Gills
Inever felt at home the way I did whenever mama was around me. As long as she was in my presence, I was good. I didn’t know what I did for her personally, but she settled my mind, body, and soul. She had power over me that I wouldn’t dare deny.
Those two days I took away from her resulted in her taking a week away from me. I missed laying up with my woman and bonding with my son. That was quality time I appreciated.
Killing Alexis was a deed for us both. No more nonsense could come from her. Journei was able to live unchained and guilt free. She didn’t owe loyalty to anyone, not even me. She was free to do whatever she wanted.
I had a few of the crew members drop her wife’s body off at a morgue, making sure Alexis had her license on her. Her body didn’t need to be classified as a Jane Doe.
Mama should’ve received a call to go and identify the body by then. Hunz hadn’t mentioned her having to do so yet. I had made a mental note to ask her before I laid eyes on her that evening.
I picked her up so that we were face-to-face. Admiring her beauty had been on pause for a limited time. My time to be in awe was given again.
“I fucked up. I’m sorry, baby,” she cried.
She knew her tears were one of my weaknesses. I couldn’t handle her being sad about anything regarding us. Whether it was her fault or mine, I didn’t like it.
“Stop crying, mama. I messed up by leaving when I could’ve told you what my plans were.”
She tapped my shoulder for me to let her down. I placed her on her feet, and she took my hand for me to follow. She walked us around to the front of the couch, then gestured for me to sit, so she could occupy my lap.
When she sat, my thoughts went there. I hadn’t felt the inside of my woman in days. The warmth, the wetness, and the tightness of her walls were greatly missed.
She got comfortable before she started speaking.
“Alexis had sent me a text that night askin’ for one last conversation in exchange of the signed divorce papers.
I thought if I went and gave her what she wanted, she would do the same for me.
When I got there, Galleria had some freaky shit waitin’ for her.
I blew up the spot, and we got to fightin’.
She hit me in my stomach, so I stopped taggin’ the bitch to check on the baby.
That gave her the upper hand, and she went all Michael Myers on my ass.
That situation was because of me. I never should’ve left. ”
What happened to her was indeed her fault, but I wasn’t about to let her know that. The guilt from her actions was already taking over. I wasn’t about to add to it.
“You’re still alive and neither one of them are. A mistake was made, but I refuse to let you wallow in it. And my son not about to be no punk with all this cryin’ you been doin’.”
“Well, when you find your son, let me know because this munchkin in here is our daughter,” she said, rubbing her protruding belly.
I prayed for a son, but a daughter was goin’ to keep me away from the streets permanently. My joy for being a father only got higher. A mini Journei was all a man could ask for.
“When did you find out the sex of the baby?” I inquired.
She put her head down before she answered. “The same day I made you leave the hospital.”
Placing a finger under her chin, I lifted her head. There was no need for her to be ashamed. It happened, but her official appointment for the ultrasounds were coming up. I didn’t trip too hard on it.
“I’m not trippin’ ’bout it, mama. Don’t blame yourself for anything that’s happened so far. Bull junk gets thrown in yo’ path to see you fail. We got this. And I say we because I won’t let you be anything other than great.”
“Why are you so perfect, Christian?”
“I’m not perfect, mama. If I was, I wouldn’t have been in the doghouse. I mess up just like everyone else.”
“I understand that, but when I say perfect, I don’t mean it literally. I just mean… perfect for me. I don’t think I ever challenged life the way I have with you. I like what you bring out of me.”
Her words caused me to smile. I was simpin’ over my woman somethin’ serious. I felt her when she spoke about challenging life ’cause it was the same with me.
She gave me a chase that turned me toward my faith more. I did the most prayin’ and repenting dealing with her. God was on my main line, cell, and nearest pay phone when Journei Noelle Evans was around.
Our feelings for one another sat on a mutual scale most of the time. There were moments where I felt my love outweighed hers, but that was strictly my opinion.
“You’ve always been a teddy bear, but now you’re a Care Bear. Can Dr. Pascal prescribe you some pills for being emotional?” I joked with her.
She playfully slapped me on my arm and said, “Don’t be mean. You can always get another week of punishment.”
“That’s cool, but I can bet money it won’t be me makin’ the phone calls this go-round.”
“Oh, whatever.” Adjusting herself in my lap, she cupped my face and asked, “Do you mind if I kiss you?”
I leaned in and did what I had been dying to do since I smelled her perfume walking through Hunz’s front door. Her mouth was unmatched with the softness of her lips and the sweetness that lingered on her tongue.
A moan escaped her lips, waking me up completely. The love we made was one that couldn’t be replicated by anyone else.
When Journei fixed herself in my lap, she straddled me, so her position screamed ready. The attire she had on allowed easy access, and the warmth from her canal was felt through the shorts she had on.
As bad as I wanted to indulge in one of my new hobbies, I pulled back. I was tryin’ to respect my brotha’s personal space. If I got between mama’s folds, it was goin’ down.
“We not doin’ this here, mama,” I said after breaking the kiss.
“But you could fuck me in the guest bathroom last month? You are a trip.” She stood, shaking her head and laughing. She had a point.
“Times have changed. I’m all about respect now,” I responded and offered a few chuckles of my own.
We headed upstairs to join both Hunz and Belle. Belle’s pregnancy looked good on her. Those babies gave her a glow where her bright skin look like it was coated in oil. I was happy for my family.
I was told to bring dinner before I came, so I stopped at this Korean spot called Kimchi however, I didn’t want Journei to feel like staying with me was an obligation she owed to our daughter. She had free rein to do as she pleased.
I gathered Journei’s belongings because she wasn’t finishing her bed rest there at Hunz’s crib. She was goin’ to be with me, sleeping under me, and allowing me to touch wherever I desired.
“Christian, what are you doin’?” she asked as she walked in on me zipping her suitcase.
“I was ready to go, so I packed your stuff. You want to do a quick walk-through, or you good?”
That infectious laugh of hers pleasured my ears. “I’m on bed rest and shouldn’t be moving around. Dr. Seokjin said my body needs to relax.”
“You can get rest in your own bed. And trust, once we get home, that body will be relaxed.”
She laughed at my words once more, but I was far from joking. She wasn’t staying there another night. I had plans for us both to relax.
Turning around, she shook her head and lightly chuckled. I followed behind with her bags and a smile on my face. Us being apart wasn’t happenin’ no more. She’d better gon’ with that bull junk.
We said our goodbyes to Hunz and Belle and headed up the highway. Having her in the passenger’s seat made me more than happy. I was overjoyed to have my woman back.
A man that loved his woman would tell how not her having around affected them. My woman made life easier for me. It was the love from my woman that took the weight of the world off my shoulders.
The drive to Nashville was dope. We shared memories about college and how our worlds collided, but we never noticed. We attended some of the same events and never ran into one another.
That blew me the most because Journei would’ve been claimed and still claimed if I met her back then. She was too good to pass up on.
“Baby where are we goin’?” she questioned as I passed the exit to take us to the condo.
“Home.”