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forty-two

. . .

Dressed in a backless white dress for the listening party, Eden brushed her silkened hair and checked her outfit one last time.

The day had been filled with small gestures – flowers from Daysha, Davina, Olivia, and Yanni.

Brunch with Staysha and Fatima. A spa trip on Maximus, accompanied by a tennis bracelet and some good loving, before he slipped out of the house.

“I thought you were crazy months ago when I asked you about your birthday, and you said you weren’t doing anything. I definitely think you’re crazy for letting that man have a whole listening party on your day,” Staysha stated for the third time today.

“You know, it didn’t bother me when you and Fatima brought it up at brunch, and it’s not going to bother me now. I said I didn’t want a party. We agreed. I’m going to go listen to this album and support my man.”

Staysha rolled her eyes. “This has got to be the last year you don’t celebrate how far you’ve come and what you’ve accomplished.”

“It’s a two-part thing. I really don’t want a huge party with a bunch of industry people I don’t know. I’ve had my fill of that. And I really don’t want to be drawing too much attention to myself with Mama looking for a reason to tax my ass.”

“That’s real?” Staysha questioned. “I mean, Keon mentioned it, but I didn’t hear much after it.”

“It’s very real and just cause she’s quiet don’t mean she’s not waiting in the cut to catch any of us slipping. I don’t fight, especially with the elderly, and I don’t want Max in a position. So this will have to do. Plus, y’all made me feel really special today, what else could I ask for?”

“Mmm, how about what you want? You haven’t had a party since Poppi was in her right mind, and I know you loved Poppi’s parties.”

Eden smiled softly, trying to school her emotions.

She’d already burst out in tears five times today, and she wasn’t trying to ruin her makeup.

“Flowers from her bushes, balloons, streamers, the cream cheese pound cake with the icing. Her off-key singing. The music and dancing. And always a hotel party afterward.”

“The St. Harlem to show us the finer things in life,” Staysha added.

“It hasn’t felt like that since she left. So I’d rather not be standing in an expensive venue with a fake smile on my face while I'm plagued with memories.”

Staysha watched as Eden caught her tears before they had a chance to glide down her face. “Thirty is a big deal, Eden.”

“It is. I’m lucky to be here. I just wish she was still here to see this.”

Staysha stood and maneuvered to where Eden stood, hugging her waist. “She’s all around us. We just have to keep moving forward like she taught us. No matter what bullshit might come our way. Okay?”

“You’re right,” Eden spoke, pulling in a deep breath. “Let’s go so we’re not late.”

Staysha patted Eden’s face dry. “What makeup is that? You’re glowing.”

Eden shrugged. “Regular foundation. Nothing crazy.”

Staysha hummed, adjusted Eden’s dress, and smirked. “If you want to leave the party and celebrate, I can always take you to the St. Harlem.”

Eden chortled. “Not after you blew up the spot with that married man. I can’t even go get a latte without them looking at me crazy.”

Staysha snickered. “I can laugh about it now, but what was I doing for real?”

“Being dumb and full of cum like Poppi used to say. Letting these men tell you whatever and going for it instead of...”

“Pimping those niggas like they try and pimp bitches,” Staysha chimed.

“Bitches that get pimped don’t know they got more power and it ain’t in their pussy. Got to use your brain and muzzle your heart to stay ahead of these niggas,” Eden replied. “Poppi could’ve been a rapper the way she was dropping bars.”

“Pure gems and our crazy asses were trying to pimp niggas,” Staysha laughed. “For real.”

Eden followed her sister out of the room and out of the house. The awaiting Platinum Joyride was accompanied by a large bouquet of flowers, a bottle of bubbly, and a card from Rolani.

Eden received them graciously and read the card.

“Happy 30 th. . Welcome to the JoyRide family as its first ambassador. We look forward to our partnership and many more trips around the sun. Enjoy, Ro J. and Yanni J.”

Staysha recorded Eden’s reaction. “Surprise!”

“How?” Eden screeched, as shocked as she was honored. “This is so nice!”

“Eden, people love you because you’re good. And if you won’t celebrate yourself, they’ll do it for you. Smell your flowers.”

When Staysha stopped recording and the driver was pulling away from the house, she shared the terms of the partnership.

“Transportation to any events and set trips are covered by JoyRide, you now hold thirty percent stock in equity, and all you need to do is post like you’ve been doing.

You said you wanted ownership, you got it. ”

Eden hugged Staysha’s neck and kissed her cheek. “Ohh, thank you!”

