Page 29 of Certified Pressure 4
The following morning…
I laid in bed wit’ Pluto, her leg thrown across mine, her hair all messed up from last night, and my lil’ man stretched out on my chest sleep. The mornin’ light was slidin’ through the curtains, soft and warm, hittin’ Pluto’s skin just right. She looked peaceful, but I knew what it was. I had her clingin’ on me hard last night. She had been extra sweet ever since, kissin’ on me, and holdin’ my arm tight like she ain’t wanna let go. This woman loved me for real, and I felt it every time she breathed on me.
Prestyn’s lil’ body moved with every breath I took, his tiny hand restin’ right over my chest. I kissed the top of his head and rubbed his back, listenin’ to them soft lil’ baby sounds he madewhile he dreamed. Pluto moved beside me and kissed my arm again. Her voice came out low and sweet. “We was supposed to wait another week, Pressure.”
I turned my head and looked at her. “That pussy worked just fine, baby. You good.”
She rolled her eyes and tried to hide her smile, but she couldn’t. That was my girl. She acted tough, but I knew how to melt her every time.
I kissed Prestyn’s head again and leaned back, thinkin’ about how wild life done got. I used to wake up with guns on my nightstand and demons on my mind. Now I’m wakin’ up with my son droolin’ on my chest and the woman I love cuddled up next to me. It was crazy how God could flip your whole story when He was ready for you to grow up.
I glanced down at Pluto. “I got therapy in like two hours,” I told her.
She raised her eyebrows. “You going today?”
“Yeah,” I said. “And you comin’ wit’ me this time.”
She blinked, lookin’ kinda surprised. “You sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure,” I said. “I want you to see how I’m workin’ through this shit, and see what’s in my head. You part of me now, so you gotta be part of that too.”
Her lips parted a lil’, and she rubbed my cheek, lookin’ at me like she was tryna see my soul. “I’m proud of you,” she said softly.
I nodded, glancin’ from her to Prestyn. “You, him, and Zurie… y’all make me wanna be better. For real. Not just talk about it, but be that.”
She smiled, then leaned over and kissed me slow before gettin’ up. I watched her walk to the bathroom, her messy hair swingin’ a lil’ bit. She stopped in the doorway and looked back at me wit’ that half-smile that always do somethin’ to me. “I’ll get him dressed when I finish up.”
“Nah, I got him,” I said, already sittin’ up.
Prestyn started movin’ again, his lil’ face scrunchin’ up before the cries came out. I picked him up quick and kissed his cheek. “Aye, lil’ man, chill out. Daddy got you.”
He ain’t care. He screamed like the world was endin’, but I ain’t even get irritated. I laid him on the changin’ table and started undoin’ his onesie. “You dramatic like yo’ mama,” I said, laughin’ low. “You only five weeks old and already loud.”
Pluto had just walked in the bathroom but stepped right back out when she heard me.
“I’m dramatic?” She asked, liftin’ her brows.
“Hell yeah, you is.”
“Pressure Mensah, you put theDin dramatic.”
I glanced up at her and smirked. ‘Yeah, a’ight.’”
When she walked back in the bathroom, I focused on Prestyn. He kicked and waved his arms while I cleaned him up. His face was red, but I kissed his forehead and kept talkin’ to him.
Once I got him clean, I pulled out this lil’ Dior baby fit I bought. It was soft blue wit’ tiny white letters, and even the socks had the Dior logo. My boy was fresh before he could even crawl.
When Pluto came back out, I was holdin’ him up in front of the mirror, showin’ him how fly he looked. She laughed when she saw us. “You dressin’ him like he about to hit the runway.”
“He gotta represent,” I said, smilin’. “He Mensah blood. We don’t do basic.”
She shook her head, still smilin’, and reached for him. “Give him here, you know he hungry.”
I handed him over and watched her hold him close to her chest. It still messed me up sometimes how natural she was wit’ him, like she was born to be his mama. I went and brushed my teeth, washed my face, and jumped in the shower real quick.When I got out, I brushed my waves, sprayed a lil’ oil sheen, and pulled on a clean white tee, cargo pants, and my chain.
When I came back in the room, Pluto had Prestyn burped and full. She looked too damn good holdin’ him, her skin glowin’ and that fitted two-piece settin’ off her curves. I grabbed the diaper bag while she adjusted his blanket.
We walked out together, her holdin’ Prestyn and me carryin’ the bag. On the way to the elevator, we stopped by Zurie’s room, but her bed was empty.
