Page 97 of Are You Going to Love Me

“Girl, I know you’re not tripping. You kissed MB on screen past the cut call,” Staysha sassed.

“That was different.”

“Mmhmm, you liked that nigga and was acting like you didn’t,” Staysha huffed. “Can you get that recorded tonight and send it to me. Just turn the camera off before y’all start fucking.”

“What are you talking about?” Eden huffed. “I have self-control.”

“Yeah, whatever. Do me one favor, try not to get knocked up while I'm shopping you around for deals.”

“Bitch, why can’t you take your own advice?” Eden snipped.

Staysha laughed. “I’m on birth control. You know that little thing you refused to get because you weren’t fucking, and you didn’t want to gain weight under contract.”

“The contract literally had weight restrictions.”

“Mm,” Staysha grunted, giving her older sister a once over. “Don’t look like you give a damn about it now. All those late nights making your hips come in… finally. You’ve been walking around for years looking like a pole with ass and titties.”

“Get out of my house,” Eden said, muffling a laugh and tossing a spoon at her sister.

“Love you! Do everything, I would,” Staysha called over her shoulder and walked out of the apartment.

Maximus: 30 minutes out, headed straight up

Never mind that she’d been naked and on display for him, Eden couldn’t open the door with a batter-splattered shirt and wild hair. Only one would do. Giving the kitchen and the cake in the oven one last look, she trekked down the hall to shower, tame her hair, and put on a silk dress she had hanging in her closet that she’d never worn. Covered enough to go out, comfortable enough to stay in.

A light layer of make-up and a soft spritz of perfume, and she was ready. Eager to fall into his arms. Longing to just feel him. Eden stopped at the mirror and huffed. “You cannot fall in love first or even before it makes sense. Relax.”

A rap of his knuckles against the door sparked the hairs on her body to stand on its ends. Through the door, Eden could feel his nervous system begin to ease. She stopped herself from rushing to the door, opening it, and jumping into his arms. Thirty seconds felt like minutes before she pulled the door open and took him in. Back in his basic fit. Sweats, a white tee stretched over his chest, and fresh sneakers covered his feet. His afro, free and in need of a detangle and some tender love and care.

Maximus leaned on the threshold, a bouquet of flowers barely hidden behind his back. “All this for me?”

“Uh, no, I was going to film some more content,” Eden quipped. “I’ve been like this all day.”

“Oh word? Considering that video with 15k views said otherwise,” Maximus smirked. “You can say yes.”

“Or you can make me,” Eden quipped, making Maximus look over his shoulder at Eden’s older neighbor, stopping at her door to eavesdrop.

“Girl, you got neighbors,” he buzzed, throwing his head over his shoulder. “Nosey ones.”

“Mm, baby, don’t mind me. I saw your fine ass get off the elevator. I would be requesting the same thing if these hips still worked,” the older woman quipped. “Girl, you better get that man inside before I take a risk.”

“Get in here.” Eden laughed and pulled Maximus inside. “That’s Mrs. Heyward, she’s as nasty as she is nosy. Her and Mr. Long from the 8thfloor got something going on.”

“Damn,” Maximus huffed at both the tea and Eden’s strength.

“Those are for me?”

He gazed down at her.

“I’ve never been the romantic type of nigga but you gettin’ flowers out of me and shit,” Maximus voice flowed from his body with a coat of happiness. “What else you want?”

“I like being missed and I don’t want nothing.”

“Uh uh,” he grunted. “You want me chasing your ass around the city too. Testin’ that dog in me.”

Eden took the flowers from his hands and placed them in a vase of water. “How much of that dog you got in you?”

“A lot of it. Different breed, baby.”

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