“Nah. All she said was Lex left her up there and that she needed a ride home so she could pack. While all this bullshit goin’ on, guess what else ’bout to fuck her up… her pops should be touchin’ down any day now.”
Belle gasped and threw her hands over her mouth. She knew the backstory as well, so hearing that brought on the waterworks. “Why is this happenin’ to her all at once? This too much.”
“She gon’ be good. Believe it or not, she got somebody in her corner that’s gon’ put an end to all this shit. And he not ’bout to let a soul hurt her when he’s released.” I smirked ’cause I missed my brotha being on demon time for real.
“Hunz, all I ask is for you to be here for your family. I don’t care how you handle whatever comes.”
I laughed because she thought I was talkin’ ’bout me. “I wasn’t speakin’ on me, baby.”
“Then who you speakin’ on, Hunz?”
“We here, boo. C’mon, so we can see what the fuck goin’ on with Journei.” I ignored her question and parked in front of the emergency room. She was still askin’ after I helped her out the car.
I wasn’t sayin’ shit ’til bestie said somethin’. Gills told me as a brotha, and I wasn’t ’bout to violate the code.
I walked in with my wife in tow. After givin’ the receptionist the necessary information, she escorted us to the room Journei was in. She sat up in the bed with an unbothered look on her face. I didn’t know why, but I expected her to be cryin’ or somethin’.
“Thank you for comin’, best friend. I just need to go get a few things from the house, including my car, then I’ll be good.” Journei’s voice was so low it almost came off as a mumble.
She hopped off the bed and headed for the door. I nodded and let her lead the way.
She was in her mood and would talk when she was ready. Whenever things became too much, she would shut down. That bullshit between her and Alexis, then the back-and-forth with her and Gills… it was overwhelming.
We rode in silence from the hospital to her crib. I could feel how unsettled she was. I hated this for my number two. Life was just starting to be good to her, but somebody got in that bitch’s ear and saidfuck her over one more time for old times’ sake.
When we walked through the door, Journei damn near sprinted up the stairs. Belle grabbed my arm, then laid her head on my shoulder. She was sad for her friend, and honestly, so was I. I walked her to the kitchen to get her some water to relax.
“Damn!” I said out loud. They had to be in a rush to leave that type of bread sittin’ out. The money that covered the table more than likely was goin’ in the floor safe under the fridge. Alexis didn’t fit the appearance of a drug dealer, but that lil’ bitch moved big shit, and brought in bank for Diego.
Journei called for me to help her with her bags thirty minutes later. I loaded everything up in her Porsche truck. She said she didn’t want anything that had Alexis’s name on it. I would’ve taken the Wraith regardless, but that was just me.
Belle went and sat in the car while I went to look for Journei. I found her in the kitchen with two duffel bags placing all the money on the table in them.
“Don’t take her money, best friend. We got you for whatever you need.”
“That bitch ain’t gon’ do shit ’bout me takin’ this money, and you know it. She wasn’t gon’ do shit but place it in the safe or my bank account anyway. Grab these bags and let’s go before I do somethin’ to this house I might regret.”
I did as she asked, letting her lead the way once again. After puttin’ the duffel bags in her ride, I leaned on the car to get a few answers to some questions I had—one being why she at the hospital in the first place. She noticed and joined me, givin’ me the floor to speak that I shot back to her.
“Whenever you ready,” I said.
“Pastor Gills got some bomb as dick. Turned this lesbian out with ease. You hear me?” She burst out laughin’, which made me do the same. “Man, I was not expectin’ to go from ridin’ a dildo to dick, dick. Anyhoo, that bomb as dick put a muthafuckin’ baby in me.”
I whipped my head in her direction so damn fast. “The fuck you say?” I needed her to repeat that.
“Congratulations! You’re now a godfather. I need weekends off just so we’re clear on what you’re supposed to do.”
Well, I’ll be damned.I bent down and hugged her, lifting her off the ground. My smile couldn’t be contained. I was happy for her and my brotha. The thought of her pops comin’ for her gut punched me, causing my smile to fade and whole vibe change. I released her once I put her down.
“Where you headed?” I asked.
“Nashville. I never gave the condo up from college. My lounge is damn near finished, so any meetings will be held as a video conference call. I have no reason to be here, Hunz. Youknow where to find me. And do me a favor… don’t tell Gills about the baby.”
I agreed, but she had me fucked up. I was tellin’ my brotha everything. From Alexis gunnin’ for him to the baby they were blessed with. A child wasn’t somethin’ to be used as a pawn, played with, or hid. She was just gon’ have to be mad.
“Be safe, Journei. Call me when you touch down, and if I don’t answer, hit Belle. I love you, lil’ ugly.” With that, we parted ways.
The minute my black ass touched the seat of my car, I was callin’ Gills. He had a family that needed him now more than ever.
