Chapter Rhythm Brooks
RHYTHM brOOKS
I stood in front of the full-length mirror on the back of my bedroom door and stared at myself.
“I don’t look pretty enough,” I muttered.
Joi, sitting on the edge of my bed scrolling through her phone, looked up slowly. “Girl, if you don’t stop.”
I turned slightly, examining every angle.
As the featured artist for the biggest show of my life, I needed to look the part.
I wore a fitted black gown that hugged my curves from my shoulders down to my hips before falling into a sleek, floor-length silhouette.
The fabric looked expensive but was soft enough to flow when I walked.
The neckline dipped just enough to be feminine without being too much.
The back was open, showing smooth brown skin and the delicate line of my spine.
My locs were pinned into a sculpted updo that framed my face and exposed my neck. A few soft pieces were left loose to keep it romantic instead of stiff. My makeup had my skin glowing, cheekbones highlighted, brows done, dramatic lashes, and a deep berry lip that made my smile sultry.
And somehow, I still felt like the girl who used to paint at her kitchen table.
Joi stood and walked over, spinning me gently toward the mirror. “You look like the featured artist. You look fucking beautiful. Stop fussing over yourself.” I swallowed as she glanced at the time. “You were supposed to leave out ten minutes ago. You’re going to be late to your own damn show.”
Joi was babysitting tonight. I hated that she wasn’t going to be there, but I refused to risk depending on Kodi tonight, and my only other babysitter was my mama, and she would’ve disowned me and her grandchildren before missing this show.
I stepped out into the living room, smoothing my dress down one last time.
“KJ, be good,” I told him as he sat on the couch watching his tablet.
“Kinsley, listen to Auntie Joi.”
Kinsley nodded with a mouth full of donuts.
My nerves erupted as I walked toward the door. Sincere and I had already taken my pieces and the supplies for the live painting to Voss the day before. All I had to do was walk out of the door.
I was really doing this.
This was really about to happen.
My dream was about to come to fruition.
Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe.
Then there was a knock at the door.
Joi looked at me. “Are you expecting somebody?”
I shook my head and walked to the door. I checked the peephole, and my stomach dropped when I saw Kodi standing on the other side.
But since Joi and the kids were here, I felt safe enough to open it.
Things had been quiet since he slapped me a month ago.
He apologized and cried. I didn’t believe any of it but decided to let it go for the holidays because KJ was excited about Christmas with his dad.
Since then, Kodi and I had been co-parenting with a lot of tension between us.
When I opened the door, he looked sad. “Can we talk?”
I could hear Joi groaning on the other side of the wall as she sat at the dining room table.
I didn’t believe the sadness in his eyes.
Kodi stayed glued to my social media, so I knew he had seen every ad, every countdown, every piece of excitement I’d posted leading up to tonight.
In that moment, it all clicked. He hadn’t been calm these past few weeks because he’d finally gotten the hint.
He’d been calm because he was waiting for this night to show out and try to ruin it for me.
I felt so stupid for not seeing it sooner.
I stepped halfway into the doorway. “Kodi, I’m about to leave.”
He looked me up and down, taking in the dress, hair, and makeup.
“Where you goin’?”
I dramatically rolled my eyes. “You know exactly where I’m going.”
Then I just laughed, which only pissed him off. “You think you better than me now?” he growled. “You don’t need me in these streets risking my life to feed yo’ ass no more?! Now you getting a couple of dollars, so you too busy to talk to me?”
I chuckled, shaking my head. For the first time since we met, I didn’t need him to help me this Christmas, and I knew he’d noticed that. Finally, my art was taking off and taking care of my kids better than he ever could, and he knew it.
“You loved the fuck out of me when you was broke,” he barked. “You couldn’t live without me when I was risking my life and freedom for us, but now that you getting bread, you’re done with me?”
Joi sighed dramatically from the dining room as I sucked my teeth, saying, “I can’t do this right now. You know I’m headed to my show, Kodi.”
Something flickered in his eyes. “Oh, so you too busy for me.”
“Kodi,” I warned.
“I’m done with you because you didn’t support any of this when you thought it was a waste of time!”
He stepped closer. “You really leaving me?”
“We’ve been done for a long time.”
He reached for me. “I built you! And now you acting like you outgrew me?”
Before his hand could close around my arm, Joi stepped between us. “Hell nah!”
Kodi tried to push past her. “Move.”
KJ started crying as he watched from the couch. Kinsley followed, confused and scared.
Kodi tried to force his way past her, shoulder first. “Move.”
“No,” Joi shot back, pushing against his chest.
