Page 99 of Perfect Rhythm

“Alright.” As soon as she was off the line, I called Eli. I wanted to know what his reasoning was behind all of the bullshit, because it damn sure wasn’t going to make me marry him. But after two rings, I was sent to voicemail. “Oh, wow. He’s really fucking with me.”

I tried two more times, and I got the same result.

“Nyx, hey,” a soft voice spoke from behind me.

I didn’t turn around. I already knew who it was, and I wasn’t interested in talking to one of FDL’s little rumor chasers. “Please leave me alone. I’m not answering any of your questions.”

“I just wanted to get your perspective on things,” she said. “Are you happy about the engagement? What made you take him back after he cheated? Are you not with Shade anymore?”

I let out a loud huff and yanked my car door open. “There’s no engagement. Eli and I are not getting married.”

“But I saw the footage...the whole world saw the footage.”

“Yeah, well, it was all bullshit. Eli purposely caught me off guard and tried to strong arm me into marrying him. Immediately after, I told him it wasn’t going to happen.” Okay, maybe I lied about the immediately after part, but she didn’t need to know all of that. “I’m not marrying, nor will Ievermarry that lying, cheating asshole.”

“And what about Shade? Will you marry him? Are the two of you official?”

I shook my head, jaw tight. Give these people a crumb and they’ll devour the whole damn cake. “No comment.”

“Oh, come on, Nyx. We’ve seen the two of you together. It’s obvious?—”

“Excuse us,” Shade said, moving the blogger out of his path and taking me by the arm. He didn’t stop walking until we reached his Range. “Get in.”

“Um, I’m not sure that’s a good idea. You seem upset.”

“Get the fuck in, Nyx.”

Feeling like I probably shouldn’t poke the bear, I did as I was told and scooted to the other side of the backseat.

He slid in beside me and slammed the door. “So, what’s up? You’re fucking engaged now?”

39

SHADE

I hated how I felt. It was a cross between wanting to put my hands around Nyx’s neck and wanting to beg her to tell me the engagement bullshit wasn’t true. But both reactions had to be tamed. I couldn’t live with myself if I ever put my hands on her, and I couldn’t be seen looking like a bitch by begging for the truth.

“So, are you going to answer my question? Or are we going to sit in this car and stare at each other all day?” I looked at my watch. “My schedule is pretty clear, so I’ve got time.”

“It’s not what you think,” she finally said. “Eli cornered me in front of my parents on purpose. He knew I wouldn’t do or say anything crazy in front of them.”

“But you did. You said yes.”

“I didn’t say yes. I?—”

“Well, does he know that?” I pulled out my phone and shoved the article from FDL in her face. “Because the love letter he posted to you online definitely says otherwise.”

“That’s just another stunt. He’s pissed that I told him I wasn’t going to marry him.”

I frowned. “Are you telling me that this nigga decided to leak some bullshit to the blogs because he didn’t get his way?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

I pressed my hands together, squeezing while I popped one knuckle after the other. “Sounds like I need to pay his bitch ass a visit.”

Nyx placed her hand on my knee. “Please don’t. I don’t need another reason to be on the blogs about something that has absolutely nothing to do with my career. I’ve had enough. Trust me.”

I wasn’t feeling it. The fact that this fool thought he could get away with spreading random ass lies wasn’t cool. “I don’t know Nyx. I feel like he needs to be taught a lesson, and this time it needs to be with a little more force.”