Page 92 of Certified Pressure 3
“You good?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said. “It happens sometimes. It could be from the sex.”
I nodded, but I couldn’t relax. I started rubbin’ her belly, waitin’ to feel my baby move, but nothin’ happened. My chest got tight, and my throat burned.
“Why he not movin’?” I asked, my voice low but shakin’ a lil’.
“He will,” she said softly. “Just give him a second.”
I kept rubbin’ her belly, tryin’ not to let my fear show, but it was eatin’ at me. The last time I ain’t feel my baby move, it ended bad. I could still see Ka’mari’s face in that hospital bed, cryin’ while they told us our baby was gone. I couldn’t go through that again.
“Come on, baby boy,” I whispered, pressin’ my palm to her stomach. “Come on, let me feel you.”
Pluto could see the fear in my face, so she reached for my hand and placed hers on top of it. We rubbed her belly together, slow and gentle. For a while, nothin’ happened. Then, finally, I felt a kick. Then another one.
My heart dropped in relief, and I exhaled, closin’ my eyes for a second. “He good,” I said softly. “He good.”
Pluto smiled, tears still in her eyes. “Told you.”
I nodded, still rubbin’ her belly. “He gon’ be somethin’ special.”
“He already is,” she whispered.
We laid there for a while longer, both quiet, just breathin’ each other in. I ain’t wanna move, and I ain’t wanna leave, but she eventually broke the silence.
“You should go,” she said quietly. “I don’t want Zurie waking up and seein’ you in here.”
I ain’t say nothing at first. I just stared at the ceiling, wishin’ time could stop.
“A’ight,” I said finally, even though I ain’t mean it.
I got up, pulled my clothes on, and picked up my jewelry off the floor. When I looked back at her, she was sittin’ on the edge of the bed, her hand restin’ on her stomach, her eyes followin’ me. She walked me to the door, her steps slow as that silk gown brushed the floor again.
At the door, I turned around, hopin’ she would say somethin’… Anything…But she didn’t.
So I leaned in and kissed her one last time.
Then I walked away…
By the time I got to my car, my chest felt hollow. I sat there for a second, starin’ at the house, thinkin’ about her, about my son, and about how tomorrow I was supposed to marry somebody else.
The Holy Crown Temple
Today, I was about to marry Pressure, and words couldn’t even begin to describe how I felt inside. I was marrying the love of my life and the man I’d been through some shit with. The dressing room was full of voices and energy and everybody moving around to make sure I looked perfect. Lexyz, Zy’Lani, Marli, and Journi were all here helping me with my gown and checking my hair and makeup like they were on payroll. Toni Roc was sitting on the couch, sipping champagne and hyping me up like the loud sister I never had.
The mirrors surrounded us, big and gold-framed, catching the soft light from the chandelier that hung over my head.My wedding dress shimmered under it, fitted in all the right places with long layers of silk and lace spreading behind me like something out of a royal movie. The makeup artist had just finished my face, and when I looked at myself, I felt like a completely different woman. I wanted Pressure to see me and lose his mind. I wanted him to feel like I was the only thing that made sense in his world.
Last night still played in my head like a movie. Toni had made sure my bachelorette party was one for the books. She went all out with a private suite, personal chef, bottles lined up on every table, and music so loud we could feel it in our bones. We danced all night. For a few hours, I didn’t think about Pressure, the wedding, or even Pluto. It was just me and my girls having fun. Me and Pressure didn’t go home to each other last night, but I didn’t care.
I wanted him to miss me, wake up thinking about me and to see my face at the end of that aisle and know he made the right choice.
Toni walked up to me with a smile, her glass in hand. “Girl, you look expensive as hell,” she said, her eyes running over the gown.
“I am expensive,” I said with a laugh. “Pressure know what time it is.”
Lexyz laughed. “You look like you about to shut the whole Trill-Land down.”
“I plan on it,” I said, smirking at my reflection.
