Chapter Journei
Journei
“For the record abuela, they left me. I had to call for a car so curse them out not me.” I eyed the woman who barged into Mrs. Gills’ house.
She was a very gorgeous woman, and my nipples hardened from her presence.
Whoever she was, was extremely comfortable and familiar with the house because she immediately started to take off a few layers of clothes before sitting down.
I noticed Christian had moved his right hand to my thigh and gripped it a little. Usually, his touch would have me on fire, but that time, I felt like he was warning me of somethin’. The woman went and gave Mrs. Gills a kiss on the cheek and slapped who I knew as Kégo in the head as she passed.
Directly across from Christian was where she decided to sit. The second her eyes hit him, I saw how much she wanted him.
“Is there any reason why you can’t speak to me? La Familia, right?” That time, when she spoke, her words were directed at Christian.
“Siempre (Always). Hello, Galleria. It’s been a minute. How are you?” I could hear it in Christian’s voice that he was playing nice, but the nervousness he sported was evitable.
Galleria was there in the flesh, and all I wanted to do was eat and leave. Surprisingly, the only thing that changed after learning who she was, was my nipples were no longer at attention. Anger had yet to enter my body.
“Great. So, who is that sitting next to you? You never bring females around. She must have una vagina dorada (a golden vagina).” Galleria was being messy, but I was the one to come for.
Let’s play, miss ma’am.
“The way he acts over it, you might as well say it is,” I responded with a smile and threw her a wink. I was here for all bullshit.
That bitch wanted to lay her hands on me so damn bad. I knew that look anywhere. I had what she really wanted, and she didn’t even know who I was yet. I planned on hurting her feelings even more in about two point five.
“Papa and Galleria, this is Journei. Mama, this is Galleria and Diego. Diego was li—”
“Like a father to you. I remember, baby.” I cut him off and finished his sentence.
I was on my feet, meeting Diego halfway with an extended hand as I did Kégo. And just like his son, he ignored it and brought me in for a hug.
He looked at Christian and said, “Mijo, ella es hermosa (Son, she is beautiful).” All I did was smile.
I took the seat beside Christian again with that same smile plastered on my face. That bitch would never see me sweat. She had the pleasure of tasting my wife, but that muthafucka sittin’ beside me hadn’t so much as swapped spit with that hoe, and that was somethin’ I would always have over her.
“Shall we eat?” Mrs. Gills asked, acknowledging the food that was probably cold by then. Majority of us nodded and dug in.
I fixed Christian’s plate as Galleria delivered stares handpicked from a mad bitch’s catalog.
She was upset with me about somethin’ I had no control over.
My wife gave her pussy, but my baby’s daddy, man, or whatever he wanted to be hadn’t given her shit but conversation.
She needed to take that shit up with them not me.
We made small talk, and every time a question was directed toward me, she had somethin’ to mumble.
I was about to be on her ass like white on rice or a paper plate in a snowstorm.
My small ass couldn’t have her that bothered.
Galleria was too damn fine to have those pretty lips of hers curled up like that.
The time was winding down, and I was ready to go home, fuck my baby daddy, and get some much-needed sleep.
I helped Mrs. Gills clear the dirty dishes from the table.
In the midst of everything that was discussed, we hadn’t released our news about the baby.
Dessert was bein’ served, and I almost rejected it. My son was soaking up all my energy.
“Journei, honey, I missed your beautiful face. I wondered about you once you left the group home. How are you, baby?” Mrs. Gills asked a question that was way too personal.
Mrs. Gills was my mentor from the group home and knew about my past. I understood why she asked, however, Galleria didn’t need to know a damn thing about me. I glanced at everyone around the table, and a smirk was planted on hers.
“You were in the system, Jordan?” Galleria poked. She knew my name, but she was in attack mode, so I knew the petty games.
I held my head up with a smile and answered her question. “After the group home, I went to college and got my degree in business, which is finally bein’ put to use. I have a lounge that I’m opening within the next few weeks, so I’m happy about that.”
“Wow. Seems like bein’ a ward of the state didn’t hold you down.” Galleria took another dig.
Christian went to grippin’ my thigh, letting me know he was aware of the bullshit she was on.
Diego and Kégo were as well. They had stopped eating on their pie and shot several looks to Christian.
