Page 36 of Certified Pressure 3
“Bout time,” she said, grinnin’.
We hugged, then walked toward the back doors. The sound of music and low laughter drifted through the glass before we even stepped out. I could see Pressure and Kay’Lo sitting near the fire pit, smoking and talking like everything was right with the world.
Toni looked over at me and smiled. “See? They good now. Told you all that cousin drama was gon’ blow over.”
“Yeah,” I said, a little relieved. “I’m glad they made up. I was starting to think they’d never get back right.”
We walked out, and the air hit soft and warm against my skin. Kay’Lo spotted Toni first and held his arm out for her. Shelaughed and walked straight into him, sitting on his lap while he handed her the blunt.
Pressure looked up and saw me. The way his eyes landed on me made my stomach drop. There was something about that look that always got me. It wasn’t just lust; it was that deep kind of attention that made me feel like the only person in the world.
I walked over and sat beside him. He didn’t say nothing. He just stared at me like he was trying to read my thoughts. I smiled a little, then leaned in and kissed him. His lips were soft and warm, and when he kissed me back, it made everything inside me calm for a second.
He pulled away slow and kept looking at me, his hand resting on my thigh. I leaned closer, feeling that comfort I’d been missing.
Kay’Lo and Toni were laughing about something, and I glanced over at them. Pressure followed my eyes, and when he saw his cousin with her, he paused.
“Yo,” he called out.
Toni looked up. “What’s up, Pressure?”
He balled his fist and held it out. “My nigga.”
Toni grinned, got up, and bumped her fist against his. “My nigga, Pressure.”
It was like a truce, the end of whatever little tension was left between them. I smiled to myself, proud of him for that.
Pressure leaned back, grabbed his drink, and took a slow sip while his hand stayed on my leg. I leaned into him, laying my head on his shoulder. At this moment, everything felt peaceful.
Toni and Kay’Lo were playing around, laughing, and I could hear Toni’s loud voice going off. The sound made me laugh, and even Pressure cracked a smile.
It was one of those rare nights where it felt like everything was good again. There was no tension, arguments, or pressure from the outside world. It was just us.
I looked up at him, my voice soft. “I’m proud of you.”
He glanced down at me. “For what?”
“For letting that shit go with Kay’Lo,” I said. “For real. I know that wasn’t easy.”
He nodded slow. “Yeah, well, that’s my blood. We had to get past that.”
I smiled and rubbed his back. “I’m glad y’all good again.”
He kissed the top of my head and said, “Me too.”
We sat there for a long time after that, talking low, and just vibing.
Maybe things weren’t perfect, but sitting here beside my future husband, surrounded by family, I believed that everything really would be okay.
Days later…
Today, me and Pressure were having lunch with Toni and Kay’Lo, and I wanted to look good. Not just regular good, but that fine that made people stare when we walked in. I’d just showered with Pressure, and we’d been playing around in there longer than we were supposed to, so I was rushing to get dressed.
I flat-ironed my hair until it was bone straight, laid my edges, and did my makeup real soft but clean. A little shimmer on my cheekbones, glossy lips and lashes that gave drama without looking too heavy. I slipped into a fitted chocolate dress with my gold anklet and my chain that Pressure bought me. I looked in the mirror and smiled because I knew I was about to turn heads.
When I came out the bathroom, Pressure was already dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed putting on his watch. This man looked too damn good. His lineup was fresh, his wavesthick and deep like he’d just come out the chair, his skin was glowing, and his cologne was hitting so hard it made me weak. His arms looked strong as hell with veins popping just enough to make me remember what those hands did last night.
I walked right up to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Damn, you look so good I could eat you,” I said, smiling up at him.
