Eden smirked, wrapping his arms back around her. “I’ll call it what I want. It’s mine.”
“Touché.”
“Figured you see it my way. Get another nap, we’re going to have a family dinner tonight to celebrate this news.
“That ain’t necessary.”
“It is and will always be necessary to celebrate your wins. Absolutely necessary.”
“That means we celebrating yours too.”
“I suppose so.”
“Know that shit. We win together, we lose together, we bounce back together. That’s on Trae Way.”
“Go to sleep before I find another use for my mouth.”
He laughed and held her tighter. “I love you, E.”
Her head popped up. “What’d you say?”
“You heard me. I love you. Going to keep loving you, too. This only gets better. We only get better. Together, separately, in business. All of that.”
“Max,” she softly hummed, stroking his beard and gazing down at him. “You serious?”
“Ain’t never been so sure.”
She bit her lip. “I’ve never had this before, and I like it. I don’t want it to be snatched away either.”
“Won’t happen.”
Eden lowered her face to his and gently placed a series of kisses to his tinted lips. “I love you, too.”
Eden was nestledbetween Maximus and Brody, Staysha and Keon sat across the table. Across the table were a row of sides, different cuts of meat, two bottles of champagne, and glass bottles of still water. Before the team could dig in, Maximus cleared his throat.
“Ay, before we get started, I just want to take a minute and thank you niggas and the ladies for seeing the vision. We ain’t at the top yet, nowhere close, but all the moments are worth celebrating; at least that’s what I've been told. Just know I got y’all like y’all got me.”
“Eden, what you do to this nigga. Got him all sentimental and shit?” Keon questioned with a silly smirk.
Brody blew. “That nigga gettin’ loved on. I can feel it. That shit beautiful, man.”
“I can’t understand how you’re so big but so soft,” Staysha replied. “Nigga, are you crying?”
Brody dabbed away fake tears and winked at Staysha. “I told you if you ever need a nigga to keep you warm at night you know where to find me.”
Keon cut his eyes from Eden to Brody. “Nigga, you ever got your meaty ass head turned the fuck around?”
Maximus shook his head and draped his arm over Eden’s shoulder. “Brody gon’ fuck around and go missin’. Keon got a thing for deserts and thick forests.”
Eden giggled. “Keon is not playing with him. Look how red he’s getting.”
“Nigga nostrils flared back like wings on a damn jet,” Maximus cracked back. “Fuck a crash out, he finna take off.”
“Nah, actually, ain’t no one ever been bold enough to do it,” Brody replied.
“I told you he was gon’ fuck yo ass up,” Staysha laughed.
“Fuck y’all do to these niggas? And where can I sign up?” Brody continued. “Y’all niggas all happy and shit. Except him. Keon look like he smack the hat off niggas’ heads just for thinkin’.”