Page 151 of Are You Going to Love Me

“Pound cake, toast, eggs, peas, and rotisserie chicken.”

Maximus cut a look at her before they both shared a laugh. “Rotisserie chicken ain’t even something you put effort into. I’llgrab the meat and meet you in the produce aisle. I think I deserve some pound cake. Both cakes,” he grumbled the end of the sentence against her cheek.

“Stop it. You know people are watching,” she giggled, wiggling away from him. “And you can’t handle me excited right now. I’ll grab your shoulder and ruin the whole moment.”

“Let them. And pleasure is pain, baby.”

“Until I grab your shoulder and you buckle. I barely touched it this morning when we were changing the dressing, and you almost cried.”

“Come on now, baby, everyone don’t need to know you got a nigga soft.”

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry. I’m going shopping.”

Going their separate ways, Maximus went to grab a few things. He stood at the counter, waiting for the butcher to return with his selected cuts.

“I said sit yo’ ass down. Shit.” That voice made his skin crawl with bitter memories. He slightly looked over his shoulder, finding Priya and her three children. Karma had definitely had its way with her and wasn’t letting up. Before he could look away and ignore her like he’d done before, she caught his eye.

A smile formed over her worn face. “Max. What’s been up?”

She attempted to reach out for a hug, but he dodged it.

“What’s good?”

“Nothing, just trying to feed these kids. I’ve been seeing you on TV and shit. You’re really doing it like you said you would.”

“Yeah,” he nodded, adjusting the flowers and juice he’d grabbed for Eden. “My lady is waiting on me. You take care of yourself.”

“You think you can give me like twenty dollars or something?”

Maximus looked at the set of children. The oldest of the three looked a lot like Wando and not Augustus. From the corner ofhis eye he caught Eden creeping down an aisle toward him from the front of the store. He curled his lip and then chuckled.

“Imagine my blood snaking me out for some kids that weren’t even his. Nah, I can’t help you. Be good, though.”

Priya’s eyes roamed in shame from Maximus to her children, then to Eden, who was now fully in view. She was glowing. Priya knew that glow, and she knew that Eden had not only gotten the best man she’d ever known, but that she was going to treat him better than anyone in his life ever had.

“Eden, take care of him.”

Eden smiled faintly. “I am.”

“Ay, how long you gon’ keep me waiting?” a stern voice sounded off, making Priya slightly jump.

Maximus repositioned himself to block Eden. Priya headed in the direction of the man, Rocko Smalls, a known pimp. Now that Mama was out of the way, he’d essentially swept up all her money makers.

“Hurry yo’ ass up. You got a schedule to keep,” Rocko grunted.

Priya ushered her children away, only to be stopped by Eden. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t like you, but I don’t want you to die in this shit and have your kids live it over and over again. Here’s a card. When you’re ready to get out, call.” Eden stuffed a card in her pocket, enough money folded in it for Priya to ensure that her and her children eat. “Take care of yourself.”

Priya looked like she could fall apart, but she didn’t. Her eyes glinted with thanks, but her mouth threw Rocko off the scent. “Fuck off me, bitch.”

Eden held her hands up and backed away. When Rocko and Priya were out of sight, she looked up at Max. “Before my mom dropped me and Staysha off at Poppi’s, she was tricking. She took us with her. My job was to stay in the car and watchafter Staysha. One night, this lady came by the car after my mom finished with herclients, as she called them, and gave her that card. I’ve been holding on to it for nothing more than a reminder. I faithfully donate to that mission. They couldn’t save us, but they’ve saved a lot of women. Seeing Priya drag her kids into that life tugged at me. I couldn’t just let her leave without knowing she could leave that behind.”

Maximus sighed and swiped a lone tear from her cheek. “You are good, E. You got more goodness in you than you know.”

She offered him a faint smile. “Just life. It can swallow you or you can fight for the light.”

“You look nice,”Eden complimented, walking into the bedroom. Maximus wore a pair of tailored pants and a button-up. “Where are you going?”

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