Page 29 of Certified Pressure 3
Kwame didn’t say another word. He finished his food, dabbed his mouth with a napkin, and said he had a phone call to make. Before he left, he looked at Kay’Lo. “You’ll have to call me later, son.”
It sounded polite, but somethin’ about it felt like a message I wasn’t supposed to miss. He gave a short nod at me, then walked off.
The room stayed light after that, but it felt different. I kept smilin’ and laughin’ when Treasure said somethin’ funny, but part of me knew I wasn’t gon’ fit in.
After a while, lunch wrapped up and Kay’Lo stood, thankin’ his mama before we headed out. Treasure came around the table and gave me another hug. It wasn’t like the first one though. This one felt a lil’ more careful, like she was tryin’ to figure out how she actually felt about me. She was nice about it, still smilin’ and tellin’ me it was good meetin’ me.
When we got to the car, I finally let out the breath I’d been holdin’. Kay’Lo laughed low, startin’ the engine.
“You did good, baby,” he said, reachin’ over to pull my hand to his lips again.
I smiled, but my mind was still on his father. “I don’t think your daddy liked what I said about school.”
He shrugged. “So what. It ain’t about what he like. Pops gon’ be a’ight.”
I looked out the window, watchin’ the driveway stretch behind us. “He just seemed like he wasn’t feelin’ me.”
“He don’t gotta feel you,” Kay’Lo said, his voice calm. “I do.”
That shut me right up. I looked over at him, admiring the way the sunlight hit his skin.
The rest of the ride stayed quiet, but it was that kind of quiet that felt safe. Even with the way shit went at his people house, I knew I’d never forget how he looked at me when he kissed my hand at that table. It was like no matter who doubted me, he was gon’ keep remindin’ everybody that I belonged right next to him.
Eboni Keep in Nzuri Hall
Iwas on my way to my mom and pops crib, ridin’ slow and thinkin’ about everything I had to tell ‘em. The drive felt longer than usual, like the road was stretchin’ itself out on purpose. The sun was bright, the air was warm, and all I could think about was how none of this shit was gon’ be easy once I pulled up.
The closer I got, the more the shit weighed on me. I kept runnin’ through the conversation in my head, tryna figure out how to say what needed to be said without everything blowin’ up.
Pops was calm but stern, and my mama didn’t play about our bloodline. I knew she would want answers, especially when she found out Pluto was pregnant.
Me and Kashmere had been kickin’ it tough lately. We had been good—at least on the surface. She was the type that made everything look perfect from the outside. She made sure I ate, made sure the house stayed clean, even though we had maids on deck and she made sure I had peace. She was beautiful, funny, and smart in her own way. She gave me the kind of comfort that most men would be grateful for, but even with her there, my head wasn’t where it should’ve been. Every time I heard my phone buzz, I half-hoped it was Pluto.
Lately, she had been sendin’ me videos. Just her voice soft in the background and the sound of my baby’s heartbeat through the portable ultrasound I bought her. The first time I heard it, it felt like somebody reached in my chest and twisted somethin’ I ain’t even know was there. Every time after that, it hit deeper. I would play those clips late at night, even when Kashmere was right next to me talkin’ about weddin’ colors or some designer shit she wanted to wear. I would smile, nod and say all the right shit, but my mind would drift straight back to Pluto.
She had that pull on me that didn’t let go no matter how much I tried to act like I moved on. I couldn’t get her outta my head. I couldn’t get the sound of son or daughter’s heartbeat outta my ears. My baby... our baby…
When the gates opened, I eased through and parked out front. The guards nodded when they saw me, and I gave a small one back before cuttin’ the engine. For a second I just sat there lookin’ up at the place. The stone, the tall gold pillars, the vines crawling up the sides… all of it looked the same as always.
Inside, everything was still and perfect. The air smelled like jasmine and wood polish. My mama always had this thing aboutpresentation. You could walk in any time of day and it would still look put together.
I walked through the main hall, past the long staircase and into the sittin’ room where they always had their tea. Ma was sittin’ there already, back straight, and legs crossed in her cream-colored silk. Her hair was wrapped neat, makeup flawless, not a single thing out of place. Pops was next to her, quiet as usual, readin’ from a tablet with that focused look he always had.
Ma looked up and smiled. “Pressure, my love. You finally decided to visit your parents?” She joked, even though she knew I was on the way.
I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Always got time for you, Ma.”
She smiled and patted my hand. “You better. Sit down, baby. You look tired.”
I hugged my pops next. “Wus’ good, Pops?”
He gave me a solid pat on the back. “Everything’s good, son. You lookin’ sharp.”
I dropped down across from them and rested my arm on the couch. “Appreciate it.”
Ma poured me a cup of tea, slid it across the table, then gave me that look—the one that meant she already knew I was holdin’ somethin’ in. “So, tell me, how’s everything? You’ve been quiet lately.”
I took a sip of the tea that was still warm, and set it back down. “Been workin’. Stayin’ focused. Tryin’ to move right.”
