Page 71 of Perfect Rhythm

As true as that was, I still felt uneasy about letting her come up. When Nimah and I ended things, it wasn’t exactly on the best of terms. Granted, it wasn’t on no crazy shit either. But I had a strict rule against fucking and catching feelings, and that’s where we’d landed. On several occasions, she’d told me that she loved me. The first two times she said it, I just assumed it was her letting me know how much she loved the dick. But one night, she said it as she was leaving, and that was all it took for me to let her ass go.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had spoken those words to a woman, and given how we’d started things, I thought she was aware that I would never be saying them to her.

“Shade?”

I squeezed the back of my neck, searching for an escape plan. But there wasn’t one. Not if I wanted to win Nyx over. We were supposed to be on some friend shit, and that meant I had to prove to her that she could trust me.

Against my better judgment, I nodded toward Trace. “Go get her.”

“No, just send her up,” Nyx said with a snarky grin. “I don’t want you giving her a heads up on anything.”

Damn.

Trace looked back at me for confirmation, and I gave him the go ahead.

As soon as he stepped out of the room, I looked back at Nyx. “So, what exactly is about to happen here?”

“Nothing. You’re going to go talk to her while I stand back and listen.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am. You claim you didn’t have anything to do with her messing around with Eli. I want to be sure of it. I also want to be sure that you’re not still fucking her.”

I laughed. “Oh, I see. You’re jealous.”

“No. Why would I be jealous? We’re just friends, remember?”

“Yeah, okay.”

She waved me off. “Whatever. Just go see what she wants.”

“Alright, I’m going.” I lifted my hands. “Damn, you sure are bossy.”

“Mmhmm, stick around long enough and you’ll see just how bossy I can get.”

“Oh, trust me, I plan on it.”

She lifted her eyes to the ceiling, then pushed me forward. “Go.”

I did as I was told, waiting patiently for Nimah’s arrival.

Nyx walked out on the balcony, making sure to leave the door slightly open so she could hear.

As soon as Trace escorted Nimah inside, I stopped her. “What’s up? What are you doing here?”

“I just need someone to talk to,” she replied, her balance off and her words a little messy. “Figured you’d get it, considering what we’re both dealing with.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you drunk?”

“Nope. I just had a couple of drinks.” She flashed what was meant to be two fingers, but three wobbled in the air.

“It definitely looks like you’ve had more than a couple.”

Before I could say more, she collapsed into me, and I caught her just in time.

“My knight in shining armor,” she whispered, her eyes peering up at me. “You know, he promised he was going to take care of me.”

“Who?”