Falling for a Hustler: A Benton Harbor Love Story by Jerniqua K. Page B

the drinks, I downed my orange juice and wished like hell it was liquor. Running into Calvin had officially ruined my night.

 
     
    Journee
     
    “Journee, chill out. I can barely understand what you saying!” Bird yelled.
    As soon as Lala finished my hair that day, I flew to my crib to tell Bird the news.
    I took a deep breath to calm myself down.
    “Brick is out! We gotta get the fuck away from here, Bird! I know he’s going to come after me.”
    “Why would he be coming after you, Nee? He doesn’t even know you set him up! You just paranoid because he out, baby. Don’t you think he would have come after you by now?” I looked at him crazily. I certainly wasn’t expecting that shit to come out of his mouth. I thought he would be just as scared as I was, but to my surprise he acted like he didn’t give a fuck.
    “You sure he won’t know?”
    “How can he, Journee? The detective we talked to told me our names would not show up on the reports. We good, ma.”
    Even though his words did little to ease my mind, I closed my mouth and kept my thoughts to myself. Knowing that Brick was out roaming the streets had me uneasy, but Bird was right about one thing – how could he know? I had been extra careful. I barely even went out with Bird in public, and when I did I made sure it looked like we were nothing more but friends. Luckily, I hadn’t ran into any of Bricks homeboy’s yet.
    After I calmed myself down, I picked up my phone and called my mother. When she didn’t answer, I became enraged! It was my day to visit Justin, and she was giving me the damn run around like she did each and every time. I swear, she was lucky she was my damn mama. I called once again and got the voicemail. Finally fed up with her shenanigans, I grabbed my keys and purse, then headed toward the door.
    “Where you going?”
    “It’s my day with Justin and my mom won’t answer her phone. I’m going by there to get him.”
    “You want me to go with you?”
    I thought about if for a second. “I don’t think that would be a good idea, bae. I’ll call you when I’m on my way back though.” My mother and Bird hated each other with a passion, and I didn’t need their extra drama. All I wanted to do was see my son. He kissed my lips and walked me to the door.
    As soon as I started my car, I sped down the street, praying that my mother wouldn’t give me any problems this time around. When I made it to her home, I became pissed at what I saw. My mom, her husband Larry, and Justin were all in the front yard having a good time. I hadn’t seen my son in almost two years because of my mother; I’d missed birthdays and holidays. I wouldn’t even be surprised if he didn’t know who I was.
    I watched as Justin chased a rolling ball. Jealousy filled me as my mother stood from the grass and chased after Justin as she laughed and told him to come back. He ran into her arms and she kissed him all over his chubby little face.
    “Mommy!” he giggled as he pushed her away.
    If my heart wasn’t already broken, it definitely would have shattered then. How dare she have my son calling her ‘mommy’? I slammed the car door and gained both her and Larry’s attention. She picked Justin up and gave him to Larry, who quickly took him in the house.
    My feelings were once again hurt, and I wasted no time letting the shit show.
    “Why are you not answering your phone? I’ve been calling you all day about my damn baby.”
    “Journee, you need to give it up! You haven’t been by here in two years, and now you want to be a mother? This child is happy! He does not need you fucking up his life.”
    “Don’t make it seem like I never tried! You kept him away from me! I made one fucking mistake, and you want to hang it over my head forever. All I want to do is see my son.”
    She looked at me, and I couldn’t read her.
    “I’m sorry, Journee. I can’t allow it. That baby could have died because of you and instead of you fighting for him, you took