Page 56 of Are You Going to Love Me

“Heard that,” Maximus shared as he patted his hand over his chest. “I caught a few of your college games locked up, you got that dawg in you.”

Geraldo’s face filled with glee. Maximus’ presence and words had an influence on more than just Geraldo. “‘Preciate that.”

Maximus was greeted by a few more younger players before they trekked off to the locker room. The veteran players like Rico and a few others lingered, shared a few comments amongst themselves before they exited the gym. Maximus took notice but didn’t pay any real attention to it.

“MB!” DJ Rudy, born Rudy Mackey, greeted in his Southside Waynesville drawl. Dapping him up, he asked, “What’s up, gang?”

“Can’t call it,” Maximus shared. “How you feelin’?"

Rudy caught on to Maximus’s freshness to his celebrity status. “I’m cool, nigga. That shit is setting in huh? Four years down, you had no clue how the city was standing up for you.”

“Hell nah,” Maximus rumbled, feeling that ache in his chest. There was only one touch that could calm that. Until then, he’d have to move through this. Let the anxiety remind him that he was alive, he was free, and God hadn’t forgotten him.

“Tomorrow is going to go crazy. Fans are already flooding social media, and the Waves are expecting your halftime show to up the viewership. It’s up, nigga, stand in your light.”

Maximus chuckled nervously as Rudy tapped his chest with the back of his hand.

“Let's run through this shit, I know you got bangers to make.”

“That album is going to go crazy,” Keon added.

“I know that. Ay, save some room for a Rudy feature,” Rudy stated.

The trio of men walked in stride out of the practice gym, leaving Staysha and Fatima behind.

Maximus and Keon shared a twin, “hell yeah!”

“Shit, you free tonight? I got some shit I need to lay down immediately.”

Rudy agreed without thought. Anyone who looked at Maximus knew he was going to be holding one of the crowns for rap king for a long time. Rudy wanted to be a part of history, but more than that, he wanted to see Maximus win up close.

“I got you. Let’s get this sound check handled and get to work.”

Maximus sat in the studio, weed smoke thick as he bobbed his head to the track they finalized minutes ago. Muttering the lyrics to himself, confidence poured over him.

“Lost in the lights, in a fuckin’ daze. Been down for the count, but that’s the cost of the game. Million-dollar body, but my mood stay the same. A protected nigga with the cross on the chain. Kush in the wrapper, she wanna fuck the rapper. Put her to sleep and hit the streets right after. Lost in my thoughts, in a fuckin’ haze. Do I deserve all these memories to be made? All the bodies that I caught still haunt me from the grave. Trae Way nigga just trying to change the game.”

Maximus: You up?

Eden: I don’t really sleep...you okay?

Maximus: Can I have your ear?

Eden: Is it trash? Am I going to have to come up there and fix it?

Maximus: You funny

Eden: Always...but is it trash though

Maximus: [audio file attached]

Eden: If it’s trash, I'm charging you for wasting my time

Maximus: Put it on my tab, I'll pay up

Eden: Doubt it

Maximus: Wanna see

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