Page 34 of Are You Going to Love Me

Eden: Be safe

With that, Eden gathered her minimal amount of things and made herself scarce while Maximus defused whatever was happening by his pool.

fifteen

. . .

“All y’allmuthafucka can get the fuck up out my spot, heard me?” Maximus boomed once he reached the commotion.

He’d seen plenty of fights in his day, was involved in even more but never had he witnessed niggas with cameras fighting over content. It didn’t make sense to him, and they weren’t going to associate their bullshit with him. And being that he didn’t even want to have this party, kickback, or what have you, he was slightly relieved the night was ending early.

Keon appeared in his periphery, Staysha staggering behind him from wherever they had been ducked off. “Nigga, the night just started. What the hell am I supposed to do with all this fuckin’ food?”

Maximus shrugged his shoulders, not caring about the food or how this would look on social media once everyone posted their post kickback thoughts. Maximus knew a few things – Cashmere Lakes was an affluent neighborhood, and commotion brought police. Police liked to put him in cuffs without doing their thorough research. And he wasn’t going back to prison for people he didn’t know, or anyone else for that matter.

“I don’t give a damn about that food. Take it over to the shelter on 10th. But they getting the fuck up out my spot.”

Sydette approached the men as she evaded Staysha, who was now politely dismissing the partygoers. She crooned as she approached him. “Trae Way MB.”

Maximus curled his lip slightly. Just his stage name off her lips sounded pretentious – loaded with evil intent and pick-me energy. He’d dealt with that shit before, now you couldn’t pay him to involve himself in anything that wasn’t going to add value to him.

He cut his eyes at her lowly, trying to school his features. She was approaching him at the most inopportune time. And whatever she wanted was some bullshit. He could guarantee it. “What’s good?”

“I know you’re putting everyone out and it’s gotten crazy, but I was hoping…” Her words faltered, realizing that Keon wasn’t going to step off so they could have a private conversation. Maximus picked up on it and chuckled inwardly.

“He ain’t leaving. What’d you want?” Maximus’ words were laced with irritation that she couldn’t detect over her thirstiness.

Sydette moved her bundles out of her face and chewed the corner of her lip before looking back up at Maximus’ tall body.

The shy act was pissing him off. It was only attractive on women who were actually shy. She wasn’t shy. She was a viper, and the snake tattoo on her shoulder proved it.

“I’m in the middle of some shit, so I need you to say what you want or step off,” he commented, forcing her to speak.

“I wanted to talk music with you. Chop it up a bit,” Sydette finally replied.

Maximus and Keon smirked. He studied her more, not because she was attractive. Sure, she was pretty but makeup heavily assisted with that. Sure, she had an enticing body, but that was manufactured and not the natural type he truly liked.

“Where you from?” he asked.

“Trae Way,” Sydette replied, her lie like it was fact.

This time, Maximus let his laugh flow out of his smoke-tinted lips. Retrieving another blunt, he sparked it, pulled in a deep inhale before releasing it. “Nah, you ain’t from Trae Way. Maybe Cresent Valley or Sixty-Two Palms, but you don’t know shit about Trae Way or what I rap about for that matter.”

“I do,” she uttered.

“Name a song, any one.”

Sydette nipped her bottom lip, cheeks fusing now that she was put on the spot, and he wasn’t paying attention to the faux shyness, fake body, or excessive makeup.

“That’s what I thought. You can join the rest of them and get the fuck out my spot,” he directed, taking another hit.

Sydette pulled herself away from the duo. Keon didn’t even wait until she was out of earshot to say, “She was bad. You wasn’t even trying to get your dick wet?”

“With that? Hell no. Fuck around and fuck her in my spot, she’ll have my shit posted all over the fuckin’ internet. I ain’t going for it or niggas coming in my shit eating my food, drinking my liquor and acting like they don’t have no fucking sense. I’m good on it. Thanks, though.”

Keon chuckled. “Aight. So, we’re going to have to figure something out to get you some buzz.”

“That show shit your girl booked is enough,” Maximus stated.

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