Page 60 of Perfect Rhythm

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.”

25

NYX

“Girl, you sure you don’t want to see this video?” Skye asked, gliding into her kitchen in her teddy bear slippers. “Whoever sent this video to FDL got all the best angles. I mean, we were there, but watching it play out in full HD? Whole different vibe.”

“No, thanks. I saw enough last night.” I had zero interest in reliving the ego war between Shade and Eli. As much as I appreciated Shade for having my back, I really wished he would’ve thought about what his actions would do to my image. “I still can’t believe it even went that far.”

“Yeah, me either. But at least they didn’t fight. Eli was smart enough to walk away after we left.”

“Thank God.”

“Mmhmm, he knew what was good for him. Too bad he didn’t figure it out sooner. He should’ve kept his handsandhis dick to himself.”

I silently agreed, then shoved another spoonful of cereal in my mouth.

Last night was a disaster. I didn’t know what was worse, learning that my boyfriend had cheated, or everyone knowing about it. Not being able to process my relationship bullshit inprivate was a blow to the gut, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to handle it.

I felt Skye’s arm slide around my shoulders, then her head rested against mine. “I’m so sorry you had to find out about Eli the way you did. Him screwing Nimah Watts is fucked up.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.” I rolled my eyes. “I wish you could’ve seen him. He really tried to make me think they’d only kissed. Then he tried to make it seem like it was just acting.”

“God, not that bullshit again. What is wrong with him?”