Chapter Seventeen
Rhythm
“Honey, I’m home!” I called, walking into the apartment.
Nique came from the back with a smile on her face.
“Somebody is in a good mood,” she noted, taking a seat on the couch.
“I had a great day.”
I put my things down and went into the kitchen. Grabbing two glasses, I poured up some wine then took it and the bottle into the living room to join her.
“Tea?” she asked, taking a glass from my hand.
“Not really tea. Guess whose grandmother happens to be my client?”
“Who?”
“Channing.”
“You lying!”
“Hand to God. When that man walked in to accompany her, I could have fallen the fuck out, Nique.”
She laughed. “So, were you two horn dogs able to keep your hormones under control in front of granny?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, although he was looking good as hell in those gray sweats and white tee. Tattoos and dick just all out for the world to see, girl.”
“Oh, so he was in typical slut attire?”
“Slut with a capital S.L.U.T.”
We shared a laugh.
“He was different today, though. I learned a little about him, thanks to his grandmother. Sis was trying to hook us up before she even got to the place. That lady told him she deserved great grandchildren, and he had to give them to her before she left this earth.”
“Is she sick?”
“She’s in the early stages of dementia,” I said sadly.
“Oh no! Damn. How’s he handling that?”
“Well, he had a little moment today when we had lunch with her. I could tell it was weighing heavily on him that she’s going to get worse. Apparently, she and his mother raised him, and they are pretty close.”
Nique poked out her lip. “My heart hurts for him.”
“Yeah, mine too. She’s a sweet old lady, at least with me. Now, she can be sassy and rude, but she’s funny as hell.”
“You said you three had lunch?”
“Yes, and before you get started, it’s a regular part of her therapy.”
She giggled. “I’m just saying. Lunch dates with granny… getting to know him…”
“I’m not invested, girl. Not in him.”
“Better not be in Raheem.” She gave me a side eye. “I see I didn’t have to accept any deliveries today.”
I rolled my eyes. “He left a note and rose on my windshield this morning.”
“Stalker much? What did he have to say?”
“Basically, he loves me and he’s not gonna stop proving he can change until I come home.”
She shook her head. “I have to ask again… do you want him back?”
I sat quietly for a moment, dwelling on my thoughts. I loved Raheem... it was Prince Cole I’d grown a disdain for. If the man I loved would show up and stay around, I’d give him another chance. I could admit that he hadn’t been photo’d with Lady Lingo in a while. Anytime he posted a video or picture of himself, he was either in an empty studio, with his boys, or at the house.
Now, that wasn’t to say it wasn’t planned. I was fully aware that a nigga would do what he wanted, when he wanted, and with who he wanted if he wanted to. I wasn’t naive to that. All I was saying was he seemed to be on some solo dolo type of shit for the most part.
“I don’t know, Nique,” I finally said, taking a sip of my wine. “Eventually, I’ll have to make that decision. Right now, it is what it is.”
“Hmm.”
She sipped her wine as she grabbed the remote and turned on the TV. I knew she wanted to say something, but right now, I was grateful that she kept it to herself. I didn’t want to think too much about that man and get in my feelings.
We sat in the living room for a few hours, watching TV. We ended up ordering takeout for dinner and chilling until at least ten before retreating to our spaces. I stripped out of my clothes and went into the bathroom for a nice, relaxing soak in my tub.
To set the ambiance, I lit a few candles, dimmed the lights, and turned on some soft music. Easing into the tub, I gave a satisfied breath as I relaxed into the water to soak away the day’s events.
My thoughts drifted to Channing as I thought of his grandmother. There was something about that man. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but I liked him a little more after today. Since sex wasn’t on the table, it left the room to have a real conversation.
I kept thinking to myself, it would be messy as hell to get involved with my ex’s producer. Then I realized it was too late because I was already involved. Maybe I didn’t know it at first, but now that I did, I would definitely be labeled a trifling bitch in these streets.
Still, there was something about him that kept drawing me in. I found myself swiping at his contact to call him. Panic set in as the phone started ringing. Before I could hang up, I heard his voice on the other end.
“Hello?”
Shit!
“Hello?”
“Uh… hey… Channing.”
“Rhythm?”
“It’s me.”
I could hear the smile in his voice. “Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”
“Well… I um… I was just thinking about you.”
“Were you now? Why don’t you let me see your beautiful face?”
Before I had a chance to protest, he sent a FaceTime request. I hesitated for a moment before I answered it. His video populated, and there he was, shirtless, lying on his couch. He smiled when he saw me.
“Looks like you’re relaxing.”
“Trying to. What did you and Grams do after therapy?”
“Man, that woman rushed me to get home so she could watch her stories. You know the first thing she said when my mama asked how things went was, I was trying to get some ass.”
I couldn’t help but laugh because I could see her saying that.
“Grams is a trip. I love working with her. Every time I see her, I have to call my grandma and check on her.”
“How’s it been being out here without family?”
“Well, I’m not completely without family. Emerald’s wife, Rhyon, is my first cousin.”
“Word?”
“Yes. Her mom and my mom are sisters.”
“It’s a small world. Em is cool people. He’s about business in the studio. In and out is his motto.”
“Trust me, after all he went through to get Rhyon back, he makes it his mission to spend all his free time with his family.”
“As he should. A man that doesn’t prioritize taking care of his family ain’t a man at all.”
“So that means I expect you to be a good husband when you get married. Don’t let us revisit this conversation.”
He chuckled. “I’ll be a great husband, both active and attentive. I told you, there’s more to me than just good dick.”
