Page 41 of Are You Going to Love Me

“Frilly shit?” Eden questioned with a laugh.

“Yeah, body butters and shit, what you trying to say?” he asked his laugh soft, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

“Moisturizing is important,” Eden stated nonchalantly.

Maximus grunted, leaving his thoughts, his thoughts. “And a platinum record. It’s some dope shit.”

Eden looked up briefly before focusing back on the various crews moving about the small space. “Well, all those vinyls I asked for earlier in the week were for everyone here because I felt like it needed to be appreciated in its rawness. And as for you, it went platinum in my house, so you know, like a thanks for being a cool coworker. You didn’t make any of this awkward for me. It’s appreciated.”

“Heard you, but it really should’ve been you getting the gifts. I was apprehensive as fuck coming into this. It’s one thing tosit in the booth and spit bars. It’s another to have to feed off of someone else’s energy and have all these cameras everywhere all the time.”

“That’s the part you should get used to since you’re about to take off.”

Maximus’s gaze lingered on her as he leaned his body slightly on the counter. Eden’s eyes drew to his. “You think so?”

“Know so. You’re talented. You got good energy that’s going to open the doors for you. Speaking of which, you haven’t accepted that JoyCash. It keeps getting kicked back.”

Maximus rumbled in amusement. “I’m not taking your money.”

“But it costs money. At the least I can pay for it. I don’t want anything for free, so you should figure this out before I have Staysha give Keon the cash.”

“I’m not taking your money. Ain’t shit to figure out either, E. That mixtape is doing numbers after all these years. You did that, you ain’t paying me for it. I should really be sliding you some bread.”

“I wouldn’t take it.”

“And yet you goin’ back and forth with me when you’re on the same time. That’s crazy.”

Eden rolled her eyes and waved him off. Playfully, she huffed. “You get on my nerves.”

Maximus chose to keep his thoughts to himself. Funny how when they were in the same space, in close proximity, they did the same thing, not knowing that the other was tuned in to hear whatever it was.

The director clapped her hands and put her sights on the two who had stolen the attention of the writers and producers. “Let’s take our places.”

“Ready?” Maximus questioned.

Eden had been cool up until this moment. The on-screen kiss and the chemistry that needed to be filmed just right. Her mind recalled the coaching from the intimacy coordinator and director on how he should touch her, what angle to tilt her chin, and what they wanted to capture on camera. All of which Maximus did with the utmost respect for her comfort.

She offered him a nod. “You?”

“Yeah,” he told half the truth.

“Alright, let’s do this.” Eden stepped away and moved to her spot on the other side of the apartment door. One final touch of makeup and hair before the producer shouted.

“Action!”

Morgan entersthe apartment after three days. DJ Two Tymes’ bags are packed by the door. Morgan drops her keys in a bowl by the door, expecting him to be long gone. They are still at an impasse. She enters the apartment deeper, finding DJ Two Tymes in the small kitchen looking at a photo of them.

DJ Two Tymes: You remember this?

DJ Two Tymes holds up the Polaroid from their first date so she can see it.

Morgan nods.

Morgan: I thought you’d be halfway to LO by now

DJ Two Tymes places the photo on the table and shakes his head.

DJ Two Tymes: I got to the airport and didn’t feel right about leaving

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