- 8 hours until the opening

Eden

I wasn't really able to sleep all night. I'm too excited about today! This is the moment I've been waiting for, now it's finally here. I can finally say that something belongs to me. If you've been through hell like I have, even the smallest things are huge accomplishments.

But of course, accomplishments don't mean much when the person you love the most isn't there to share them with you. I wish my dad could see this, he'd be so proud of me.
   After he got sentenced to 20 years, he told me to swear that I wouldn't come back to that place to visit him. He said he didn't want me to see him like that, behind bars, locked away from the world. I've tried to respect his wishes, but after I get my photography studio started up, I'm going to see my dad.

Someone banging at the door interrupted me from my thoughts.

"Who's banging at my damn door like that?" I said while walking towards it

"The mailman"

I scrunched up my face and looked through the peephole. After seeing who it was, I opened the door as fast as possible.

"I missed you!" I hugged him tightly

"I missed you too, baby cakes" Felix hugged me back

"Wait a minute" I laughed "The mailman doesn't come knock at the fucking door"

"He does if y'all fucking" he entered the apartment "And I've had me a mailman or two" he popped his lips, sitting on the couch

"Felix, ew. What are you doing back so soon?"

"Girl whatever." he chuckled "But we finished all the fashion shows earlier than expected so, they let me come home for a week"

"A week. You not staying?" I became saddened

"My 6 month contract isn't up yet." He took his jacket off "They're trying to offer me a full time job with them too"

"Full time?! Fe, that's great"

"Yeeeah, but I won't be home often." He poked his bottom lip out

"Oh" I got quiet

He rubbed my arm "Sisss, don't be sad. I haven't even made the decision yet"

"I'm happy for you. This is a once in a lifetime thing, you should do it" I said truthfully

"All my men are in New York though"

I playfully rolled my eyes "You can meet new men while you're traveling the world"

"I don't understand half the languages they speak." he fanned his hand "But enough about that for now. Where's our man?" He asked jokingly, referring to Chris

"Don't get hurt, FeFe" I warned playfully

"You stole him from me anyway, tryna act like you ain't want him. Soon as I was about to make my move, yo bird ass swooped in" he looked me up and down, rolling his eyes

"Fuck you" I laughed "Anywayyyy, he's still out of town"

"He's coming to your opening right?" He raised an eyebrow

"He said he was"

"He better be. I don't give a fuck if the nigga is halfway around the world, he better come support you"

"Felix, he will. Chill" I chuckled

"I'm just saying, that's my man and all, but he gotta support the side pieces" he joked

"Uh-Uh, I'm sick of you" I smacked my teeth "Go back to where you came from"

"I'm playing lil sis" he leaned on my shoulder, still laughing a little

"Mhm" I gave him a side eye

"On a more serious note, have you told him yet?"

I sighed "I'll do it tonight, after the opening"

"Eden Angel Jacobs" Felix straight faced me "You better tell him"

"I will, Fe..." I said "You hungry? I'm hungry. Let's go get some food" I said, changing the subject

"Mhmm, I could eat" he said

"Alright" I stood up

"Don't think I didn't notice you trying to dodge the convo" he squinted

"I gotta get my purse" I quickly walked down the hall

Chris

"Delayed? How long?"

"About three hours" the lady at the front desk said

"What the fuck man!" I knocked over a tray of brochures

"Chill man" Josh said

"Yeah Chris, it's alright if you miss the flight" Candice smiled

She's been acting strange as hell for the past two days. When we get back to New York, I'm firing her ass. I don't need the crazy shit in my workplace.

"It's 12:19 now, her opening isn't until 9, from Atlanta to New York is 2 hours and a couple minutes. You'll be good" Josh said

"Normally these flight delays end up lasting way longer than they say" I smacked my teeth and sat down

I decided to not tell Eden we had a delay, I don't want her to be worried about when I'm going to get there. Then she'll be waiting on me instead of focusing on her opening.

"I'm gonna go get some snacks. Y'all want anything?" Candice asked

"I'm good" Josh answered

"What about you Chris?" she rested a hand in my shoulder

"Nah" I moved her hand

"Lighten up, even if we don't make it, she'll appreciate the fact that you tried" Candice said before waking off

"The fuck is wrong with her?" Josh asked

"What ain't wrong with her?" I asked rhetorically

"You right about that" he chuckled, sitting back in his chair

My phone buzzed in my pocket, I took it out and answered.

"May I speak with Mr. Brown? This is Dr. Langston"

"Speaking." I said

"Your friend, Sean Anderson, is awake and doing wonderful."

"Really?" I smiled

"Yes sir. You can come see him if you want"

"I'll be there in a few hours" I said

"Alright. Have a nice day" the doctor hung up

"Mannn" I chuckled, leaning forward "Thank you God" I let out a sigh of relief

"Wassup?" Josh asked

"Sean's woke and they said he's doing great" I explained with a smile on my face

"That's good fucking news" Josh said "See, on top of getting paid today, you got something even better"

"Real shit" I nodded "Now all I need is for this flight to hurry up"

Once again, Merry Christmas 🎁😘

To be continued... 😏

Thoughts?

-Carlisha ❤️