Chapter 16 Rhythm Brooks
RHYTHM brOOKS
It was well after midnight by the time we made it back to Sincere’s place.
My body felt light from the high of the night and heavy from the exhaustion at the same time. I had smiled so much my cheeks hurt.
I kicked off my heels in his bedroom and slowly unzipped my dress, letting it fall to the floor while Aria’s voice screeched excitedly through the speaker on Sincere’s phone.
“That was one of our best shows! We sold almost everything. And the live piece is already spoken for! Rhythm, are you hearing this?”
Sincere leaned against the dresser, watching me with a wide grin. “She’s hearing it. She’s just overwhelmed.”
“I am overwhelmed,” I admitted, laughing softly.
“This is just the beginning, boo!” Aria exclaimed. “We’re talking follow-up shows, talking private collectors, brand expansion! Rhythm, this is only the beginning.”
I couldn’t even respond properly. I just stood there in my bra and panties, shaking my head in disbelief. So many attendees had purchased my art that night. And the prices they paid still didn’t feel real in my head. It felt like I was watching someone else’s life happen from outside my body.
As Aria continued to ramble excitedly, I walked into the bathroom to start washing my makeup off, but I really just needed a second alone to breathe and wrap my head around all of this.
As I set my phone on the bathroom sink, my text notification rang.
Looking down, I saw that it was Joi. I was able to read the message in the preview: Kodi came back.
He was pissed you still weren’t home. He was talking shit about how you must be with the nigga you left him for.
But don’t worry. I got this. Enjoy your night.
I stared at the message, thumbs hovering over the screen.
Before I could respond, Sincere came up behind me, sliding his arms around my waist. I could still hear Aria excitedly rambling as he kissed the side of my neck.
“I’m so proud of you,” he murmured against my skin.
I forced a small smile and set my phone down.
“You okay?” he asked, catching the shift in my energy.
“Yeah,” I said quickly. “I’m fine.”
He studied me for half a second longer than I wanted him to. “You sure?”
“I’m just tired. I’m going to wash my makeup off and take a quick shower.”
“Okay,” he said gently, kissing my shoulder before stepping out.
Once the door closed, I leaned against the vanity and let out a slow breath.
Through the door, I could still hear him and Aria talking excitedly about my future. It almost didn’t feel like they were talking about me.
I looked down and noticed new black towels on the sink that were embroidered with the word “Makeup.” They weren’t here the last time I had been.
I remembered complaining one night about ruining his white towels with my foundation and mascara.
He hadn’t said much at the time. But he’d obviously gone out and bought towels just for me.
Something about that small, intentional gesture hit deeper than the champagne and applause ever could.
He was paying attention. The gesture made my already fragile emotions threaten to bubble over.
Christmas had been beautiful. New Year’s Eve had been intimate as we counted down while fireworks lit up the sky. Every moment with him had felt intentional and easy.
But all of it had been overshadowed by the nerves of tonight. Now that the show was over, I felt the full weight of what was happening. This was the kind of relationship I had always wanted. It was intentional, supportive, and romantic in ways I couldn’t imagine.
“Joi, are you sure you don’t want me to come get the kids?” I asked for the third time.
Joi sighed like I was irritating her. “Girl, yes. We’re good. These kids aren’t thinking about you. We’re having a good time.”
“I just don’t want them to be a handful for you.”
“They’re not. And even if they were, that’s what aunties are for. You had a big night. You’re supposed to enjoy your weekend.”
I smiled, but I still felt guilty. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Just stop worrying. If that man wants to keep celebrating you, let him. Enjoy it. Your mom is coming to relieve me in a few. I’m good.”
I exhaled slowly. “Okay.”
“Thank you. Now get off my phone. Bye.”
“Bye,” I giggled and hung up.
I set my phone in my lap and looked out the window as we pulled up to the brunch spot.
Sincere had made reservations that morning to celebrate my show, and he’d reserved a private room for me, Aria, and Legend.
When he told me Aria had invited the rest of the Cartiers and their spouses, I got anxious.
It also made me wonder, again, what we were.
Sincere acted like we were together. He moved like I was his.
But men did all the right things and still never committed.
I wanted to ask him what I was to him, but I was scared of his response.
I didn’t want to hear anything that would disappoint me and force me to make decisions I wasn’t ready to make.
