Journei
That bitch ass nigga had me in tears at that table. I was upset because instead of just calling me by my name, he chose to taunt me with the name he gave me regarding my vitiligo as if that were okay. I hated to hear it. It tore me down in ways that was hard to build myself back up from.
He was respectful and answered without hesitation whatever I threw his way. It was just somethin’ about that fuckin’ name that took me from zero to a hunnid real quick. Maybe it was the open disrespect that was behind it.
As Christian walked him out, I relocated upstairs. I headed straight for the bed. Lying flat on my back, I shouted, “I need weed!” I was stressed and had gone six months without marijuana.
“For what?”
“I am stressed and most of all emotional as fuck. I want to be able to go ten minutes without cryin’.”
“So, you want to relieve stress?” he asked.
I was still on my back looking up to the ceiling when my feet were placed on the bed and my legs spread. My panties were pulled to the side with his tongue attacking my pearl. I swear my sundresses came in handy for shit like that.
My hands immediately gripped the back of his head to push him deeper between my folds. His tongue was a weapon of destruction. I was sure to fall apart after being pleased by it. It never failed.
“Mmm. Right there, baby.”
“I know, mama.”
The vibration from his words sent a shiver up my spine, causing me to arch my back and grind my pussy on his face. I didn’t know what he was tryin’ to snatch, because my soul was already gone, but he was searching for somethin’.
“Christiannn!”
He sucked on my clit the way a baby would a pacifier, and I gave him the best facial he ever had. I squirted so hard his shirt was completely wet.
Although I was still emotional, I wasn’t stressed. Christian knew what I needed and took care of it without me asking. That man was too good to be true. There was no way he knew how to love a woman so good.
Sitting up, I was eye level with his dick. I sucked on him for the first time earlier that day, and I wanted to taste him again. I eased his joggers down along with his briefs. His dick was so damn pretty.
I gripped and lifted it to expose his balls. I dove in, placing his balls in my mouth, and sucked on them gently. As they fell out one by one, my tongue hung out and flowed from the base to the tip.
Sucking dick was foreign to me, but I loved the way Christian tasted. I got to the tip and tried my best to wrap my tongue around it, then took him in whole. He banged against my tonsils a few times, making spit drip from the corners of my mouth.
“A’ight, mama. If this gets to be too much, just stop me.”
He gripped the back of my head and stroked my mouth the way he would my pussy. I thought it was safe to say he was fuckin’ my face. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it.
Tears fell, and the feeling of having to throw up constantly occurred, but I didn’t want him to stop. He slowed down and fixed his eyes on mine. Wiping away my tears, he asked, “Where you want it?”
I gripped his dick and deep throated him to where I could still breathe, and it wasn’t hurting. A warm solution was felt coating my throat soon after. He gave me another dose, and I was more than content.
As I eased him out of my mouth, low moans left his. Sexual activity with a man was new to me, but when I engaged with Christian, everything came naturally. It was different… he was different.
I fixed his clothing as my mind shifted back to my father. An ill feeling was present at dinner. Like he wasn’t coming back into my life for the right reasons as if he did his homework and seen I had a lil’ change.
“Do you think he was genuine?” I asked.
“He seemed sincere. Why?” he countered. I shrugged and headed for the shower. “Don’t do that, mama. Talk.”
“I think his agenda is different from what he’s presenting. I don’t want to assume shit, but it’s the vibe I got from him.”
“Well, if you feel like he after more than a relationship, feed him with a long spoon. Don’t offer him anything other than a relationship. If you feel like he doesn’t deserve that, then don’t give him that either. Mama, nobody is makin’ you do nothin’ you don’t want to do.”
He had that right. I wasn’t doin’ shit if I didn’t feel like it. I nodded and started the shower.
I was starting to overthink the situation, and that would bring on unnecessary thoughts. Whatever he was genuinely wanting from me would be revealed. Nothin’ could stay hidden for too long.
&
It felt good to put on clothes other than sundresses and biker shorts. Being on bed rest gave me the relaxation I needed, but a bitch was bored. It was grand opening day, and I was excited.
For so long, I watched everyone around me be passionate about somethin’. Now it was my turn. Ties & Tips was put together in six long months. It was in a lane of its own. I was proud of me if no one else was.
My lounge was a new beginning, so I tried somethin’ new myself. I went and got my hair straightened for the first time. I didn’t know how Christian would take it.
I wore a maroon shoulder strapped maternity maxi dress that was custom made by one of Christian’s church members. The fabric wasn’t itchy, and the design was nice. Plus, I didn’t look like a hippo. She had my approval.
Makeup wasn’t my thing, but because of the occasion, I decided to have it done. I had a whole team in my closet that pampered me for the evening. The excitement I had for that day was through the roof.
We had about forty-five minutes to get to the lounge. For once in my life, I was ready on time. I did a once-over and was pleased with my look.
“Mama, we got to go!” Christian yelled for me.
I made my way downstairs, overjoyed and a lil’ nervous. That lounge was my baby before Christian knocked me up. I wanted the people to like what I cooked up.
When I made it to the bottom of the stairs, Christian was staring at me with glossy eyes. I immediately thought somethin’ was wrong.
“Baby, why are you gettin’ ready to cry? What’s wrong?”
“You are beyond beautiful. I have got to be the luckiest man alive.”
His words brought on a smile that went from ear to ear. I never had anyone look at me the way that man did. His compliments always gave me that extra boost in confidence. I didn’t care about no one else’s opinion but his.
