Page 69 of Perfect Rhythm

“Don’t tell anyone I told you this,” I said. “Mecca’s dumb ass got someone else pregnant.”

“What?”

“Yep, and you’ll never guess who it is.”

“Who?”

“Brookia.”

“Wait, Brookia Fletcher?”

“Yep.”

“But wait, she’s engaged to King.”

“Mmhmm, and he thinks it’s their baby.”

“Oh, damn, that’s cold. He’s one of the good ones.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Me too. Anyway, I’m trying to be there for her. But I don’t want to unleash all of my shit on top of what she’s going through.”

“I thought that’s what women do...bond over how niggas ain’t shit and all that.” Shade cracked a smile, and I tossed a pillow at his head. “What? Am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not wrong. But like I said, I would rather not pile on her right now.Iwas just cheated on. That fool had a whole baby on her, and she’s been begging to have his kid. Not to mention, he’s been telling her that he hasn’t fucked anybody raw, out of respect for her.”

Shade frowned. “That’s the dumbest shit I ever heard.”

“Tell me about it.” I plopped down on the bed, and he sat down next to me. I rested my head against his shoulder, feeling less pressure now that we’d set some boundaries.

He placed his hand on top of mine. “If a friend is what you want right now, then a friend is what you’ll get.”

“No hidden agenda?”

“No hidden agenda,” he replied.

28

SHADE

I definitely had an agenda.

But for now, it was better if Nyx believed otherwise. I kept my eyes on her as she rested comfortably in my bed, a small blanket covering her. She’d talked herself right to sleep, and I wasn’t going to wake her. I wanted her here. I wanted to stare at her all night.

There was a gentle tap at the door before Trace peeked his head in. “You got a visitor.”

I frowned. “A visitor?”

“Yeah.” Trace glanced over at Nyx, then back at me. I could tell from his expression that he didn’t want to say whoever it was out loud. He lifted his cell, showing me live footage of who was waiting downstairs in the lobby.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” I groaned.

“I mean, I’m no rocket scientist, but from the looks of things, she’s here to see you.”

I tilted my head and stared at Trace like I was going to knock the shit out of him. If I felt like I could do it and get away with it, I definitely would’ve tried. But Trace had eyes in the back of his head. He would stop me before I even lifted my fist.