Page 12 of Certified Pressure 3
“Just cut that shit and eat it,” I said, laughin’. I sliced a piece and slid it into her mouth, watchin’ her eyes close as she chewed.
“Mmm,” she said, smackin her lips. “Okay, I like that.”
“I know you do, baby,” I said, cuttin’ another piece for myself. “You eatin’ good with me now.“
We ate, sipped, and talked, the waitress keepin’ our glasses filled with champagne. Kash kept glancin’ out at the view, shakin’ her head like she couldn’t believe she was really sittin’ here. Every now and then she would reach for my hand, run her thumb across my skin, and I could tell she was fallin’ deeper just off the way I was lettin’ her in on this side of me. Her life with me no longer had to just be tied to the Jungle Estate.
By the time we finished, she leaned back with a satisfied sigh, rubbin’ her stomach. “Best breakfast I ever had in my life.”
“Good,” I said, standin’ up and droppin’ a few bills on the table for the waitress. “Now come on.”
I grabbed her hand, led her back through the rooftop, down the elevator, and out into the garage where my whip was waitin’. She slid into the passenger seat while I reached into the back and pulled out a Louis Vuitton duffel. When I dropped it in her lap, she frowned and looked at me.
“What’s this?”
“Open it.”
She unzipped the bag slow, and her eyes damn near popped out her head. Stacks on stacks of cash, piled high, smellin fresh, ‘cause it just came out the bank. She looked up at me, stunned. “Pressure… what the fuck?”
I smirked and started the engine. “We goin’ shoppin’. I want you to go crazy. Get whatever the fuck you want. Matter fact, don’t even look at the price tags. Just grab what you want and bag it.”
She sat back, clutchin’ the bag like she couldn’t believe it was real, her mouth open but no words comin’ out. I pulled off, the engine growlin’ as we hit the street, and the city laid out in front of us like it already belonged to me.
The Crown District
When we pulled up to the mall, I looked over at Kashmere and she was sittin’ there with her mouth halfway open like she couldn’t believe I really brought her here. The Crown District wasn’t no regular mall. This was the spot that screamed money before you even stepped inside. Big glass walls wrapped around the whole buildin’, fountains shootin’ up front like the water was dancin’ for the rich niggas walkin’ in and out, and valet had nothin’ but foreigns lined up back-to-back. It was the kind of place that let you know if you ain’t got money, don’t bring yo’ broke ass here.
I tossed the valet my keys and gave him a head nod. Kashmere slid out the passenger seat and instantly linked her arm with mine, her nails diggin’ in like she ain’t wanna get lost in all the shine around us.
The glass doors opened and soon as we stepped inside, that cold air wrapped around us, smellin’ like expensive perfume and leather. Everything in The Crown District gleamed with gold accents on the rails. The ceilings was so high you had to tilt your head back to see the art painted up there. The designer stores lined both sides, all the logos poppin’, from Louis to Dior to Cartier. Kash’s eyes was movin’ everywhere, like she ain’t know where to start.
“Pick one,” I told her. “Matter fact, pick all of ‘em. We hittin’ every store you look at.”
She giggled and shook her head but I could see her body language change. That lil’ sway in her hips picked up as she dragged me straight toward Louis Vuitton.
Inside, she was like a kid in a candy store. She picked up handbags one after another, pressin’ them to her side and lookin’ at herself in the mirror. She tried on shades, heels, jackets, jewelry. Everything she touched, I told the sales associate, “Bag it.” Kashmere kept whisperin’ I was crazy, but the glow on her face told me she loved every second of it. She strutted out the store with bags stacked on both arms, and we hadn’t even made it past the first floor yet.
We went from Louis to Gucci, Prada, Cartier, Chanel. She picked out a diamond bracelet, and I clasped it around her wrist right there, kissin’ her hand in front of everybody so she knew I had no issue lovin’ her out loud. She tried on a pair of red-bottom heels, strutted in front of me with that look in her eye like she wanted me to tell her how fine she looked. I leaned back in the chair, grinnin’.
“You killin’ ‘em,” I said. “Bag ‘em up.”
By the time we hit Cartier, she was laughin’ loud, her bags stacked so high the associates had to carry them for her. She sat in one of the velvet chairs while I picked out a chain, somethin’ light but mean, and had them box it up for myself.
Halfway through all the shine and laughter, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, and the screen lit up with my mama’s name. The smile faded a lil’ off my face. I wasn’t duckin’ her call, but I knew what was waitin’ on the other side.
I answered. “What’s up, Ma?”
Her voice came through smooth and calm, and it always calmed me down no matter what was on my mind. “Hello, son. It’s good to hear your voice. How have you been? I trust you’ve been keeping yourself well?”
“I’m straight, Ma,” I said, glancin’ at Kashmere as she laughed with the associate about somethin’.
“That’s good,” she said softly. “I do miss seein’ you. You’ll come by soon, won’t you? We need to sit and talk. I’d like toknow what’s going on in your world, and whether you’ve found the woman you mean to share it with.”
I rubbed my temple, lettin’ out a slow breath. “Yeah, Ma. I’ll come by.”
When I hung up, I felt that reality sittin’ on my chest. Kashmere was sittin’ across from me lookin’ like the happiest woman alive, bags of designer shit surroundin’ her, diamond bracelet glistenin’ under the lights. But I knew the storm was comin’. I knew my mama wasn’t gon’ care that I chose Kash to be my wife, ‘cause she just wanted a nigga to get married, but she damn sure was gon’ wanna know why I chose her while Pluto carryin’ my baby. That conversation was gon’ be long as hell, and I knew it.
I forced a smirk back on my face and stood up, reachin’ for Kashmere’s hand. “Come on, girl. We ain’t done.”