“Thank you, baby. You lookin’ real debonair yourself.”
He palmed my face and placed a kiss on me that made my knees weak. I then understood what SWV meant.
“A’ight. If I don’t stop, we goin’ to miss your opening.” Grabbing my hand, I was led out the door.
Christian was goin’ all out for me. He had a limousine waiting to escort us to Ties & Tips. For the record, I’d never ridden in a limousine. He just came with so many surprises.
He opened the door, and I was greeted by the twins. I screamed when I saw them. They had been so good to me during the six months of building my business. I had the people with me that mattered.
“Twins!”
They moved to the side so that Christian and I could sit. I didn’t know how to act at that moment. I finally put my stamp on somethin’ that I could call my own.
“Hi, Journei. Are you ready?” Emilia asked.
“I think I am. I am super-duper nervous right now, and you should be able to tell because I said super-duper. Like what the fuck?” I said, followed by me hiding my face in my hands and laughing.
“It’s okay, friend. You got the jitters, and that’s a good thing. We had something special made for you too. I already know you’re goin’ to love it, so give me my ‘thank you’ now,” Nina chimed.
We sat and enjoyed each other’s company. I was more than grateful for the twins. They stuck by me when they didn’t have to. There were times where I didn’t show up for meetings, return phone calls, and slacked on things.
When people were genuinely there for others, they understood their short comings. They encouraged them not to stop and even picked up the slack sometimes. They did that, and what I paid them showed how thankful I was.
“Your palms are sweaty. Calm your nerves, mama. Everything is goin’ to be fine,” Christian whispered in my ear.
I nodded and tried to focus on anything but the lounge. My thoughts landed on my mother. Ties & Tips was a place I knew she would’ve loved. She loved to read and write. Her lane was poetry.
With the atmosphere I was providing, that would’ve been perfect for her. I didn’t realize I was cryin’ until Emilia dabbed at my tears. I missed Yonei Evans.
Pullin’ up to Ties & Tips, I was in awe at the turn out. I wasn’t expecting for a soul to show up, but there was a crowd. Like free before eleven type crowd. My nerves were shot to hell.
“You got this, mama. Take your time, speak from the heart, speak up, and speak clear. That soft voice won’t be heard if you don’t. Thank who you need to, cut the rope, and let the people see what you’re offering.”
The limousine stopped, and it was showtime. The door opened as I released a deep breath. I grabbed Christian’s hand and held on to it as tight as I could.
He helped me out the car, and the cameras went crazy. The red carpet was a nice touch too. I felt like I was someone of importance as my name was screamed. All I could do was smile.
I was ushered to the front of the crowd where the ribbon was already stretched and tied to a pole on each side. The spotlight was on me. The flashes didn’t stop, and neither did the shouting.
The twins finally made it to the front, and I was relieved. I didn’t know what to do. It was my first time doin’ any of that shit. Hell, if I thought of it in time, I would’ve hired somebody to speak for me.
Nina signaled for a microphone, and I looked to Christian for help. He chuckled and said, “Calm down. Remember what I said.”
I grabbed the mic with my free hand and kept my other where it had been since we exited the limo. I couldn’t see them, but I knew my edges were sweating. Clearing my throat, I lifted the microphone to speak.
“Hi, everyone. I want to thank each and every one of you personally for attending the opening for Ties & Tips. The time and hard work that was put into this lounge was six months of stress, frustration, and woosahs,” I said, causing the crowd to erupt with light chuckles.
“But here we are. The Belvedere twins and their magnificent crew are the real MVPs. I really hope the atmosphere I gunned for is enjoyable. I’m Journei Evans, and Ties & Tips is officially open. ”
I cut the ribbon, feeling a weight drop from my shoulders immediately. That was the moment I had been waiting for since Alexis presented the building to me. I was an owner of a business and not just on paper.
The hooting and hollering came through along with “congratulations”. Once the doors were open, my staff was lined up waiting for the guests to enter. The colors I chose came together nicely.
That evening was one to remember. I was shown so much love and support that I was overwhelmed.
Those in attendance thought the dining area was all there was to Ties & Tips. Shocked was an understatement when they realized it held a hookah lounge in the back. So many were already asking to book it for parties.
“Baby, I think I bit off more than I can chew. These people are crazy. We just opened, and they’re tryin’ to host shit.”
I stepped into my office to get a breather. I had guests in my face each way I turned. I didn’t know what they wanted from me, but I was an introvert, and we didn’t fuck with shit like that.
Christian sat in his black fitted suit, looking nothin’ less of delicious. He matched my dress by wearing a marron button-down underneath. That man looked good in anything he put on.
He chuckled as he watched me have a baby anxiety attack. I found my panicking amused him. If he kept laughing, my foot was goin’ as far as it could down his throat.
“Mama, you are gettin’ worked up for nothin’. You have a building that can hold events. Be grateful and appreciative that people want to hold shindigs in your establishment. You don’t see nobody callin’ Barnes & Noble to host anything but a book signing.”
“You ain’t never lied,” I said, agreeing with his Barnes & Noble comment. “Fine. If this is what business life is about, I guess I have to get used to it.”
Christian stood, asking for a hug. I walked into his arms and enjoyed the embrace. He towered over me, but I felt safe and content. He made things better… easier.
I raised my head for a kiss. Those lips calmed me faster than any talk he gave. Our tongues danced to a tune of their own as the serene waves washed over me. Now him I would forever be grateful for.