Page 113 of Are You Going to Love Me

Eden laid there studying his face. “Are you going to let me give you a facial and braid your hair?”

“Yes, after you eat, after you sleep, after you feel better. Give me your leg.” Eden groaned begrudgingly as she lifted her leg and draped it over him. “Good, go to sleep, I’ll listen out for the door.”

He felt on top of the world last night with her in his arms; he felt steady, strong, reassured, and most importantly, grounded. No source of anxiety penetrating his being. No stomach pains, no tightening of his chest. No chain-smoking blunts to keep himself settled. He was wrapped in her aura all day. Facials, hair braided, laid up watching reality tv and movies.

“Don’t answer it,” Maximus groaned, balanced between another nap and watching the movie.

“It’s Staysha.”

“I know, she’s been calling me all day. I’m not working today.”

Eden answered the phone at the tail end of Maximus’ grumbled sentence.

“Then I won’t tell your grumpy ass shit,” Staysha huffed. “Y’all been hungover and acting old all day. Wake up to hear this good news!”

Both Eden and Maximus popped their eyes open.

“Why is she so loud?” Eden questioned.

“She’s your sister.”

“You hired her for your brand,” Eden grumbled.

“Mm mm. That was Keon,” Maximus huffed. “Where is your nigga and why are you bothering us?”

“Nigga, I will hang this phone up,” Staysha threatened. “I just got off the phone with Daysha Gallalucci, so you can hear the news, or I can call her back and tell her you said nah.”

“Pipe yo’ ass down,” Maximus spoke. “What’s going on?”

“You, Trae Way MB, have been officially invited to grace the JoyCloud stage at Mic Check Hip Hop Awards.”

Eden jumped up off the couch and started leaping up and down. A screech of excitement exited her body. “Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!”

Maximus sat up in disbelief, holding Eden’s phone and rubbing his freshly-braided head underneath the bonnet. “Yo, you serious?”

“As I am pretty,” Staysha hummed. “Congratulations, MB, the world is watching.”

Eden plopped down beside him and hugged his neck, kissing his face. “Congratulations, baby.”

“You sure you read that shit right?” he continued to question.

“Boy, get off my phone. You have four weeks to prepare your set. We’ll go over it when you come up for air. Congratulations, we’re proud of you,” Staysha shared. “Eden, talk to your man.”

The call ended, and Eden held his face in her palms. “Maximus. Look at me.”

His eyes found hers.

“This is not the time you start doubting yourself and your ability. Those days are over. You are exactly where you’re supposed to be, doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. You’re him. There’s no one better. Hear me?”

“Heard you,” he rumbled before cracking a smile. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I’ll believe in you when you can’t do it for yourself.”

He grunted. “If you weren’t out of commission, girl.”

She swatted at him. “Boy, leave me alone, chubs still needs a break.”

Settling back on the couch, he laughed. “Don’t ever call it chubs again.”

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