Page 64 of Certified Pressure 3
I leaned back on the couch with a glass of cognac in my hand, watchin’ the smoke from Renza’s blunt curl up through the light. The waitress passed by with another tray of drinks, and the scent of perfume lingered when she walked away. My phone buzzed in my pocket, but I ignored it. Tonight was supposed to be about peace.
For a minute, it was. The crowd moved slow, people laughin’, flirtin’, and movin’ to the music. It was that type of night where time didn’t really matter.
Then I finally reached for my phone. I pulled it out and saw a text that made a nigga sit up straight. It was from Pluto.
Pluto:I hope you found somewhere for me and Zurie to stay because we’re coming to Trill-Land.
I stared at the screen for a second, lettin’ it sink in. She sent it two hours ago. Two fuckin’ hours and I missed it.
My drink was halfway to my mouth when I stopped and set it down. Renza was still talkin’ but I wasn’t hearin’ nothin’ no more. I stood up quick.
“Yo, I’ll be right back,” I said.
Kay’Lo looked up at me. “Everything cool?”
“Yeah,” I said, already movin’ through the crowd. “I just gotta handle somethin’ real quick.”
The lounge was packed, people talkin’ loud, lights flashin’ from the DJ booth, and all I could think about was that text. Pluto was really comin’ to Trill-Land.
As I pushed through the crowd, I noticed this one female again. The same light-skinned woman who been watchin’ me all night from across the lounge. She had long hair down her back. Her skin was smooth and glowin’ under the lights, her lips glossy, and eyes locked on me like she already made her mind up on what she wanted. When I got closer, she stepped right in front of me.
“Damn, you look even better up close,” she said, smilin’ slow.
I just stared for a second, takin’ her in. She was bad, no question. She was the kind of woman most niggas would lose they cool for. She reached out and slid her hand under my shirt, her fingers trailin’ over my abs like she had every right to touch me. Her voice dropped low when she said, “You been ignorin’ me all night.”
I looked down at her hand, then back at her face. For a second, I thought about how easy it would be to fall into somethin’ that didn’t matter, but my mind was somewhere else completely. I grabbed her wrist gently, moved her hand off me, and stepped around her like she wasn’t even there.
“Chill out, baby girl,” I said, walkin’ off.
When I finally made it outside, the air hit different. I could hear the music thumpin’ from inside the lounge, but it allsounded distant. I pulled my phone out again and called Pluto. It rang twice before she picked up.
“Hello?” Her voice was soft and tired, like I woke her up.
“You sleep?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she said.
“I just saw your text.” I ran a hand down my face. “Go ahead and pack ya bags. I’m sendin’ a jet for you and Zurie tonight.”
“Pressure, it’s late,” she said softly. “Zurie’s sleep.”
I sighed. She was right. I could hear it in her tone. It was that mix of calm and exhaustion that came from carryin’ too much for too long. I leaned against one of the cars parked out front, starin’ at the streetlights.
“A’ight,” I said finally. “Be ready in the mornin’ then. I’m sendin’ for y’all.”
There was a long pause. I could tell she was thinkin’ about it.
“Okay,” she said finally, her voice low.
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “Good. I’ll handle the rest.”
She was quiet for a few seconds before sayin’, “Pressure… the judge awarded me custody today. Zurie’s officially mine.”
I froze for a second, lettin’ that sink in. A slow smile spread across my face. “For real?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m proud of you,” I said, meanin’ every word. “You really did that, Pluto.”
