Page 18 of Are You Going to Love Me

“You mean MRA’s aesthetic that they curated for you. To make you appeal to Waynesville and the world as a whole, but not to the streets that made you. You are Trae Way. We are Trae Way, and we should rep our hood without Natavia telling us any differently.”

Eden huffed. “I heard you, I hear you, I understand. But we got like a year left with MRA and I’m trying to make sure I play this shit correctly.”

“I understand. I don’t want to go back to Trae Way either.”

“Like I never ever want to go back. So, we got to play this smart. We got to be careful about what we choose.”

“And we should choose someone who represents who we are. Reformed city girls,” Staysha shared as she twerked.

Eden laughed, thanked the photographer, and trotted off the brown backdrop. “I wasn’t trading pussy, that was you.”

“But you were in Midnight showing it.”

“Aht! That was Pri. Probably still is Pri,” Eden said with a slight wince. She walked out of the living room into the kitchen. “Who sent the flowers?”

“Mama. She wrote that she was proud of you for finally getting a fuckin’ plan. Her words, not mine.”

Eden smirked. “Funny how our pimpin’ auntie can remember all of the things, but our own mother couldn’t be bothered.”

“Well, I heard God gives you what you need.”

“So, a madame as an aunt is what we needed? Okay,” Eden said, grabbing her clutch. “This is the last time I’m going to offer you my plus one spot. There’s a dress in my closet with the tags on it.”

“I have a date, or I would gooooo,” Staysha shared.

“You’ve been going out with this guy for a minute. When am I going to meet him?” Eden asked with a perfectly-shaded brow raised.

“When it’s time. I promise.”

“Fine,” Eden responded. “Just please don’t get yourself in any shit you cannot get out of. I’m serious.”

“I promise. I promise. I’m safe and smart.”

“Mmhmm,” Eden hummed, not believing anything Staysha was telling her. Especially because Staysha had more of their mother in her than anything else. “Alright, Stay. I’ll call you later to give you the tea.”

“Have fun, though, make some new friends. Maybe meet a nice man with big pockets and a big dick. Have you a one-night stand. Do a little something, suck a little something, throw a little something back.”

“Ah ha!” Eden scoffed. “Girl, I’m not doing none of that.”

“Why not? Rico has cute friends,” Staysha said that as if she knew more than Eden did.

“Uh, have you met Rico? His friends are probably just like him. Creeps. I’m good. Thanks, no thanks.”

“Well, do something tonight. Drink a little more than you would typically, and dance. When is the last time you danced?”

Eden grabbed her clutch and phone as the alert that her driver had arrived. “Since I left school. I’ll talk to you later. Be good. Be smart. Please.”

“Always,” Staysha sang, and Eden wasn’t convinced at all that her sister would do or was doing the right thing.

Eden blew her a kiss and headed out of the luxury apartment down her private elevator and into her awaiting car. She recorded the whole thing. The blacked-out SUV transporting her all night was courtesy of LuxuRide, they needed a video. TenCut needed personal content of her in the jewels. Her make-up was done and recorded for Maria&Marie. As glamorous as tonight was for everyone else, she was working, and she was going to occupy herself with all the tasks and hopefully end the night without any aggravation.

“Eden!” Natavia called her name on the red carpet in front of all the cameras. “You look so good.”

Eden smiled, knowing that the cameras surrounding them were picking up on every move, every word, and every twitch of the face.

“You look so good!” Natavia stated as she hugged her. “So elegant.”

Eden listened to the cadence of Natavia’s voice, the underlying whatever was causing her stomach to twist. Again, she chalked it up to being in her head about things and overthinking. Eden came from a place where things were always too good to be true. Friendships included.

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