Chapter 19
SINCERE BELLAMY
The moment I saw Rhythm walking back into the party, I knew something was wrong. Her eyes looked different. Her smile was there, but it was forced.
I stood up immediately. As I started toward her, I saw my mother stepping out of the same hallway Rhythm was coming from. My mother’s expression was the same as Rhythm’s.
I knew then something had gone down.
My mother’s attitude had caught me off guard. My mother was not an overly friendly person, but she had never been disrespectful to anyone I brought around. I planned to keep Rhythm close, stay away from my mother as much as possible, and deal with whatever was going on with her later.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as soon as I walked up to Rhythm.
“Nothing,” she said too fast. “I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not.”
She tried to smile again. “Sincere—”
I didn’t let her finish. Instead, I took her hand, then led her to the kitchen, where I had seen my mother go.
Inside, my mother was talking to the catering staff, pointing at trays and giving orders.
“Ma.” As I called for my mother, I could hear Rhythm sighing and groaning in protest and fear.
My mother glanced at me, then at Rhythm, then back at me. “I’m in the middle of something.”
“I need a minute,” I insisted.
Her eyes narrowed on me. “You’re being rude.”
“I’m not here to debate manners,” I replied. “What did you say to Rhythm?”
Rhythm stepped forward slightly. “Sincere, it’s okay. I’m okay.”
I looked at her. “No, you’re not, and I’m not having this shit.”
My mother’s lips pressed together. “I asked her a few questions.”
“A few questions about what?”
“About her intentions. Because I’m your mother, and after what Tempo did to you, I am not letting you get played again.”
I stared at her. “Tempo did what she did, and I survived it. And it ended up being a blessing.”
My mother’s brows lifted. “A blessing?”
“Yes, because it freed me to be able to receive Rhythm and everything that comes with her.”
Rhythm’s hand squeezed mine.
My mother’s expression stayed stiff. “Sincere—”
“I’m going to talk to you later,” I cut in.
She took a step toward me. “Don’t walk away from me.”
I turned anyway, still holding Rhythm’s hand. I could hear my mother calling my name, but I kept walking, dismissing her over my shoulder. “Later, Ma.”
Once inside the car, we were quiet for a minute.
Rhythm stared out the window. She stayed quiet, like she was letting me have a moment.
“What did she say to you?” I finally asked.
“It’s not important, Sin—”
“What did she say?”
She blew a heavy breath and replied, “She told me she could tell you really liked me. She said you don’t bring many women around your family.”
“And?”
“It was sweet at first. But then she started asking questions. Like where I’m from. She asked about my family and my parents. Then she brought up my kids.”
My stomach dropped. “How?”
“She just said it like… ‘And you have children.’ Then she asked if I expected you to raise another man’s kids.”
My eyes bulged. “She said that to you?”
“Yeah. I told her my kids have a father, and that I’m not asking anyone to raise them.”
“That’s exactly what you should’ve said.”
“She kept going, though,” Rhythm added. “She said you’ve worked very hard to be where you are. She kept talking about your future.”
I scoffed under my breath. “Like you don’t have one.”
“That’s what it felt like. Like she was trying to figure out if I was a risk. I stayed respectful. But I told her I wasn’t going to stand there and be interrogated like I was trying to take something from you.”
“Good.”
“She tried to play it off like she was ‘just asking questions.’ But her tone was off. The way she said certain things was off. I told her I understood she wanted to protect you, but I was uncomfortable with how she was coming at me. Then I excused myself and walked back toward the party.”
“You shouldn’t have had to deal with that. I’m sorry. My mother has never acted like that. And I know that’s probably exactly what you were afraid of, meeting them. I know it didn’t feel good.”
She just looked at me and let me talk. That made me want her even more. She didn’t overreact or make it messier.
“She watched what happened with Tempo. She’s been on edge about me letting anyone close since then. That’s not your burden, but she’s carrying it. I’ll deal with her.”
Rhythm nodded once. “I understand.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I’m not judging you, and I’m not judging her. She’s your mother. She’s protecting what she loves. That’s all.”
“That wasn’t protection. That was disrespect.”
Rhythm reached over and took my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. I looked at her hand on mine, then up at her. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with that.”
“I’ve dealt with worse, and I’m still here.”
Rhythm turned toward me more fully, eyes on my mouth for a second before they lifted back to my eyes. “I’m not going anywhere, Sincere.”
Before I could respond, she leaned across the console and kissed me, like she wanted to replace the ugly moment with this. Her tongue slid against mine. Her hand stayed on mine, holding it like she would never let it go.
I kissed her back, deeper, my thumb tracing the inside of her palm while my body reacted to her scent and her softness and the way she chose me even after being tested.
When she pulled away, her lips were glossy and swollen, and her eyes looked darker than before. “Let’s go home.”
I stared at her for a second, then nodded once and backed out of the driveway.
A lot of women would’ve shut down. A lot of women would’ve taken that moment and turned it into doubt, distance, and drama. Rhythm took it and turned it into loyalty. She took it and turned it into intimacy. She took it and made me feel like the obstacle didn’t stand a chance.
That kind of strength made me want to protect her harder. It made me want to spoil her. It made me want to claim her in ways that didn’t leave room for anyone to question where she stood with me.
I didn’t just admire Rhythm.
I wanted to earn her every single day.