Page 66 of Certified Pressure 3
We got back to laughin’ after that. Renza started tellin’ another wild-ass story while Kay’Lo and Blaqson joined in, crackin’ jokes and talkin’ over the music. The DJ switched it up, playin’ some slow trap mixed with old school R&B, and everybody in the lounge was vibin’. I leaned back on the couch, feelin’ the bass thump through the floor while the liquor warmed my chest. For once, I wasn’t thinkin’ about no problems, no pressure, no weddin’ plans. It was just me and my brothers, celebratin’, drinkin’, and lettin’ the night ride out exactly how it should.
After a while, we started packin’ it up. I threw some cash on the table for the waitress and stood up. Renza and Kay’Lo followed behind me as we made our way out the lounge. The music faded as we stepped outside into the night.
I slid into my car and leaned back in the seat, exhalin’ before hittin’ the push to start. Renza’s car pulled out behind me, then Kay’Lo’s while Blaqson peeled off in a different direction. The drive home was quiet, while my mind was turnin’ circles the whole way.
Pluto was comin’ to Trill-Land… damn…
I needed to hit my realtor in the mornin’ so we could get her and Zurie into somethin’ nice. Obviously, they couldn’t stay with me. That would just start more problems, especially with Kash livin’ in the house. But even if she wasn’t there, I knew Pluto wouldn’t want to stay with me anyway.
I wanted her and Zurie to have a home that felt like theirs. They needed somethin’ safe, clean, and close enough where I could pull up whenever I needed to check on them. I started plannin’ the details in my head, like how I was gon’ make sure she had everything she needed for the baby. Soon we’d be findin’ out the sex, and I wanted to be there for that. I was already thinkin’ about callin’ my assistant in the mornin’ to start lookin’ for a private doctor to handle her prenatal care.
It was a lot on my plate, but it was the kind of shit I ain’t mind handlin’. I had money, I had power, and I had a baby on the way. I was gon’ make sure everything around my baby was solid.
But I couldn’t ignore the other part of it. I still had to tell Kashmere. She had no idea Pluto was movin’ to Trill-Land, and that conversation was gon’ be messy no matter how I tried to spin it. I decided I would handle it later. For now, my focus was gettin’ Pluto and Zurie here safe.
By the time I pulled up to the mansion, it was close to two in the mornin’. I parked in the driveway and climbed out, stretchin’ before headin’ inside. The house was quiet, only a few lights glowin’ down the hall. I walked through the foyer, and hit the elevator to go up to the master suite.
When the doors opened, I walked in and saw Kashmere sittin’ in bed with the TV on low. The blanket was across her lap and her hair was wrapped up neat. She looked up when she saw me, then reached over and turned the lamp on. Her face was calm, but I could tell she had somethin’ on her mind.
She reached for somethin’ on the nightstand and held it in her hand. “I took a pregnancy test earlier,” she said, her voice soft but serious. “I’m pregnant.”
I froze.
For a few seconds, I ain’t even know how to respond. My heart was beatin’ but my mind was blank. I wasn’t expectin’ that.
She watched me close. “What’s on your mind?”
I looked at her, my expression unreadable. “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “You just dropped that on me.”
That wasn’t the answer she wanted, but it was all I had right now. She nodded slowly, her eyes searchin’ mine. “I’m going to schedule a doctor’s appointment soon,” she said finally.
I nodded back. “A’ight. That’s cool.”
I turned toward the bathroom, tryin’ to keep my thoughts straight. Once I got in, I closed the door behind me and just stood there for a second.
I took a piss, washed my hands, and stared at myself in the mirror. Every time I thought I was makin’ progress, life threw me another curveball.
Pluto was comin’ to Trill-Land, pregnant with my baby. Kashmere was in my bed, pregnant too.
I leaned against the counter, lettin’ that shit sink in. Two women, two babies, two completely different worlds crashin’ into each other.
This wasn’t how I planned this shit, but it was the reality I was standin’ in. I ain’t even know what to feel. Excitement, guilt, confusion—all that shit was all mixin’ together in my head.
One thing was for sure though. Tomorrow was gon’ change everything.
Chapel Grove
The following morning…
It was a little past nine o’clock and I was up, still laying in bed with the covers pulled halfway over me. My phone kept buzzing beside my pillow, and when I finally reached over and grabbed it, I saw a few texts from Pressure.
Pressure:I found you a house. Should be getting the keys later this evening.
I read it twice just to let it sink in. A smile tried to creep across my face, but I fought it back. I shouldn’t have been surprised because that’s the kind of man Pressure was. If he said something was handled, it was handled. If he didn’t do ithimself, somebody in his family would make it happen before the day was over. Everything he touched moved fast, and the thought of it made my stomach flutter in the best way.
I texted him back, letting him know I had just woken up and was about to wake Zurie and start getting myself together. Then I put the phone down and just sat there in bed for a while, staring at the ceiling and letting it all hit me.
I was really about to move to Trill-Land.