I rolled my eyes. “Anyway! What are you doing?”
“Watching a ball game.”
“Is that what you do in your spare time? Watch sports?”
“Sometimes. Occasionally, I’ll go to a home game since I have a season pass. Either that or I’ll hit up a lounge or club, scouting new talent. I’m real chill for the most part. It’s just me and my baby girl.”
He angled the camera to where I could see Koda lying on his chest.
“She’s just so adorable! Hi, beautiful!”
She looked up at me then back at Channing.
“She’s a big ass baby. She’s basically my second shadow at home.”
“Oh, hush. I bet you have her spoiled.”
He chuckled. “I can’t lie, I do. She’s the closest thing I have to a child, so it’s only right.”
“Are you as bad as the dog moms?”
He laughed. “I think I might be worse. If I ever get you over here, you’ll see for yourself.”
“I don’t know if I trust myself being alone with you.”
He smirked. “Why is that?”
“Because I tend to lose all inhibitions when we’re alone.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“You’re Raheem’s producer, Channing. It was bad enough that we had sex when we didn’t know the link between us. Getting entangled when we know the truth… it’s messy.”
“Listen, Rhythm. I’m a grown ass man. I don’t need permission from anyone to entertain a woman on any level.”
“That may be true, but if he finds out—”
“Why do you care so much about him finding out? I’m sure that nigga does what he wants when you aren’t around.”
“That’s the second time you’ve made reference to that. Do you know something I don’t?”
“I know what I see, which is probably the same shit you see in the media. What about him makes you wanna be with a nigga that disrespects you like that?”
I looked away from the camera. It seemed like everybody wanted to question me about Raheem today. When I looked back at him, he was still waiting for an answer.
“I know it sounds like excuses…” I said softly. “You met him as Prince Cole, the rapper… the international superstar. I met him as Raheem Javon Cole, the guy who used to make beats on the lunchroom table with his friends. The guy who was all about making sure he got his mama and sisters out of the hood. The guy that bent over backwards to make sure I was comfortable being with him when we first linked back up. I don’t know this version of him that’s come about in the last year. It’s hard to accept that he’s let his image consume him this much.”
“You realize that you don’t have to accept the versions of people who no longer align with who you are, right? People change and grow at different paces. Sometimes you outgrow them, even if you love them. Don’t get so comfortable having people in your life that you don’t know when it’s time to remove them.”
He spoke with sincerity, and it made me tear up. I swiped at the tears in the corner of my eye.
“Don’t cry,” he said softly.
“I feel so stupid,” I said as the tears continued to fall.
“We’ve all been there.”
“You’ve held on to someone you should have let go of?”
“Fuck no. I’ll cut your ass off with a quickness.”
I giggled. “Just like that?”
“Straight like that.”
“You realize you’re contradicting yourself?”
His brows furrowed. “How?”
“This whole thing between us… It was supposed to be a fuck and done type of deal.”
He smirked. “True.”
“So, what is it about me?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I’m not used to having women ghost me the morning after.”
“Oh, so you do the ghosting?”
“Nah. It’s a mutual goodbye. I don’t know what it is about you. You seem like a good girl. Seeing you with my grams today… I guess I kinda see you in a different light, one that doesn’t involve you face down, ass up, or on top of a counter cumming for me… though I rather enjoy that.”
“I bet you do.”
He chuckled. “I like your vibe.”
“But?”
“You’re stuck on ol’ boy. Do I give a fuck about him? No. Once this album is out, my ties to him can be severed. I’m not the type of nigga that waits for somebody to tell me I can have something. If I want it, I get it. So yo’ nigga is just gon’ have to take his L in good stride ’cause I want you.”
That shit had me hot and bothered. I shifted in the tub, willing my hands not to find their way between my legs.
“Wh-what would you do with me?” I asked curiously.
“Everything he can’t. I’ma let you sit on that though.”
I was quiet for a moment. In plain English, he told me I was going to be his, even if he had to snatch me from another man.
“Are you coming to this album release?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I’m on the fence about it.”
“What if I asked you to come and leave with me?”
I blushed. “That’s a pretty bold move.”
“I’m a pretty bold nigga.”
I giggled. “You are.”
“The club we’re gonna be at has private VIP rooms. You can look out, but nobody can look in. I’ll get you a space, and you won’t even have to see that nigga. I wanna see you.”
“You can’t see me outside of the party?”
“I can and I will. But I wanna see you then, too.”
I thought for a moment. My ego was slightly inflated. How trifling would I be if I showed up to my ex’s album release to please the man that I was fucking? Nique wasn’t going, so there was no doubt that it would just be Channing and me in that VIP section. My mind raced with all the things that could happen behind closed doors with him. I was intrigued to say the least.
“Fine,” I said. “You get the section, and I’ll come.”
“Bet. I’ll put you on the list so you don’t have to wait in line.”
We stared at each other for a moment. The way he was looking at me had me blushing like a damn schoolgirl with a crush. Maybe I did have a little bit of a crush on him. He was so damn fine, but more than that, I liked his energy. Part of me wanted to get to know him, even though it meant being messy as fuck.
“I should go…” I said quietly. “I need to finish up in here and get ready for bed.”
“That’s fine. You have my number, and now I have yours. Will you respond if I reach out?”
I hesitated. “Yes.”
He smiled, and it made me smile.
“A’ight then. Sleep good. I’ma holla at you.”
“Okay.”
We disconnected the call, and I placed the phone on the counter. Something told me that I was about to open a whole can of worms fucking with this man. The sad part was… part of me didn’t even care.