Page 75 of Are You Going to Love Me

Sabrina, thinking it was all fun and games, continued. The issue was, they weren’t used to someone as solid as Maximus walking through their doors. They were culture vipers and agitators, and he was going to shake up their entire establishment. “They also said you and Eden are in a paid relationship. Finding it convenient that she started posting your music right before your alleged unnegotiated release, she gets dropped like a bad habit from MRA, and then y’all are seen out. Seems very calculated.”

Maximus sat back in his seat, no longer interested in finishing the interview. Maybe five years ago he’d have the radio station upside down, niggas hanging out of windows for the thought of disrespect. Now, with too much riding on his freedom and his need to make it, he wasn’t going to touch a hair on their heads. He’d put them, and anyone listening, on notice, though.

“Maybe you should keep her out of the interview,” Maximus’ tone dangerously cool. “You want to talk to me, let’s do it on some respectful shit. Anything else, I ain’t goin’ for it.”

Sabrina laughed nervously, realizing Block wasn’t going to back her up. “You brought her in here. Matching and whatnot. We just want to know if it’s real or fake.”

Maximus smirked. “How you get this job on hip hop radio? You realize you asking the realest nigga you’ll ever meet about some paperwork and personal shit? I’m a Trae Way Gangsta,through and fuckin’ through. Got that shit tatted on my body. Ain’t no snitch in my blood. And whatever I do when the mic is off is what the fuck I do. Ay, y’all do me a favor, don’t have me back up here. Bullshit ass radio show,” Maximus grumbled, standing up and knocking the mic off the stand. “Let’s roll.”

“Damn, MB, you gon’ crash out like that?” Eden watched as DJ Block attempted to recover as if Sabrina hadn’t violated him.

“You didn’t see shit yet,” Staysha grumbled, knowing that Maximus expressed the highest level of self-control when it was so easy to reach across the mics and smack off both Sabrina’s bad wig and Block’s hair piece.

Keon was the first out the door behind Maximus. Staysha and Eden followed. Outside the station, Maximus sparked a blunt and groaned, more upset with himself than Block or Sabrina. He knew what he was walking into, all this shit with his mother had his head swimming.

“I think,” Eden was the first to speak. “You and Keon go to the studio. You got some shit on your chest and on your mind that you need to get off.”

He turned to her as if there weren’t a bustling street or people around them. “I’m cool, we got plans.”

Eden held his face and peered into his eyes. “Look at me, I'm not going anywhere, and there is only so much I can say or do to clear your mind. Go clear your mind, and when you’re steady again, you know where to find me. Okay?”

Eden pulled his head down to hers.

Maximus pulled in a deep breath and gritted his teeth. “Aight, we still on for 8, be ready. Pack a bag.”

Her hands slid from the sides of his face down to his chest. “Heard you. Go handle that. Make sure you put everyone on notice, too. Ain’t no papers on Trae Way.”

Maximus groaned. “You make it hard for me to be a gangsta.”

Eden giggled and pulled away from his hold. “You’ll always be a g, you’re just getting another layer. I’ll see you.”

Maximus stepped backward before turning to get in his truck with Keon. Staysha trilled. “That nigga is down bad. What did you do to him?”

“I didn’t do anything but be myself and apparently, make him comfortable to be his too.”

“He’s going to have you spinning from the ceiling fan,” Staysha grumbled before grabbing Eden by the arm and pulling her back up the block. “The plus side about all of this is that fans are invested in you and him, and once that piece of an interview goes live, the entire city is going to be watching. Tray Way is going gold out of the gate.”

“I couldn’t think of anyone who deserves it more.” Eden walked in stride up the block. “Now that we’re away from all of that, tell me what’s up with you and Keon for real.”

Staysha hummed, wrapping her hand in Eden’s. “At first, I was just trying to get my mind off of all that shit with the married lying man, but he wasn’t just going to let me hit him and quit him. I like him, E. I like him a lot.”

“You’re safe?” Eden questioned. “You’re happy?”

“I’m safe. I’m happy. I’m learning.”

“Okay, Keon is older, don’t let him run game on you, and don’t let him trap you into nothing you aren’t ready for.”

“I could tell you the same. What are we doing for your birthday?”

“Nothing. I don’t want to do nothing. I don’t feel like I've accomplished anything this year to celebrate.”

“Let’s revisit this in two months. Lunch is on you today.”

“Aren’t you the one with the job?”

“And you are too, the show runner from Get Rich called me this morning and she wants you as a series regular on a new show that just got greenlit. Money Motives.”

“Wait, you’re serious? No audition or...”

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