Page 17 of Are You Going to Love Me

“A box of noodles and Pop-Tarts. Help yourself, but I need something.”

“What’s that? These niggas bothering you?”

Maximus curled his lip slightly. “Nigga, I look like I need you to protect me?”

Brody chuckled. “Nah but two niggas kickin’ ass is always better than one.”

Maximus waved his finger and moved deeper into the small cell. “Heard you. Listen, you good with that social media shit?”

“I’m decent. I only use it to see who my girl is fucking.,” Brody stated with a shrug.

“Why you even with her?”

“‘Cause she keep my books straight most of the time. And any woman who sticks with you through a bid is asking to get used. Especially without a ring. She dumb as fuck, so I keep her around.”

Maximus shook his head. Four years locked up had changed his point of view. Although love and finding someone wasn’t anywhere on his radar, he knew that if he ever stumbled upon it, she couldn’t be stupid, or loud, or dirty, or wanting popularity more than she wanted her sanity and her soul.

“Nigga,” Maximus huffed with a slight chuckle. “I need you to look up some girl by the name of Gardens of Eden.”

“You know we can’t look at porn nigga. You trying to get me flagged?” Brody questioned.

“No fool,” Maximus grumbled, swaying his head. “It’s her name on social media or some shit.”

Brody tapped the screen with his fat fingers and found the woman Maximus was referring to. “This bitch bad as fuck! You trying to get you some eye candy or something?”

Maximus took the tablet and scoffed. “Fuck no. I need to see something.”

He scrolled down her feed until he found the video with over a million views. It was of her showing a few pieces of art and hanging them around her home. The living room was inviting, full of plants, crystals, natural tones, and a lot of natural light. Maximus must’ve watched the video seven times, feeling like he’d seen her somewhere. Those eyes. That barely there smile. Finding himself scrolling back up, he caught a video of her with the physical mixtape vinyl being placed on a shelf. The caption read, “I’m not telling you to buy it, but it’s dope. And it’s a Waynesville native. #SupportLocalArt. #TraeWayMB.”

That was the same hashtag she used on the art unboxing video.

“Brody, you know who this is?” Maximus asked, handing the tablet back.

“Uh, Eden Sage. She’s like the bitch of the moment. Everyone got her in their designs and shit. She a model, influencer, badbitch. I’d be trying to holla. What you trying to do, put her in your basket for release?”

“Nah, just wanted to see something.”

Maximus hopped onto his bunk, tucked his hands behind his head, and daydreamed about freedom and what it would look like for him to never have to touch a brick again. To never look over his shoulder for scheming ass bitches or bitch ass niggas. He was so close to stepping into his manifestation that he could taste it. But for now – until then – he’d let those full, almond-cut eyes peer at him with a knowing.

eight

. . .

“Oh yes, bitchhhh,”Staysha snapped her fingers as Eden posed in her black dress against the brown backdrop. “It’s giving face, it’s giving body. It’s giving rich bitch. It’s giving that girl!”

“You got to stop hyping me up the way you do,” Eden said, laughing at her sister snap her fingers. “Are you sure you don’t want to come to the premiere with me? I do not want to roll solo tonight. I don’t want to go to Rico’s stupid ass party, and I really don’t want to be around Natavia.”

“Oh, you don’t want to kick it with your bestie?” Staysha taunted.

“She’s been acting funny. More like business than friends, more like follow me and listen than think for yourself. Did I tell you she told me to skip the brand events, and she would just pay me for them?”

“Girl, I know good and damn well you aren’t about to skip over a brand event for Natavia. I will kick you-”

“Calm down,” Eden huffed. “Relax. I’m not skipping anything, and you aren’t coming over here to kick my ass. I’m going to go to the events we committed to and then by the time I get to Rico’s for this stupid ass party, everyone will be too drunk to remember if I were there or not. In and out and back home. On the couch with some cheese fries.”

“Speaking of which, that BlkArtCo. video is doing numbers. That song is like a viral sensation now, too. Between you and I, Urban Views Entertainment wants to partner with you and keep using his music in your videos,” Staysha shared.

“I don’t know if all of Trae Way MB’s songs are going to fit our aesthetic.”

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