Page 74 of Are You Going to Love Me

Staysha nudged her with her elbow. “Y’all matching on purpose?”

Eden looked down at her black jersey knit dress that hugged the minimal curves of her body and sneaker-covered feet. The gold choker, anklet, bracelet, and glossy-painted lips only elevated the simple look. “No, I didn’t even think about it. I just threw something on.”

“I would say you were too busy riding dick to get dressed for real,” Staysha joked. “But that walk is the same, and you still look like you’re trying to avoid it.”

“I’m not trying to avoid anything. It’s all about place and time. Unlike you, sister.”

Staysha feigned innocence. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Mm. Get over one by getting under another,” Eden mocked.

“I’m not in the public eye either. I can ride and slide whoever. You and him? Glued at the hip and a package. Be sure you know what you’re doing.”

“Ohhh, that is rich coming from you,” Eden softly spoke with a laugh. “I thought we established I don’t know what I'm doing.”

“We did,” Staysha snickered. “But you not knowing what to do for the first time in your life is going to give you exactly what you need. I think you're on the verge of the realest shit you’ll ever know.”

Eden turned her attention back to Maximus behind the microphone, a loaded glint in his eyes, and she couldn’t wait to pick away at it.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we got Trae Way MB in the studio today. He rolled in with a whole team, too. His manager, PR, and is that your girl?”

Maximus’s laugh rumbled as he looked over at Eden posted on the wall, arms folded across her chest. “Yeah, that’s my team.They’re keeping all my shit together. Keeping me together. How y’all feeling?”

“We’re feeling good,” DJ Block answered. “How you feeling? How long you been home?”

“Been home for almost a month and a half now. Been kicking it, studio type shit. Keeping my head down,” Maximus replied.

“You prepped him? Good job,” Staysha muttered.

Eden nodded. “You know Block and Sabrina are messy as fuck. Had to make sure he stayed clear of any of the traps.”

DJ Block continued. “What you go down for?”

“Which time?” Maximus asked. “I’ve been in and out since a teenager. That last one was on a violation. You ain’t know that?”

“Nah, all I heard was you had paperwork,” DJ Block’s co-host, Sabrina, spoke up.

Eden, Staysha, and Keon all tensed.

Maximus looked at her, slightly taken aback by the outlandish statement. “Yo, you for real?”

“Yeah, they said you were supposed to still be locked up and you came out early.”

“I want to know whotheyis and secondly, you from Trae Way?” Maximus asked.

“The people on the internet. They got it from Pusha Peezy. He said, and I have to edit this because we’re on the radio – don’t no ninja get out after four years on a murder charge if he wasn’t talkin’. He put it in a freestyle online. We played it right before you walked in. You ain’t hear it?”

Eden watched as Maximus curled his lip slightly in detest. In her study of his mannerisms, his hooded eyes lowered. People on the internet said crazy things about them both day in and day out, but calling him a snitch? A direct threat to his safety. Eden tensed, unsure of what to expect next.

“Pusha Peezy?” Maximus questioned with disgust. “Don’t talk to me about no nigga who ain’t like me.”

“MB, you live dawg,” DJ Block attempted to correct him.

“Y’all niggas live too. Turned these mics on to ask me some dumb shit about a dumb nigga. Next question,” Maximus stated, as a warning.

“I’m from Hasley, by the way,” Sabrina continued.

“Probably should’ve kept yo ass there,” Maximus stated boldly. With the glint in his eye, Block wasn’t going to correct him. “Why you playin’ these games? With a nigga like me? You think that shit safe?”

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