Page 41 of Perfect Rhythm

NYX

I set my phone up on the breakfast bar and hit play before rushing back to my spot to start my dance. But just as the music started, Shade popped up behind me, mimicking my moves like he was my backup dancer.

“Would you stop?” I scolded. “You’re supposed to be putting the shelf together. Not all in my videos.”

Laughing, he gave my hip a playful tug. “Aw damn, I thought I heard you say you wanted me to make a cameo.”

“No, you didn’t. See, this is exactly why I can’t go live when you’re here. You don’t know how to act.”

“That’s because you be trying to hide a nigga. Shit, I’m pretty sure the world knows we hang out by now.”

“Yeah, they do, and whenever they see us together they’re convinced we’re fucking. Oh, and every time our pics hit the blogs, I get a random text from some anonymous number asking me a bunch of dumb ass questions.”

He headed back to the shelf he hadn’t even touched. “Damn, Eli still sending you messages from different numbers?”

“Yes, and when we cross paths in the streets, he tries to act like he’s not doing the shit.”

“Did you confront him?”

“Hell no. I try to stay away from him as much as possible. But the last time I was at the club with Skye, we saw him, and he tried to talk to me like we were the best of friends. I just laughed in his face and walked off.”

“Good. Bitch ass. How did he take that shit?”

“It was so many bloggers around that he just kept a smile on his face and moved on to talk to someone else. I was glad. Anything is better than the shit that Mecca keeps doing to Skye.”

Shade sighed. “Yeah, his ass is tripping hard. I’m hoping he snaps out of it soon.”

“Me too. But it’s like the more time goes by, the worse he gets.”

Shade dug into the box and started unloading wooden pieces. “I talked to him after he got out of line with my brother at the club. He said he was going to stop tripping and get his shit together.”

“And what exactly is his definition of getting his shit together? Because his most recent stunt wasn’t cool at all.

Why the hell would he show up at an appearance that Skye is doing with another artist and try to shower her with a bunch of bullshit gifts that she doesn’t want?

What is it going to take for him to stop embarrassing her? ”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I damn sure wouldn’t be doing all of that after knowing how bad I fucked up.”

“Exactly. Just move the hell on.”

There was a knock at the door, which caught me off guard.

“You want me to get that?” Shade asked.

“No, I’ll get it.”

I figured it couldn’t have been anyone crazy since Trace was right outside the door.

When I pulled the door open, a big smile spread across my face. “Nani, Pop Pop, hi. What are you guys doing here?”

“Well, we were in the neighborhood, so I figured we would just stop by.”

Shade stood and casually dusted the wood shavings from his pants.

The moment my grandmother walked in and spotted him, her face lit up. “Well, aren’t you a sight. You must be the infamous Shade.”

“In the flesh,” he replied before holding out his hand.

“No, sir. We’re huggers around here.” She wrapped her arms around him, practically vanishing against his broad frame. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Oh, have you?”

I frowned. “Nani, cut it out.” I knew what she was doing, and I wanted her to stop. “I haven’t talked about you that much.”

She lifted a brow. “I beg to differ. Every time I turn around, it's Shade this and Shade that. I was hoping that my impromptu visit would give me the opportunity to meet the man that you can’t stop talking about. Thankfully, I was right.”

“Pop Pop, please make her stop,” I whined.

Squeezing my hand, he smiled. “You know how your granny is once she gets going.”

The level of embarrassment I was feeling was insane, and I could tell that it wasn’t going to stop anytime soon.

“You know,” Nani said as she grabbed Shade’s hand and led him over to the couch.

“I’ve been telling her that she should give love a second chance.

The way she talks about you reminds me of how I used to talk about her grandfather.

” Her expression softened, warmth flooding her eyes.

“Even now, he still makes my heart melt.”

“Alright, that’s enough.” I stepped in. “Is there another reason you came by that doesn’t include making me seem like a lovesick schoolgirl?”

“Actually, yes. Your grandfather and I were going to go grab some lunch. We would love for you to join us.”

“Oh, um, I can’t.” I looked back at Shade. “He’s putting my bookshelf together, and I don’t want to leave him here all alone.”

“Well, bring him. Your grandfather and I haven’t done a double date in years.”

Feeling bile creep up my throat. “A double date? No. We’re not?—”

“We would love to,” Shade said while grabbing my hand. He looked at me and squeezed me gently. “But it won’t be a double date. You know? Boundaries and all.”

Nani rolled her eyes, letting out a loud huff. “Okay, fine. Call it whatever you want. Just meet us there in twenty minutes.”

“Twenty minutes?” I said. “I still have to get ready.”

“Girl, please. Go throw on some sweats and bring your butt on. We’re not going anywhere fancy.”

“Still...I don’t want to go out looking a mess. You know someone is always popping up and taking pictures of me.”

“And you look good every time,” Shade said. “You couldn’t take a bad photo even if you tried.”

I smiled, my cheeks burning as I tried to look in every direction but his.

“See,” Nani blurted, “that’s exactly what I’m talking about. Look at that smile.”

Rolling my eyes, I waved her off. “We’ll see you in thirty minutes.”

“I’ll be dead from starvation by then.”

“It’s just ten more minutes.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Trace held the door open, and they walked out of my apartment.

“She’s a fun character.” Shade chuckled.

“Mmhmm, and you’re about to see just how fun she truly is at this little lunch. She’s about to embarrass the hell out of me.”

“Really?” His arms circled me from behind, holding me close like he hadn’t in forever, his breath warm against my neck. “Exactly what have you been saying about me?”

“Way more than I should have, apparently.”

“Damn, it’s like that?”

“Look, I may be playing this whole friendship card when I’m with you, but nothing’s off limits when I’m with her. I tell my Nani everything. But she was never supposed to meet you, so this wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Sounds like I’m in for a treat then.”

“You sure are.” I sighed before forcing myself out of his arms and walking to my bedroom.

The walls I’d carefully built around my heart were no match for Nani.

Talking to her about Shade was one thing, but letting her see us together?

That was a whole different game. She already felt like there was something special between us.

Now that she’d seen it for herself, she wasn’t going to let up until she got the result she wanted.