Page 95 of Certified Pressure 3
Pluto:My water just broke.
My whole body froze. I swear I couldn’t breathe.
I looked up at the pastor, then at Kashmere, then back at the phone. I blinked a few times like maybe I read it wrong, but it was right there in front of me.My water just broke.
I backed up a step and said, “I’m sorry, I gotta take this.”
The crowd got quiet. Kashmere frowned and whispered, “Pressure, what the hell are you doing?”
“I just need a second,” I said, already walkin’ down the steps. I pulled the phone out and hit call.
“Hello?” Pluto’s voice came through shaky and scared. She was cryin’.
“Yo, what’s goin on?” I asked, my voice low but loud enough that the church could hear.
“My water broke,” she cried. “It won’t stop, and I’m having bad contractions.”
“Your water broke? What? You still got another month before the baby get here.”
The whole room gasped. I didn’t even realize how loud I was talkin’. I turned my back to the crowd, one hand on my forehead, tryin’ to think straight.
“Yes,” she cried harder. “It won’t stop, and I’m scared. I’m on my way to the hospital.”
“Can you hold on till I get there?” I asked, my heart beatin’ so fast I thought I was about to pass out.
“I don’t think I can,” she said.
“I’m comin’,” I said quick. “I’m on the way, I swear.”
I hung up and looked at Kashmere. Her face was red, her eyes wide, and she looked like she was about to explode.
“You serious right now?” she yelled. “You really about to walk out of our wedding for her?”
I took a deep breath and walked closer. My voice was calm but my whole body was shakin’. I took her hands and looked her straight in her eyes.
“I can’t do this,” I said. “I can’t marry you, Kash. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
“What?” she whispered, her lips tremblin’.
“I love somebody else,” I said, the words heavy but real. “I love Pluto. That’s who I’m supposed to be with. That’s who got my heart.”
Tears started rollin’ down her face, and it broke me. I didn’t mean to embarrass her, but I couldn’t keep lyin’.
“I’m sorry it took me this long. I’m so sorry I wasted yo’ time,” I said. “You ain’t deserve this, and I’ll still make sure you get that money. You earned that… but I can’t marry you.”
She stared at me like I stabbed her right through the heart, and I did. Then she pulled her hands away and yelled, “Fuck you, Pressure!” before storming off down the aisle.
The whole church went quiet, and the only sound that broke through was my mama startin’ to clap, loud and proud.
“About time son,” she said with tears in her eyes. “About damn time.”
Kashmere turned back with a cold glare that could kill. My mama stared right back like she was waitin’ on her to try somethin’.
I couldn’t stay here another damn second. I felt around in my pocket for my keys but realized I ain’t even have none.
“Say, Cuz!” Kay’Lo called out from the front.
I looked up and he was holdin’ his keys up. “Go handle that, fam,” he said, and tossed them across the aisle. I caught them without even thinkin’.
