Chapter 14 Rhythm Brooks
RHYTHM brOOKS
The next morning, I shuffled into the dining room with wild hair and eyes half open as I followed Sincere as he headed toward the front door.
He was already dressed, while I was still wearing the cropped lace camisole and matching thong I had slept in.
I didn’t want him to leave. And that scared me.
It felt fast... too fast. It felt dangerously close to obsession, and I kept telling myself it was just the good sex, the newness, and the fact that we’d been having such an intense run of time together.
We reached the door, and before I could even form a reluctant goodbye, Sincere turned and grabbed the back of my neck, gently but firm enough to make my breath catch. Then he kissed me. His tongue slid into my mouth and my body pressed against his without hesitation.
He pulled back slowly, staring at me in a way that made heat pool low in my stomach. His eyes traveled down my body, taking in the lace, my bare thighs, and the curve of my hips.
“You’re trouble,” he murmured.
I smirked. “You like trouble.”
He shook his head like he was fighting himself. “I do.”
We lingered there like teenagers. We couldn’t get enough of each other. We kept kissing, staring, and touching, until finally, he stepped out.
“Call me,” I said.
“Of course,” he replied.
I watched him walk away until he disappeared, then closed the door and locked it. The second the click sounded, I leaned back against it, smiling so hard my face hurt. I bit my bottom lip and let myself swoon for a second like I was seventeen and stupid.
Then I inhaled deeply and forced myself to focus. My mother had sent a text fifteen minutes ago letting me know she was bringing the kids back soon. I pushed off the door and headed toward the kitchen to start breakfast.
That was when I saw the canvas. It was still on the floor in the dining room.
I froze, then started giggling uncontrollably.
It had taken us forever to shower off the red and blue paint, scrubbing and laughing and slipping against each other until the water ran clear.
I crouched down and really looked at it.
There were smears of red and blue layered over skin-toned streaks.
There was the outline of a hand pressed hard into one corner.
I could see the faint curve of a breast, from when I was face down, ass up.
There were drag marks where our bodies had shifted and moved. It looked intentional, raw, and alive.
I ran my fingers lightly over the dried paint.
This was art. Not the kind I could hang in a gallery without explanation, but it was art all the same.
“I’m keeping you,” I whispered to the canvas.
As I stood up, something else caught my eye on the dining room table. It was a folder. I walked over and picked it up. “Rhythm Brooks Art, LLC” was printed across the front. My breath hitched while I opened it slowly.
Inside were articles of organization already filed, EIN confirmation, an operating agreement, bank account documents, and trademark paperwork for my brand name. There was even a draft contract template for commissions with my name listed as the sole owner.
Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them. He hadn’t just been sleeping with me. He hadn’t just been taking me on dates. He had been building something for me while I was distracted by how good he felt. He’d set up my business for me and ensured that I owned everything.
I sank into one of the dining chairs, holding the folder in my lap. My throat tightened as I ran my hand over my name printed on those documents.
And for the first time in my life, I felt like I wasn’t just surviving; I was becoming something I had always dreamed of.
As I swooned, there was a knock at the front door. I glanced at the clock and assumed it had to be my mother with the kids. I rushed down the hallway, grabbed a robe from the back of my bedroom chair, and slid it on before tying it tight around my waist.
“Coming!” I called out.
I swung the door open, still smiling, but the smile died instantly.
Kodi stood there, glaring at me with angry-dark eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, with my hand still gripping the door.
He stepped inside without waiting for permission. “So, this how you movin’ now?”
I shut the door, groaning. “Kodi, not today.”
“Oh, not today?” he mocked. “You been ignoring my calls. You think you just too good now?”
“I told you I’m done with you.”
“Done?” He laughed dryly. “You got a little art show coming up and a news appearance last night, and now you done with me? You out here acting like you somebody. You think them people really care about your lil’ drawings?”
I felt the anger crawl up my neck. “You sound stupid.”
Before I could brace myself, his hand came out of nowhere. The slap cracked across my face so hard my ears rang. My body jerked backward. I stumbled into the dining room table and pain shot through my lower back before I hit the floor. The air left my lungs in one violent rush.
For a second, I couldn’t even breathe.
Kodi stood over me.
I froze.
I had never seen that look on his face before. His chest heaved. His jaw clenched. His fists opened and closed at his sides.
I thought he was about to beat me up. I curled in slightly, bracing for whatever was coming next. But he didn’t move. He just glared down at me, breathing hard, nostrils flaring.
“You think you better than me,” he said.
I didn’t respond because that wasn’t a question; that was a statement made through jealously that I wasn’t going to waste my time responding to.
He stared a second longer, then turned and stormed toward the door. It slammed so hard the walls shook.
I stayed on the floor for a moment, staring up at the ceiling with my cheek throbbing, my back aching, my heart pounding so loud I could hear it in my ears.
He had never put his hands on me before.
And as I slowly pushed myself up, one thing became clear in a way it never had before.
Kodi wasn’t just jealous.
He was losing control.
I snapped out of it, jumped up, and ran to the door. I locked it fast, then twisted the knob twice to make sure it was secure.
I pushed off the door and went looking for my phone. I found it on the dining table next to the folder Sincere had left me and dialed Joi.
She picked up on the second ring. “Hey, girl. What’s up?”
“Kodi just hit me.”
It was silent for a few seconds before she yelped, “What?!”
“He came over talking crazy about the show and news segment. He was jealous. He smacked me and knocked me into the table.”
“Are you safe?”
“Yes. He left.”
There was a pause, then Joi exhaled slowly. “You need to tell Sincere.”
I rubbed my cheek gently. “For what?”
“So he can handle it. He has goons as friends. Let them deal with Kodi.”
I knew she was right about one thing. By now, we both knew the Cartiers had street affiliations. They weren’t loud about it, but it was obvious.
But my stomach twisted at the thought. “I’m not telling him.”
She warned, “Rhythm...”
“I’m not. I just got into something new with this man. He’s fine. He’s rich. He’s got his shit together. I am not about to come off like a bunch of drama.”
Joi scoffed. “Why you sound so calm?”
I thought about that. I was calm. Despite the sting on my face, the way my back hurt, and what just happened, I felt… happy.
“Sincere had just left right before Kodi got here. That man makes me feel different,” I admitted. “And the dick is so good, Kodi can’t even ruin my good mood.”
Giggling, Joi asked, “Oh, your boo spent the night. That’s why you’re so calm.”
I smiled, even with a sore face.
“Has he made it official yet? Or you all just fucking?”
“Girl,” I said, leaning against the wall. “He acts like we’re locked in already. He doesn’t judge me for having less than him. He’s turned on by my ambition. He loves that I’m an artist. He’s so supportive.”
Joi hummed. “But?”
“We don’t have a title yet,” I admitted. “But I’m never letting that nigga go.”
And I meant that shit.