Page 67 of Are You Going to Love Me

Maximus led her a few feet up the street to the awaiting Lambo. Per Maximus’ direction, the photographer and videographer stayed close but were true to his directions. This photoshoot was about Trae Way, and with Eden at his side, he needed her to be comfortable.

Eden slid inside of the rented car, melted into the leather as she crossed her legs. Once comfortable and adjusting her body for the camera to capture these passing moments, she looked up at him. A Trae Way love story in the making.

“I promise not to hurt your feelings again,” she offered.

Maximus leaned down and swiped a piece of hair out of her face. “You know you can’t break promises with me? I take that shit personal.”

“I know,” she hummed, reaching out to touch the back of his hand. Her fingers danced over the words tattooed there. “Loyalty and respect.”

“You doin’ that shit that got me in this position, E.”

Eden withdrew and sat back.

Speeding down the blocked off streets, toward the first spot on the list. Burgers, Grills, and Chills. The anxiety was bubbling in Eden’s core again. She knew now that the spike of feelings didn’t belong to her. Maximus eased to a stop, prompting Eden to clutch his hand in hers.

Maximus pushed the smoke from his lungs and grumbled. “I'm cool.”

“The pain in the pit of my stomach begs to differ. Look at me, Max.”

Maximus locked his jaw and turned his sight from the empty tables, chairs, and bitter memories to Eden. “I’m cool.”

“We can get into the details later. But we’re working, and while we’re here, you’re Trae Way MB. The one who got out and didn’t let this place swallow him. So, for me and all these damn cameras you got following us, Superstar, be that nigga. Okay?”

Maximus nodded, releasing a breath. “Heard you.”

“Good now come open my door because I don’t know how to get out of this shit.”

Maximus chuckled. He stepped out, photos of him sitting on the hood with Eden in the passenger seat were taken as he moved. In the middle of the empty outside dining area, Maximus posed with and without Eden. His signature position of him standing behind her at the ‘order here’ window with his arm draped over her shoulder.

From BGCs to Big Rod's, a couple wardrobe changes and the two ended up at the final spot for the shoot. The steps of the house dubbed by anyone in Trae Way who knew something as, Poppi’s Place.

Eden stood at the gate and looked up at the house between renters. There was Maximus offering comfort, massaging her shoulders before wrapping his arms around her.

“She’s proud of you.”

“You sure about that? I haven’t done much,” Eden hummed, letting those inner thoughts come out and play.

“Nahh, that’s bullshit, and you know it. You standing at her steps in some designer shit, forging your own path, not giving a fuck about the odds stacked against you. That’s some g shit. Some Trae Way shit. Some Poppi shit. You Poppi’s Girl. What you tell me?”

“I don’t know, I’ve told you a lot.”

“You special. You got that shit on you. It’s jumping off on me too.”

Eden nudged him. “Stop talking to me like that. Let me finish my job, MB.”

“Do your shit then, E,” he rumbled, tapping her hips and stepping back.

The encouragement loosened her up, igniting a flame in her she’d thought had been snuffed out by the scandal with Rico, Natavia, and MRA.

“You know I got in my first fight on that corner,” Eden shared with Maximus, seated between her thighs. “Hudsan James stole the bike I just got for my eighth birthday, and Poppi was hot. Not that he stole it, but that I was crying about it. She snatched me up and told me I better never cry over a little nigga taking my shit. She said them niggas can’t take shit you don’t give ‘em. You know she made me stomp across the street and get my shit back. He wanted to fight, I knew I had to get it back, so I beat his assand then Poppi beat his momma’s ass for letting her son think it was okay to get into fights with little girls.”

“Remind me to never try you,” Maximus replied with a laugh. “Poppi taught you not to take no shit.”

Eden scoffed in laughter, more so at herself than the situation. “And then I ended up taking some shit, afraid of letting her down.”

Maximus stole a kiss on her knee. “Shit is about to change, E. For both of us.”

“Heard you.”

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