Page 31 of Certified Pressure 3
She stopped right in front of me, lookin’ down with eyes that was no longer calm but fiery. “If you don’t, I will. That’s not a threat. That’s a promise.”
Her words hung heavy between us. For the first time, I saw the emotion slip through that calm she always carried. The pride and grace was still there, but so was that fire.
I nodded slow. “I hear you.”
She sat back down, still composed but quiet. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for her teacup.
Pops didn’t say shit else, but when I looked at him, his eyes said everything. He ain’t need to talk. He just stared, and I could read it clear as day. I needed to grow up, handle my business and stop runnin’ from what’s mine.
The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable, but it was definitely heavy. I leaned back and ran a hand across my head, starin’ out the window. The sun hit the glass, bouncin’ light around the room, and for a second, I thought about Pluto again. I thought about her sittin’ somewhere rubbin’ her stomach, listenin’ to my child’s heartbeat while I was here tryna explain my mess.
Ma finally spoke again, softer this time. “You need to bring her home, Pressure.
“I know,” I said quietly.
Her words stung ‘cause they was true.
I stood up and kissed her forehead. “I’ll handle it, Ma.”
“You better,” she said without lookin’ up.
I turned to Pops and nodded.
When I stepped out the doors of the mansion, the light hit my face, and I exhaled slow. No matter how much money, power, or control I had, nothin’ felt heavier than what was sittin’ on myheart. I had a fiancée waitin’ for me at home, a baby on the way with a woman who didn’t want me, and a mother who was gon’ move heaven and earth to bring my baby to Trill-Land.
And in that moment, I realized I couldn’t run from none of this shit.
After peelin’ off from my mom and Pops crib, I grabbed my blunt from the center console and lit up. The smoke filled the car fast as I turned onto the main road. My mind was racin’, thinkin’ about everything said. I could still hear her voice tellin’ me that marriage could wait but my baby couldn’t. Pops ain’t say more than my mama, but he said a mouthful and that shit stuck. If Pluto was carryin’ my child, that’s who I needed to be with.
The truth was, they was both right. Deep down, I knew that, but how in the fuck was I supposed to be with somebody who barely let me in? Pluto wasn’t like other women. She was quiet but stubborn as fuck, and when she spoke, she meant what she said. Technically, she never said she ain’t want me, but she made it real clear she wasn’t ‘bout to move how I wanted her to.
The more I thought about it, the more it pissed me off. I hit the blunt again, lettin’ the smoke roll out my mouth slow while my thoughts circled around everything I had to juggle. Kashmere was talkin’ about wedding plans and decor themes, and I couldn’t even focus on that. She already wanted to plan guest lists, venues, color palettes, all that. I tried to act like I cared, but my head was somewhere else completely.
All I could think about was that ultrasound sound Pluto sent me last night. That fast lil’ heartbeat that made me sit there in the dark, starin’ at my phone like it held my whole future in its hands. I ain’t know if I wanted a boy or a girl, but I kept thinkin’about what a son would do to me. A little man of mine would make me wanna get my shit together, make smarter moves and stop livin’ reckless just ‘cause I could. If it was a girl I would be on some different shit, ready to beat any nigga’s ass that looked at her wrong, always on guard and overprotective. Either way, I already loved my baby, and I knew I was gon’ give ‘em everything I had in me.
By the time I pulled up to the crib, my head was cloudy from both the smoke and the thoughts that wouldn’t leave a nigga alone. I parked, grabbed my lighter, and tucked my blunt in the cup holder before steppin’ out. The house was quiet when I walked in, but it didn’t last long.
Kashmere was walkin’ down the hallway like she had been waitin’ on me all day. Her heels clicked across the floor, and her long curls bounced around her shoulders. She looked good, I wasn’t gon’ lie. But right when I opened my mouth to say somethin’, my phone started ringin’.
When I looked down and saw Pluto’s name, I ain’t even hesitate. I picked up. It didn’t matter what time or where I was, if Pluto called, I was answerin’.
“Pressure,” she said, her voice calm but serious. “If you really want me to come out there to Trill-Land soon, I’m gonna need your help.”
That got my attention fast. “Say less. What you need?”
She took a breath before speakin’. “I need to start the process to adopt Zurie. You already know how bad my parents messed things up. They can’t take care of her, but for the courts to take me serious, I have to prove I got the financial stability and living situation to raise her. They’re already on my back about me being pregnant, and it’s making it harder.”
I leaned against the wall, listenin’ close. “So what you sayin’? You need me to help make it official?”
“Basically,” she said. “Your lawyers, your connections, whatever you can do. If I can show I got the support, it’ll move faster. I just don’t want to lose her.”
I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “I got you. I’mma make some calls in the mornin’. I’ll have my legal team handle everything and make sure you and Zurie straight.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“You really gon’ go through with adoptin’ her?” I asked.
“Yeah. I have to.”