Sincere pulled into the valet lane and glanced at me. “You good?”
“I’m good,” I lied automatically through a smile.
He leaned over and playfully bit my ear, and my body reacted instantly. “Good. C’mon.”
The moment we stepped out of the car, the cold slapped me in the face. It was January and only fifteen degrees. The wind cut hard, and I tucked my chin and hid behind the fur of my cropped faux-fur jacket as we hurried inside.
A DJ played a track that made women throw their asses and men bounce, even while they waited for tables and ate. It was packed with people already tipsy off unlimited mimosas at noon.
A hostess led us down a hallway to the private room.
As soon as we walked in, my body tensed when I saw Tempo. It always did. I knew she was happily married to Big A. I’d watched her with him at Christmas and New Year’s and seen how obsessed she was with her husband. I knew she had no interest in Sincere.
But she was still intimidating.
Tempo was stunning. She was rich, poised, and successful. She belonged in this life. I still felt like I was walking into it with my shoes on the wrong feet. And I was the first woman Sincere brought around them after that toxic breakup, so I knew eyes were on me every time I showed up.
Sincere felt it. His hand found my waist immediately, firm and steady, and he pulled me closer to his side like he was anchoring me.
I forced my face to relax. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t argue. He just kept his hand right there and guided me forward, leaning down to my ear. “Don’t shrink.”
My anxieties loosened.
Despite my nerves, he always made sure I felt chosen.
The private room settled into that loud, rich kind of comfort the Cartiers and Co always had. Waiters kept sliding in and out, refilling glasses before anyone even knew it was almost empty.
Saint eyed Zahra as she allowed a waiter to refill her glass. “Zahra, baby, if you let these mimosas sneak up on you, don’t cry to me. I’m not carrying you up out this bitch.”
Zahra rolled her eyes at her husband. “Yes, you are, and you know it.”
Legend sucked his teeth. “I don’t know why that nigga frontin’.”
Naturally, the men bunched up with their drinks and their business talk, and the women drifted together.
Aria groaned as she eased into a chair. “I’m so fucking sick of being pregnant,” she groaned as she kicked off her heels and revealed swollen ankles.
Livia laughed. “Girl, you say this every time.”
Tempo added, “Every pregnancy, you complain.”
Ava shook her head. “Like you don’t know what happens when you let Legend breathe near you.”
Aria rolled her eyes hard. “First of all, shut up.”
They all cackled.
Livia leaned in, grinning. “No, for real. You complain the whole time and still let him keep getting you pregnant.”
“Because I’m married,” Aria said, like that explained everything. “And because he be looking so good. But once I push this one out, I’m burning my tubes. I’m not even tying them. I want them gone.”
Legend overheard and called from across the room, “You not burning shit!”
“Then stop getting me pregnant!” she shot back.
He laughed, taunting her. “You steady getting mad at me for getting you pregnant. Mind you, that’s my pussy.”
As we cackled, Aria rolled her eyes and pointed towards him without looking. “See? That’s why I’m doing it.”
The girls laughed again, and I laughed too, but it came out quieter than theirs. I didn’t want to be the awkward new girl trying too hard.
Surprisingly, Tempo then shifted closer to me and gently guided me a few inches away from the circle.
“I heard your event went crazy,” she said with bright eyes. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. I still can’t believe it.”
Tempo’s gaze drifted past me for a second, landing on Sincere. Then she looked back at me with a playful smirk. “And you’re still around.”
My face got hot. “Girl—”
She leaned in like she was telling a secret. “He must be really feeling you.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile too big. “I hope so.”
Tempo’s expression softened a notch. “I’m assuming you know what happened between me and him.”
“We talked about it.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her glass. “I hope you don’t judge me for that.”
“I don’t,” I said quickly. “Not at all. And honestly… it’s obvious you and Big A couldn’t deny your feelings for each other. Your chemistry is so apparent.”
Tempo’s smile came back. “It is, huh?”
“It is,” I said, then hesitated before admitting what had been gnawing at me. “I can’t lie. I can’t believe you didn’t want a man like Sincere.”
Tempo looked directly into my eyes when she said, “It’s not that I didn’t want him. It’s that he wasn’t meant for me. No matter how good the love is, it doesn’t feel right if the man isn’t meant for you.”