Page 179 of Are You Going to Love Me

“My nigga,” Zaim applauded. “Y’all niggas hungry?”

Brody rubbed his stomach. “I can eat.”

“That nigga will always choose food over pussy,” Keon huffed.

“I prefer it at the same time, but I like my fuckin’ job. Queen E ain’t gon’ have my head ‘cause something happened to herMax Baby.”

Maximus flipped him the bird. “Fuck you, nigga.”

Brody groaned. “Nah, ain’t my type.”

Zaim shook his head. “Y’all niggas sound like my niggas. Go put on some fly shit meet me at Prime.”

Wrapping up rehearsals, the group separated to prepare for dinner. When Maximus arrived at his hotel room, he was greeted by the same scent that filled his green room. Beforerehearsals, his green room was filled with his favorite snacks and weed. Like she was running around setting things up and exposing herself. That’s how he felt right now.

There were balloons, flowers, and a suit. Maximus searched the suite, expecting to see Eden. In the closets, under the bed, on the balcony until he abandoned the search and FaceTimed her, only for no answer.

“Aight, E,” he grumbled. “You playin’ games.”

Dressed in an Ameechii suit and seated in Ganton Hills’ most elite steakhouse, Maximus swore he could smell Eden. There were faint notes of her signature perfume. A subtle tugging was driving him crazy with every step. Strolling into the private room, the scent and the pull became stronger. The private room was decorated with black balloons and linens. The table was dressed with white flowers and candles. Davina, Elijah, Olivia, Daysha, Julius, Haddon, Fatima, and Staysha were mingling. While he was happy to see them, his heart sank, not finding Eden.

“Heard it was your birthday. You know when you come to GH, we gon’ celebrate you,” Zaim patted his shoulder. “Eat, drink, celebrate, nigga.”

Maximus made his rounds, thanking everyone for coming, and then took his seat. There was a handwritten note from Eden.

Cheers to the best year yet.

Your Garden, E

He studied the words, then threw his head at Staysha. “Yo, where is E?”

Staysha, with a piece of bread in her mouth, responded, “Working. She gave me strict instructions to make sure everything was set up right.”

“You fuckin’ with me?”

Staysha put another piece of bread in her mouth and shook her head.

Something wasn’t adding up, and Maximus was never above being played. He nudged Keon. “I think I'm finna dip after the main course. I’m losing my damn mind.”

“Fuck is wrong with you?” Keon questioned.

“I smell her. I feel her. She ain’t here. Either she’s here and fucking with me or I need to get home for a refill.”

“I think you need to drink this drink and cool the fuck down,” Keon muttered, handing him a drink.

Across the table, Brody questioned. “You aight?”

“I smell my woman,” Maximus grunted, on the cusp of crashing out.

“That’s ‘cause she’s standing right behind you, nigga,” Brody said with a chuckle.

Eden, who was standing behind him, clasped a diamond necklace with a 3W pendant around his neck and kissed his cheek. “You thought I was going to let you go through the day without celebrating you?”

Maximus looked down at his glistening neck, atop the first chain she’d bought him and turned around, finding Eden in a form-fitting strapless mini dress with her bump on full display. “I fuckin’ knew it. Been smellin’ you all damn day.”

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