Page 117 of Are You Going to Love Me

Eden playfully slapped his chest. “Cut it out.”

Maximus sat, looked up at her, and placed his hands on her hips. Ria snapped away, capturing how the two fell in sync with one another. Their inside jokes, their touches, how good they complemented each other. She’d even caught how when Eden sneezed, Maximus didn’t hesitate wiping her nose with his hand.

In the dressing room, as Maximus washed his hands, a silly smirk crossed his face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eden questioned after another series of sneezes.

“You know, the other night we didn’t remember?”

She sniffled and nodded.

“On the iPad.”

Eden’s eyes bugged. “What was in that blunt you gave me that I let you record it?”

“Me?” Maximus gasped, clutching his imaginary pearls. “Oh no, E., it was you. And your nosey ass neighbor confirmed you were loud as fuck.”

Eden covered her face in the hoodie she snatched from him before she left. “That’s so embarrassing. What are you doing to me?”

Maximus chuckled, moving from the bathroom to the couch. He pulled her from her spot to his lap. “Loving you. Like you doing to me.”

Eden rested in his arms. “I recorded everything?”

“Everything, even you hanging off the balcony with my hand all on your throat. In the rain.”

“So, I’m sick?”

“Yes, both of us gon’ be in the house coughing and sneezing watching that movie,” Maximus joked.

“Let me go,” Eden joked. “Whatever you put in your blunt, I will never hit that shit again.”

“It’s a new strand. Keon and I are opening a smoke shop in Midtown by the colleges and all them hippies. I tell you we have a burger joint in Trae Way?”

“We?” Eden questioned, looking at him with confusion etched over her brows.

“Mhmm.”

“What if I get rid of you?”

Maximus’s laugh was hearty. “Baby, you think I’m going to let you get rid of me? After what I watched on that iPad, if you run to the other side of the world, I’m right behind you.”

Eden giggled and kissed his cheek. “Your stalking ass.”

“You love it. Let me get you home and pump you with meds,” he suggested, kissing her lips as a knock sounded on the door. “Come in.”

Ria inched into the room, unsure of what she was going to find.

“Girl, you’re safe,” Eden said with a slight chuckle as she climbed off Maximus’ lap and dropped the hoodie down to cover up any excitement she left behind. “What’s up?”

Ria clasped her hands. “So, I sent the photos to the office and they love you, Eden. Love you. They also love you two together. So, they wanted me to offer you a creative collaboration. It’ll be a partnership; you’ll control the creative direction and products. We can offer a complete compensation package, or we can split it if MB wants-”

“Nah, all of it goes to her. I’ll play whatever position she needs me to,” Maximus stated, looking at Eden, who was trying to take it all in. “It’s time for her to step into her light and walk heavy in that shit.”

Ria gushed. “I love y’all together. I'm a fan of each separately, but you two together is gold. So, what do you say, Eden?”

She nibbled at her lip. “I’ve been thinking about stepping out of the influencer role and into something with more control andstability. And trusting myself, so yes, have them send over the contract, and Staysha and I will look over it.”

Ria clapped her hands and squealed. “Great, I’ll let them know. You two keep shuttin’ those haters up. This right here is some real shit and I’m happy for y’all.”

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