, I’m not waiting for shit. Leave me the fuck alone, Eli. I mean it. If you ever show up in my space again, I promise you’re going to wish you hadn’t.”

“And what does that mean?”

She moved closer. “Trust me, you don’t want to find out.”

I stared into her eyes. There was no love there. Only hate.

This was a side of Nyx I’d never seen, and it hurt. It hurt to know that the parts of her that meant the most to me were gone.

With a lifted brow, she looked me over one last time, then turned to walk toward the elevator.

“Fuck,” I groaned.

Now what? Was I supposed to just let her go? Was I really supposed to just let another nigga have her?

“You know he’s not going to do right by you either?” I called out after her. “Shade is worse than me.”

Still walking, she lifted her middle finger and stepped onto the elevator.

As soon as she was out of my view, I nodded slowly and pulled out my phone. “Fine. Two can play that game.”