Page 150 of Are You Going to Love Me

“Me neither.”

“You got to understand that as your man there’s going to be some shit I just won’t tell you. Not for the sake of being sneaky, but for your protection. It wasn’t my place to tell you about yourmoms. I’m never going to stand between you and Staysha. I’ll always make a plan that keeps us moving forward.”

“I hear you. And I accept that. And the next time you tell me to beat it, I'll leave.”

“Good ‘cause Big Rod has sent me several texts cussin’ me out for having you in the spot. He don’t give a damn that you a stalkin’ ass Tasmanian devil or the holes in his wall. Nigga didn’t even ask me if I was alright. He’s more concerned with why his “babygirl” was in the spot in the middle of some gang shit. You know that nigga said he was going to shoot me in my other shoulder?”

Eden laughed softly. “I’m sorry, that’s not funny. I’m sorry.”

“You wait ‘til my arm don’t feel like it’s hanging on by a thread. I’m really gon’ be on all them nerves that be havin’ you shaking and messing up furniture.”

“It is being held on by a thread, though. You took a bullet for me,” she crooned, slightly touching it. “You don’t need to worry about crawling in my skin until you’re healed.”

“I’d take a million more, and I’ll go to war behind you. Heard me?”

“Heard you.” Eden kissed his lips.

He gripped her chin. “I’m sorry.”

“I forgive you with conditions.”

Maximus huffed. “You haven’t eaten, have you?”

Eden shook her head no. “Neither have you.”

He handed over his phone. “Order whatever you want. I'm going to finish this and lie down. I'm fucking tired.”

“You’re just going to leave this with me?”

“I’m not hiding nothing, E.”

Maximus had happily been held up in Eden’s apartment for a week until receiving the all clear text from Big Rod. Things were starting to return to their normal order. Mama wasn’t blowing his line up about money, his mother was still safely tucked away,and Augustus was no longer an issue. He thought he might’ve felt more than what he did. After a couple of days, his methods of handling a snake didn’t bother him as much.

Eden’s voice broke him out of his head. “You think the pharmacy still has your script?”

“Even if they did, I’m not taking that shit,” Maximus grumbled. “I’m not trying to end up like the people I share blood with. The Motrin and weed is fine. Shit sore but this ain’t the first bullet I took.”

He climbed out of her SUV and rounded the back. After Brody drove them to the hospital, he had a member of security take it and detail it. It was restored to its new car status. Opening her door, he reached for her hand. Eden gingerly took it and slid out.

“Why you looking at me like that?” she questioned, looking up at him.

“Gettin’ thicker ain’t you?”

Eden nipped her lip and shrugged. “Something like that.”

He lowly tapped her ass. “Mm. I like that shit.”

“I hope so,” she muttered. “What are we getting? Something you can cook with one arm?”

“Yeah, and I'm going to be talking you through these recipes like I talk you through that nut.”

She pinched him. “Stop it.”

Maximus laughed and winced. “Aight, aight. I just miss it. You touch me like I’m going to break.”

“You might,” Eden replied, grabbing a shopping cart. “What’s on the menu?”

“Gotta teach you the basics – salmon, chicken, pasta. Can you at least make rice?”

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