Page 82 of Perfect Rhythm

“She said yes,” he shouted and slipped the ring on my finger before placing his lips on mine.

I didn’t attempt to kiss him back. But none of that mattered to him. He was too high off of the yes he’d conjured in his mind.

“Congratulations,” my father said as he hugged me, then reached for Eli with open arms. “Welcome to the family, son.”

I bolted outside, my stomach twisting with every step.

Skye stormed out after me. “What the actual fuck? Why didn’t you say no?”

“Because I didn’t want to ruin my father’s birthday, and I didn’t want to answer all the questions that would come along with it. Not tonight.”

“Okay, but now you’re about to marry a nigga that you don’t want.”

“I’m not marrying him. As soon as this night is over, I’m telling him that.”

Skye lifted a brow. “Why wait? Do that shit now. I’ll go get him, and then we can have security escort his ass off the premises.”

“No, not tonight. I already told you that I don’t want to deal with all the extra shit.”

Rolling her eyes, she sighed. “Okay, fine. But I think this is a terrible idea. I wouldn’t give that nigga another second to believe he had his hooks in me.”

“Trust me, he won’t get to enjoy it for too long.”

33

SHADE

“Hey, can you pass me that bag of screws?” I asked Jassi, studying the pieces of her desk like they were some rare exhibit at a museum.

Looking up from her phone, she grabbed the small pouch beside her feet and handed it to me. “Here.”

“Thank you.”

“Mmhmm.”

That was the most she’d said to me since I’d arrived at her apartment forty-five minutes ago. It didn’t matter that I was sitting in her living room in the middle of the afternoon putting together some shit that she could’ve done herself. The only thing that mattered was the grudge she was determined to hold about what happened at the party the other night.

“So, what’s up? How’s everything been since school started?”

“Everything’s cool.”

“Really?” I placed the power drill down beside me. “That’s all you have to say?”

“Yep.”

“Come on, Jassi. It’s been three days since that shit went down with Enzo. You’re still pissed at me?”

“Yep.”

“Alright, fine.” I sighed. “I’m sorry for acting crazy. But I told you I don’t trust that nigga.”

“Why?”

“Don’t worry about all that.”

She returned to looking at her phone. “And that’s why I’m going to stay pissed at you. You can’t publicly embarrass me, tell me not to be around someone, and give me no reason as to why. It’s not fair.”

I blew out a heavy breath. She wasn’t wrong. But at the same time, I just needed her to trust me on the matter.