Page 70 of Certified Pressure 3
Pressure grinned. “Say less.”
He made a quick turn, pulling into the lot of a restaurant. Inside, the smell of food hit us instantly. He ordered tacos for Zurie, wings for himself, and some seafood pasta for me. We sat at a corner table near the window, and the whole time, he and Zurie were locked in their own world, cracking jokes, talking about her games, and laughing like they had known each other forever.
I didn’t say much, but sat there watching them. Seeing him like that, comfortable, laughing and being gentle with her, said more than words ever could.
After we finished eating, we got back in the car. I noticed he still hadn’t said anything about the house or where we were going, but I didn’t question him. I trusted him, maybe more than I should, but something in me knew everything was already set up.
The ride grew quiet after a while with just the sound of the music playing low. My nerves were climbing again, that mix of excitement and curiosity twisting in me.
Finally, Pressure slowed the car and turned down a long private road lined with palm trees. The air looked golden from the sunset, and ahead of us sat a flat that looked straight out of a dream.
It was a single level home, wide and modern with tall glass windows and a white stone exterior that gleamed in the light. The front lawn was trimmed perfectly, the driveway lined with white flowers and green hedges. There was a small fountain near the walkway and water glistening under the last stretch of sunlight. It was peaceful and rich, even though it was a flat.
Pressure parked the car and turned off the engine. Then he looked over at me and reached into his pocket, pulling out a key. He handed it to me without saying a word at first.
I stared at it, realizing what it meant. “This is…”
I felt my eyes start to sting, but I blinked fast, forcing myself to keep it together. I took the key and smiled softly. “Thank you, Pressure.”
He nodded. “You ain’t gotta thank me. You earned this.”
We got out the car, and Zurie jumped up and down as soon as she saw the house. “It’s so pretty!” she squealed, running ahead.
When we walked inside, movers were still unpacking boxes and setting up furniture. A cleaning lady was wiping down thecounters even though the place looked spotless already. The air smelled like lemon and new wood.
The living room was wide and open with cream colored walls, soft white couches, and gold accents that made everything glow. The kitchen had marble counters and tall cabinets, with a long island in the center that looked like it belonged in a mansion. Down the hallway, I could hear voices from one of the rooms. Two men were in there setting up Zurie’s bed, a pink, white, and lavender comforter spread across it with matching curtains and a white dresser.
Zurie’s eyes lit up. “Pluto! Is this our new home?”
Before I could even answer, Pressure said, “Yeah, lil’ mama. This y’all new home.”
Her smile grew wider, and she started jumping on the floor with excitement. Then she looked up at him and asked, “Are you gonna live with us?”
Pressure turned to me, his eyes locking with mine for a long second. The look in his eyes made me bite my bottom lip. He wanted me to say yes.
But he finally spoke instead. “Nah, I’m not,” he said. “But I’ll be here… every chance I get.”
Zurie nodded, content with that answer, and ran off to explore her room.
I stayed there, staring at him, emotion bubbling up inside me. Everything he’d done, from the jet, to the house, to the care, it was overwhelming in the best way. He didn’t just talk about taking care of us. He actually did it.
Pressure looked around, his expression softening when his eyes met mine again. “Y’all good now,” he said. “Everything you need is in here. You ain’t gotta worry ‘bout shit no more.”
I swallowed hard, holding back tears. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“Just live, Pluto,” he said. “That’s all I want.”
In that moment, I realized I was finally safe. Not because of where I was, but because of who made it possible.
Crystal Bay
Three days later…
When the Uber driver parked in front of my parents’ house, I quickly slid out of the backseat, feeling anxious but trying not to show it. My palms were sweating, and my stomach felt twisted in knots. This wasn’t my first time pulling up here, but something about today felt heavier. I was still trying to process the fact that I was pregnant, and even though I didn’t have the best relationship with my mama, a part of me needed to see her face when I told her. I wanted to see that look of surprise, and that moment where she finally had to acknowledge that I was doing something right.
The house looked the same as always, big and beautiful with that fake warmth that came from the outside. You would never know how cold it felt inside once you stepped through those doors. I stood there for a second, adjusting my purse on my shoulder, then reached for my key. The second the door clicked open, I could smell my mama’s perfume mixed with wine.
I walked in, closing the door behind me. The sound of heels tapping on the tile came from the bar area, and when I turned the corner, there she was.