“Uh uh!” Staysha giggled. “I know where your mouth has been. Stop putting your lips on me.”

They fell into a fit of giggles.

“Staysha, seriously, thank you for stepping up and taking care of me.”

“Eden, you’ve taken care of me all of my life, I’m always stepping behind you. Always. You’re my best friend. Just don’t get any more friends I got to clean up behind.”

Eden rolled her eyes and laughed. “I swear I won’t.”

After combating the thick traffic of downtown, the pair arrived at an intimate event venue and were ushered inside by Brody’s security team.

Eden was expecting record executives and a room full of other businesspeople.

Instead, she found a room full of balloons, flowers, and streamers, just how Poppi would’ve done it.

“Surprise!” echoed from Maximus, Keon, Staysha, Daysha, Julius, Rolani, Yanni, Davina, Zaim, DJ Eli, Fatima, DJ Rudy, and Olivia, who was sure to capture the moment.

Even Rolani and Yanni flew in to celebrate her.

All these people she’d just met thinking this much of her to celebrate her was overwhelming her system.

Eden, overcome with emotion, dropped down into a squat and covered her face. Forget her makeup and all the time it took to pull off this look. Maximus strolled over to her and pulled her up, wrapping her in his arms.

“You thought I was going to make your day about me?”

“You did all of this for me? I can’t even,” she whimpered. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me for loving you.” He kissed her forehead, then dabbed away her tears with the back of his hand the way she’d taught him to when she had a face full of makeup. “Go.”

Eden pulled herself together and went to greet her guests. Staysha stood by Maximus and nudged him. “Good job. She needed this.”

“I know. She deserves all the love she pours out. I’m going to give her all I got.”

“You better, because she will give up her world for you.”

Maximus looked down at Staysha. “And my boy will give up his for you. Heard me?”

“Heard you.”

Eden was showered with love, good food, laughter, and gifts.

From Staysha, a Rolex, Brody, a gun just in case a nigga tried her.

He had that very phrase laser-etched onto the barrel.

Rolani and Yanni gifted her a trip to their island, along with announcing Eden as the face of Yanni’s beauty line.

Davina and Zaim, a private cooking class.

Which Maximus was thankful for. Daysha and Julius, an all-inclusive trip to their vineyard.

DJ Eli and Olivia, a black tourmaline necklace, from their jewelry line, in honor of their late-friend, to represent her resilience.

Keon, a pinky ring because she had all of them wrapped around her finger.

Fatima gifted her a case of her signature liquor.

DJ Rudy, without any thought, gave her a bag of money before getting a call and leaving the party early.

Eden was thankful for it all.

There had never been a year Staysha didn’t celebrate her, and it was always something thoughtful. But to get it in abundance left her full.

“Thank y’all so much for all of this,” Eden spoke, clasping her hand over her heart. “Baby, you outdid yourself with this.”

Maximus stood behind her. “You got one more.”

Eden’s brows fused. “This party-”

“Act like you know, baby,” Maximus muttered, handing her a box.

Eden unwrapped it, dropped the paper on the table, and opened the box. On the left was a custom diamond necklace and pendant. The box read ‘keep shining, baby’. On the right was another box with a clasp. Unclasping the lock, she found a key fob holding a Mercedes-Benz emblem.

She gasped. “You didn’t!”

Maximus with a proud smile. “Go check it out.”

Eden quickly trotted out of the space and outside to find a blacked-out AMG GLE S Coupe. “MAX!”

Before she could run to the SUV and climb inside, she jumped on him and wrapped her legs around his waist, kissing his face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you.”

Maximus laughed and returned the gesture. “Go check it out, E.”

Inside, she took in all the features, still overwhelmed by the love. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had a car?”

“I remember,” Maximus said, leaning in the window. “When you told me, I already had my plan in place. I always knew you were going to be the girl I was gon’ get.”

Eden bit a grin.

“Uh uh, say it.”

“I’m going to fuck the shit out of you when we get out of here.”

“How you know I'm not going to do it first?” Maximus returned, kissing her. “Don’t get carried away, you still got to dance and do karaoke.”

True to their banter, Maximus and Eden were locked away in the penthouse of the St. Harlem. Clothes scattered over the floor, makeup smeared over the pillow, hair a mess, and the sounds of pleasure roamed through the space.

“Max Baby, right there, right there,” Eden moaned in a beautiful song.

Her legs were draped over his shoulder, her toes in his mouth, and her eyes rolling back in her head. Her lover hitting that spot he found their first time together with slow, emotion-filled precision.