Amber -

After dropping Harlem off with Erica, I went to the gym. If I was going to start making changes I needed to start within, getting my body right was always the goal.

First, I started on the elliptical bike, since I went for an hour yesterday, I was going to do an hour and thirty minutes today, honestly pushing for two hours. I put on my solo beats headphones and Black youngsta's song whisper ft. The city girls began to fill my ears. I got on the bike and got started.

I was feeling confident and working my hips to the beat of the music. Once I got off the bike my legs felt like noodles, but I didn't let that stop me. I got on the treadmill next. I was trying to push myself to do thirty minutes.

I was ten minutes in and it seemed like my body wanted to give in but I kept going until my timer went off. Once I got off I did my regular exercises near the back of the gym. I did jumping jacks, squats, sit ups, and push ups until I couldn't do it anymore. I also did the ropes, and a few crunches.

After working out I sling my workout bag across my shoulder. My phone rang and seeing Jayceons name across my phone made me sigh and roll my eyes. I declined but he called right back. So I answered.

"What is it Jayce?" I ask

"Damn that's how you answer the phone for your husband!" He shouts. Rolling my eyes as I put my bag in the trunk.

"Jayce, what do you want?"

"I was trying to see if you could scoop Harlem for me?"

Hell no why can't YOU get him!

"Jayce why can't you get your son, I've been getting him every weekend, only for you to spend all your time with these bitches out in the street!" I yell feeling myself get angry.

"You know what Imma call you when you ain't tripping!" He yelled before hanging up.

"I'm Tripping? How the fuck am I tripping! I am so sick of this shit!" I yell turning on the radio.

My phone rang again and thinking it was Jayce calling back I pressed the Bluetooth on my car and started yelling.

"Who the fuck do you think you are Jayce! I am so sick of your shit!" I yell.

"Woah woah calm down mama," Rock says into the phone. Hearing his deep voice made me calm down just a little.

"I'm so sorry...I thought you were Jayce," I say stopping at the stoplight.

"It's cool, aye what you doing today? I gotta make a couple runs but I thought maybe we could kick it," he says slyly.

"I want to Rock I really do, but right now I gotta go pick up my son," I say sighing.

"Iight well text my line then, you gone stop avoiding me mama for real though,"

"Bye Rock," I smirk hanging up.

**

"Mommy!" Harlem yells excitedly once he sees me getting out the car. He takes flight running towards me. I scoop him up in my arms kissing his cheeks.

"Hey baby boy were you good?" I ask him.

"Yes, I'm happy to see you mommy but where's daddy?" He asks.

"At work,"

"Daddy always working," he pouts and folds his little arms.

"Don't you worry I'm gonna talk to daddy," I say

"Okay, cause I miss him," I kiss his forehead and he gets down running over to Erica giving her a hug and telling her goodbye. I helped him get in the car and then I put his bags in the trunk.

"Is everything okay with Jayceon?" Erica asks.

"Yeah why you ask?"

"Not that I have a problem with you picking Harlem up, it just seems like Jayceon isn't interested in his son anymore, he's been making all these promises and getting Harlem's hopes up, Harlem really looks forward to seeing Jayceon every weekend, and he tells him he's coming but he doesn't pick him up, he doesn't drop him off, and according to Harlem he's always at that club, if he doesn't shape up I'm going to file for full custody," She says shaking her head.

"Erica, don't do that let me...I'm gonna talk to him tonight when he gets in okay," I say.

"I hope you talking to him changes something because I'm serious, if he doesn't I'm going to court," she walks off to her car and I get in mine driving off to the house.

***

"Mommy can I have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?" Harlem asks me.

"Sure baby," I was feeling hungry myself so I fixed myself a chicken salad and some fruit, and I fixed him a pb&j with fruit, I gave him a Capri sun and a water for myself.

"What do you want to do today boo boo?" I ask him.

"I wanna paint in my Spider-Man book,"

"The one I got you?"

"Yes the big one! Can you paint with me mommy?" He looks up and smiles that big bright smile, Looking just like his daddy.

"Yes I'll paint with you Pooh after you finish eating,"

"Okay!"

"We gotta study your vocabulary later, I heard you gotta A,"

"Yeah I did I studied and now I have new words to learn, daddy said if I got an A he would buy me a Xbox, I wanna play him in football," he says excitedly.

"I'm sure daddy will keep his promise, I put your paper on the fridge so he'll see it once he comes home,"

"Yay! Can we FaceTime him later?"

"Yeah,"

"Okay,"

****

After we painted, I called Jayce a few times but he didn't answer instead he sent me a text.