All waiting to see how he would react. On one hand, he had the mother of his child, and then the other, he had someone he’d considered family for years.
“Galleria,” he said her name, and she fired back.
“What, Hades? She didn’t let her upbringing stop her. That’s a good thing. Being less fortunate can hinder a lot of people,” she responded, then picked up her glass of wine and sipped. Christian was called a name I hadn’t heard bein’ referenced to him before.
“You are so right, Galleria. However, my upbringing landed me with two people you can’t seem to lock down.
Let’s see... I have a wife that you take pride in fuckin’ while she’s in Mexico, and then this fine ass muthafucka sittin’ next to me makes your day just from bein’ in his presence.
Miss ma’am, understand me when I say this, the love they have for me outweighs the fantasy you have with them.
You know who I am, and vice versa. These hands are rated E for everybody though, and I have no problem showing you. ” I challenged.
“Mama.” Christian’s hand went from my thigh to my stomach.
“Lucky for you I can’t at the moment.” My attention went from Galleria to Mrs. Gills.
“The reason I rejected the wine earlier was for two reasons. One you should already know, and the other… I’m pregnant.
” All the confidence I had left the second I said it.
I wanted his family to approve and be okay with what we created.
Diego and Kégo gave an immediate congratulations with smiles while Mrs. Gills only wore a smile. I didn’t know if the smile was fake or not. I looked back at Christian, and he nodded. I assumed she was happy for us.
When I turned to face her, there were tears streaming. I placed my hand in hers when she motioned for it. After the light squeeze, she had words for me and Christian, but Galleria just wouldn’t let her be great.
“I don’t mean to rain on yo’ lil’ parade, but Hades, don’t you think having a child with somebody who has a disease will affect your child?
I mean, look at her. She has more patches than a cow, and only God knows what kind of hair the baby will have.
Have you seen her without a wig on?” Her interruption didn’t play out the way she wanted.
Christian removed his hand from my lap and slowly stood. He turned to me and without hesitation grabbed my neck, applying pressure, not enough to hurt but to where I understood I was his. That kiss he delivered swept any response I had to Galleria away.
“I love you, mama. And regardless of what anybody says, I’m not goin’ nowhere.
My son can come out looking exactly like you, and that wouldn’t stop me from loving my family.
It’s always gon’ be a hater around, but understand this, as long as you with me, you won’t be disrespected.
Let’s go,” Christian spoke, making eye contact with only me. I heard him loud and clear.
“You foul, sis. You fuckin’ on Alexis, which is still her wife at the end of the day and still tryna get Hades.
Papa might’ve spoiled you, but you can’t get everything you want.
Let that man be happy with his woman in peace.
Journei ain’t did shit to yo’ ass for you to come at her like that,” Kégo responded on my behalf.
Galleria sat there with tears ready to fall. She was hurt by their words, Christian’s more than Kégo’s. Her dream of having Christian was crushed. I was sure he’d never put a female before her since she was “family”, but shit get real when a nigga found a bitch he really loved.
My hand was grabbed, and I was being led out the house. I saw Mrs. Gills stand out my peripheral. Christian wasn’ givin’ us much time to do anything. He wanted us gone.
“Wait, son.” Mrs. Gills followed behind us. “I’d like to come up tomorrow if you don’t mind. So, we can actually talk about the baby, and I catch up with Journei.” Christian agreed and continued on his path.
The only thing I took from the last five minutes was him saying I love you.
I felt the genuineness when he said it and saw the truth of it in his eyes.
Those three words lingered in my head earlier, but they were ready to come out.
I feared of letting it be known first, but clearly, he had no problem in taking the lead.
Once we reached the car, he pulled me in for a hug instead of opening my door. I didn’t realize how much I needed to be held until his arms were wrapped around me. The physical connection between us always settled me. Rearing back a little, his blue eyes locked in on mine.
“I’m sorry, mama. I didn’t kn—”
His sentence was cut short with a simple kiss. He wasn’t about to apologize for a grown ass muthafucka who couldn’t control her emotions. Our tongues danced while our euphoria blossomed. The way he stood up for me had my body on fire.
“I love you too,” was all I had when the kiss was broken. I grew up staying away from men. Yet I was in love with one.