Page 16 of Perfect Rhythm
She looked at me. “Has it seemed like just business to you?”
My brows shot up.Oh, this one isn’t holding back, I see.
“This isn’t about what she thinks,” Eli jumped in. “This is about what I said.”
“Excuse me?” I tilted my head, waiting for him to clear up the bullshit that he’d just spewed from his mouth.
But he didn’t budge. He stood by it, and he purposely didn’t look my way.
Stunned, I nodded slowly and stood up from the table. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.”
“Oh, before you go,” the blogger said, “is there something going on with you and Shade? Have the two of you been secretly seeing each other while on the road? Do you and Eli have an open relationship?”
“What? No.” I frowned. “No, to all of that.”
“Are you sure? Because that viral clip of you dancing on Shade is saying otherwise. Are you going to tell me that it’sjust business,too? If so?—”
“Move!” I snapped as I shoved her out of my way and rushed to the bathroom.
I was done answering her ridiculous ass questions, and I was even more done with Eli. What the hell was he thinking? Being seen together while everything was still fresh was a horrible idea. Especially at a place that was filled with FDL vultures.
I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, my hands gripping the sink.
Suddenly, a wet gag came from one of the stalls. Then came a violent heave followed by a splash that hit the toilet bowl with a disgusting smack.
I wrinkled my nose. “Are you okay in there?”
“I...I’m fine,” a soft voice replied.
But she didn’t sound fine. She sounded like she was seconds away from dying on the bathroom floor.
“You sure? Is there someone I can get for you?”
“No!” She fired back. “I said I’m fine.”
“Uh...okay.” I backed off. “Well, I suggest you get off the floor. I mean, I know this is a nice restaurant, but this is still a bathroom. There’s no telling what’s on that floor.”
The stall door swung open, and out walked Brookia Fletcher. Well, at least it appeared to be her. I wasn’t used to seeing her with mascara smeared around her eyes and strands of hair sticking to her damp forehead. She looked exhausted, and she also looked like she’d lost some weight since the last time I’d seen her at the dance studio.
“Damn, girl, you look like shit,” I said with a chuckle.
“Fuck you, Nyx. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Thisisa restaurant,” I replied sarcastically. “I came here to eat like everyone else.”
“Oh, right.” She struggled to hold her head up. “Well, I wouldn’t know. I haven’t been able to eat anything since we got here. I should’ve stayed my ass at home.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I’m trying to impress my future in-laws. King begged me to come to dinner tonight, so I agreed.”
“Sounds like you’re in the same boat I’m in. Eli begged me to come out too. I just got off the road, so that’s the last thing I wanted to do tonight.”
“Oh, that’s right. You’ve been on tour with Shade, huh? How was it?”
“It was great,” I said. “I wish you would’ve auditioned. Me and Skye had a good time.”
“Trust me, I wanted to. But my schedule was crazy as hell. I was booked for several shows, and I had to do Mecca’s music video.” She popped her lips and twirled her braided ponytail. “I was the leading lady, so you know I couldn’t pass that up.”