Can't talk right now, I'll call you back promise

"Daddy said he's gonna call me back you want to watch cartoons?" I ask him.

"Yeah, is sponge bob on?"

I turned on Sponge bob and he got down on the floor

I grabbed me a book from the book shelf. I was sitting at the table reading Ashley Antonette's book Ethic when Jayceon acame walking into the house laughing from something on his phone. He had gift bags in his hands. He looked at me and I looked at him.

"Daddy!" Harlem yells running into his arms.

"Wassup lil man,"

Jayceon picks him up.

"I miss you daddy, why didn't you pick me up!" He yells and frowns

"Daddy sorry lil man, I bought you something though," he smiles.

"What?"

"I don't know you sure you wanna see?"

"Yes daddy! Yes!" He says excitedly.

"Jayce I need to talk to you," I say getting up, closing my book and walking off. I go into the kitchen grabbing a glass from the cabinet and the kool aid from the fridge.

"Look you may break your promises to me, but I'm not going to allow you to constantly do it to our son, all day long he's been asking me to call you and you couldn't even pick up, then you got the audacity to come in here with all these expensive ass apology gifts. What the hell is wrong with you Jayceon!" I shout.

"Look you tripping I been out here grinding," he opens up the Nike bags and it's full of hundred dollar bills.

"I earned all this money in one night, that's a hundred million dollars, I been selling more than just drugs now, Im on a whole new level, fashion I been selling shoes and clothes out my car, throw in a bag of weed and niggas ready," he laughs as he walks over to our safe, opening it. He had money stacked up in rows in there already, he stuffed the money that was inside the duffle bag,"

"I finally got enough for us to move up out of here if we want to, take that vacation you been asking about, we can finally go in the mall and have a shopping spree, have you checked our bank account lately?" He asks.

I grab my phone putting in my password, I tap on the Bank of America app, logged into our account info, and my jaw opens wide. We had thirty two million dollars as our available balance. Where the hell did he get all this money from? I thought to myself.

Although I was surprised with how much money he had been bringing home, something inside of me was telling me he was doing some illegal shit. Some deep shit and I was sure in due time I'd have to bail his dumb ass out of jail.

Jayceon was always up to some schemes. He had a good thing going at that art center but he'd rather do this goofy shit. I don't have any room to talk though because I continue to deal with it. I constantly believe him and put my trust in him knowing damn well he's just going to keep fucking me over.

"Jayceon where in the hell did you get all this money from?" I asks as I watch him close the safe and put the brick back in place, and hanging the picture back up covering it.

"I just told you I been out here grinding woman," he replies walking over to the cabinet grabbing a glass.

"Jayceon Terrell Taylor you better tell me right now where you're getting all this money from!" I yell.

"I'm not gone keep explaining myself to yo ass, did you fix me a plate?" He asks.

This nigga had the audacity. I chuckle walking away, he grabs my hand.

"Let go of me Jayceon!"

"I told you about walking away from me!"

"Fuck you! You better save that money, because Erica told me if you don't get your shit together she's going to file for full custody, and your ass better get a good divorce lawyer while your at it!" I yell yanking my hand away and storming off.

***

Jayceon -

"You ain't gone ever take my son from me bitch! You ain't got a dime in yo pocket to take care of yo own ass so you damn sure ain't having my son," I yelled into the phone while I flamed up a blunt. This bitch was tripping. Erica knew damn well I'd ring her fuckin neck if she took my son away from me.

"Fuck you Jayceon!" She yelled.

"That's exactly what you try to do when you ain't got no money, while you telling Amber shit tell her that!" I yell back.

"I can't fuckin stand you I should of never brought him into your life you piece of shit!"

"Yeah yeah yeah just make sure yo ass here to pick Harlem up Monday, if you not on time I'm a report that shit bitch!" I yelled hanging up.

Just as I put my phone down it rang again, it was Emilio.

"Wassup Emilio?" I ask into the phone.

"You busy right now? I got a drop for you and it's worth a whole lot of money, this can really set you straight," he says.

"How much money we talking?" I ask.

"A hundred grand, plus the eight I owe you,"

I pause for a second, thinking. I promised Harlem I'd tuck him in tonight.

"When you want me to do this?"

"Midnight, at the gateway, Richard will be with you," he says before hanging up.

Amber was not going to like this but I wanted that paper.

"Daddy! You going to give me a bath and tuck me in right?" Harlem asks the minute I come in the bedroom.

"Yeah lil man imma put you to bed, come on," I say.

After giving him a bath and putting him down, I smoked a blunt and waited until Amber was sleep before dipping out.