Page 134 of Are You Going to Love Me

“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 30th.. 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.”

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