He shoved harder, and our bodies collided into the doorway. I grabbed at his jacket, trying to stop him from pushing through while Joi braced herself against the frame. He was stronger, angry, and desperate to get to me.
“Get out!” I screamed.
Kodi pushed again, and in the chaos, my dress caught on something, maybe the door hinge, maybe his hand, and I felt fabric rip.
“Get the fuck out!” Joi yelled as she tried to shove him back.
He lunged again, and I nearly lost my balance.
Then a door across the hall cracked open.
“I called the police!” our neighbor yelled through the small opening. “You better leave!”
Kodi finally stopped fighting us, but his chest was heaving. His eyes darted between me, Joi, and the neighbor’s door.
“Leave,” Joi snapped as I fought tears.
Finally, he cursed under his breath and took off down the hall.
The door shut across the hall.
Joi and I stood there catching our breath, hearts pounding. That’s when I felt the air against my thigh and looked down. My dress was torn from the hip down. The fabric hung in a jagged split. I knew my makeup had smudged from sweat and tears that were now falling.
I stared at the dress for a second, and then I started full-on crying.
I knew for sure then that my mascara had streaked, foundation was smeared, and lipstick was gone. “Look at this! What am I going to do?! I’m going to be so late.”
Joi grabbed my shoulders. “Look at me.”
I shook my head, crying harder.
“This is what he wanted,” Joi fussed. “He wanted to make you upset. He wanted you distracted. He wanted to ruin this night.” She grabbed my chin gently and forced me to look at her. “We are not giving him that.”
I sniffed, trying to breathe. “We will fix the dress and your face. You are still going to that show. And you are still going to shine. You gotta do this. Bitches like us don’t get opportunities like this.
So, it’s not supposed to be easy. It wouldn’t be right if there wasn’t an obstacle in your way, but you gotta make it happen anyway. Okay?!”
My chest rose and fell unevenly.
“This is the biggest night of your life,” Joi continued. “And Kodi does not get to own it.”
I swallowed hard and wiped my face.
She was right.
He didn’t get to take this from me.
Thankfully, I’d bought more than one dress. The second option wasn’t my first choice, but it would have to do. It was a deep emerald satin gown that hugged my waist and fell straight to the floor. The neckline was high and elegant, and the fabric caught the light in a way that still felt expensive.
Joi worked quickly to fix my makeup because my shaky hands wouldn’t allow me to do it myself.
While she did, I was getting back-to-back calls from Sincere and Aria.
I could not bring myself to tell either of them what had just happened.
I could not imagine explaining that kind of ghetto chaos and drama to them.
When I pulled up to Voss, I sat in the car for a moment and stared at the building.
It seemed like it was glowing. Warm light poured out onto the sidewalk. Valets moved around the front quickly. Women in heels stepped out of black cars. Men in tailored suits adjusted cufflinks and watches. The energy felt rich and important.
Inside, the gallery took my breath away.
Aria had transformed the space into something stunning.
My work was the main feature, mounted along the primary walls under intentional lighting.
The gold accents in my pieces shimmered against the white walls.
Around my canvases, Aria had curated other mom-centered works that complemented mine without overshadowing them.
The room was full of local influencers, art buyers, media crews, Voss staff circulating with champagne, board members, Aria and Legend, Icon and Livia, and Sincere.
Sincere stood near the center of the gallery, watching the door. When his eyes finally found mine, something shifted in him. His posture softened just slightly. The hard business focus left his face. His mouth curved into something so warm and loving.
And just like that, my anxiety dissolved. I hadn’t realized how tightly I’d been holding myself together until that moment. The noise faded. The people blurred. The only thing that felt clear was the way he looked at me, so proud already.
And he looked at me like I was his. And that look alone made me stand a little taller.
After the greetings and introductions, it was time for the live painting.
They positioned my easel in the center of the gallery.
A fresh canvas stood in front of me. My hands trembled at first. Then I dipped my brush into the paint, and the noise around me faded.
Art had always been my therapy. It had always been the place I went when life became too loud.
As I layered strokes of deep browns, warm golds, and bold reds, my breathing steadied.
The tension from earlier disappeared. Kodi disappeared. The shame disappeared.
It was just me and the canvas. I forgot about the crowd until I felt his eyes on me. Sincere stood off to the side, watching intently. And I will admit I wanted him to be proud. I wanted him to see what I could do. I wanted him to know that choosing to support me was not a mistake.
So, I painted with confidence, intention, and everything in me. Because, finally, my dreams were no longer a fantasy.