Page 58 of Are You Going to Love Me

“We can. I’m not a preacher, but Poppi taught me a prayer or two. Crazy, huh?”

“Poppi had layers, so does her girl.”

“Ehh, not really,” Eden hummed, holding his hands. “All you have to do is whisper it. Dear God, I believe, help my unbelief. Bless my path. Clear my mind. Amen.”

“Amen,” he muttered, unable to take his eyes from hers. “Mark 9:24?”

“Yep, how’d you know?”

“Locked up, gotta pass time.”

“So, you know how to do this. You didn’t need me.”

For the first time, Maximus let his intrusive thoughts win. “Nah, I do, E.”

Eden bit her lip, her cheeks warming. No inhibitions present as he leaned in further to press his lips against hers. The motion cut short with a knock sounding against the door and Staysha’s voice calling out.

“Show time!”

Eden retracted her hands from his and stood. “Ready?”

He stood, swiped his hand over his face, and nodded.

Eden gave him a once over, brushed his shoulders off, and returned the nod. “Go kill it, then. I'll be watching.”

Maximus’ eyes glinted with thankfulness before he placed a tender kiss on her cheek and stepped toward the door. Leading his way to the court was the security team Keon hired for the night, behind them was Keon and a videographer he hired. To Maximus’ right was the sound man handing him his inner ears, to his left was Eden, and behind the caravan of people was Staysha, snapping images. Being sure to capture the way everyone disappeared, and he locked into his zone.

He couldn’t hear or see anything other than the woman to his left. The team came to their stopping point, and Eden squeezed his hand before releasing it.

“Go show the world Trae Way,” she mouthed, knowing with his inner ears in and the music booming throughout the arena,he couldn’t hear her. He hooked his pinky in hers before stepping away.

Once Eden walked away, Maximus had tunnel vision. When DJ Rudy dropped the beat, everything else felt like an out-of-body experience.

“Heavy, heavy is the head. Hold that steady. They want my soul, they don’t know I’m protected already. Swaggin’ through Trae Way target on my back. Head of a g gon’ cost them more than a rack!”

From Heavy is the Head, to Trae Way Swervin’, Eden’s voice echoed through the state-of-the-art audio system, introducing his newest hit, Trae Way Magic, to No Church, the crowd hadn’t sat down or missed a lyric rapped.

Once the show was over, Maximus was changed and sitting courtside between Keon and Eden. Once he was comfortable, Eden patted his knee and whispered, “You did so good.”

He could still detect her nervousness and her avoidant eyes on the court. She wasn’t good, and there was no need to ask. He positioned himself toward her, just enough to offer her comfort she wouldn’t ask for and to watch. Maximus was determined to find the source of her angst.

“How many games you been to?” he asked, balancing his attention between her and that game.

“A few, but I have no idea what’s going on," she admitted, leaning into him.

“Geraldo is the truth, he’s about to hit that three.” Maximus watched as the Geraldo hit the three and jogged backwards down court. “If Rico wants more time, he’ll actually ball out.”

There went her tense posture again. He’d found the source. Keon was keen on Maximus’ posture and prepared himself for what was next.

Rico attempted to rebound a ball but couldn’t keep up with the younger players from Majestic Falls. As he jogged past Eden, he grumbled, “dick hopping bitch.”

Like lightning, Maximus popped to his feet, adjusting his pants as he glared at Rico, who’d stopped running, getting the attention he sought.

“Fuck you want, nigga? My sloppy seconds?”

Maximus feet were prepping to slide across the court and beat Rico’s ass where he stood. Eden, with haste, clasped her hand around his.

“Max, no. Don’t give him no attention,” Eden’s voice broke through the boo’s namely for Rico and his poor behavior.

---