Page 98 of Certified Pressure 4
My voice was shakin’ now, and the tears finally fell. “You made me a father when I thought I failed my first son, Kamir. You turned my house into a home. You made me see what real life look like. There was times I ain’t think I could breathe without you, and that scared me. But I realized all I had to do was stop fightin’ it and just let you love me. You changed me, Pluto. You the woman of my dreams. You my peace, my purpose, my whole life in one body.”
Pluto was cryin’ too, wipin’ my face with her fingers.
“I promise to always love you, protect you, and stay faithful. I promise to never forget what it took to get here. You got my heart forever.”
The officiant smiled and said, “May I have the rings.”
Kay’Lo handed me hers, and I slid it onto her finger slow. “With this ring, I make you mine forever,” I said, my voice low and heavy with emotion.
She took my ring next and said, “With this ring, I make you mine forever.”
The officiant smiled wide. “By the power vested in me by the sovereign state of Trill-Land, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
I ain’t hesitate. I pulled Pluto close and kissed her deep, our tongues meetin’ like we was the only two people in the room. The crowd went crazy, clappin’, cheerin’, people standin’ up yellin’ our names.
When we finally pulled apart, she was smilin’ through her tears, and I whispered, “Mrs. Mensah.”
She laughed, her hands on my chest. “Mr. Mensah.”
I looked around the room, at my family, my mama, my pops, my brothers, Zurie, my son, and the woman who made me aman, and I knew right then that everything I ever went through led to this exact moment.
Forever started today.
After marryin’ Pluto, we moved upstairs and turned up for the reception. The lights was low, the bass was jumpin’, and the vibe was pure Trill-Land luxury mixed with hood shit. Everything was black, gold, and crystal, from the walls to the chandeliers hangin’ from the ceilin’. The first floor had been all class and tears, but up here, it was nothin’ but celebration in this bitch. We ain’t have no kids, or no elders, but just the young ones who had come to wild out and show love.
My ma and Pops had already left with Zurie and Prestyn, so there was nobody to tell us to calm down or act right. The second the DJ dropped another track, the whole energy shifted. It went from romantic to reckless real quick.
I had my shirt open, my tie hangin’ somewhere I ain’t even know, and my jacket tossed across one of the gold chairs. My skin was shinin’ with sweat, but I ain’t care. I was in the middle of the dance floor, holdin’ my drink up, shoutin’ lyrics from Meek Mill’s,Dreams and Nightmareswith Kay’Lo, Renza, and Blaqson like we was performin’ on stage.
“Hol’ up, wait a minute, y’all thought I was finished!” Kay’Lo yelled, pointin’ at me like he was hypin’ me up.
The whole crowd screamed the next part, bodies jumpin’, hands in the air. Glasses clinked, girls was twerkin’, the smoke from cigars, weed and hookah filled the air, and the DJ kept rewindin’ the beat just to make the place explode again.
Blaqson had the mic now, yellin’, “This for the king and queen of Trill-Land!” before pourin’ shots in everybody’s cups. Renza was laughin’, already half gone, yellin’ for them to play it again.
I couldn’t stop movin’. Every song that dropped felt like it was made for this moment. I had Pluto’s hand in one of mine while my drink was in the other, dancin’ with her and kissin’ her in between every verse. She was laughin’, her eyes shinin’ from all the lights, and her cheeks flushed from movin’ around. Even though she was pregnant, she was still out there with me, holdin’ her belly and two-steppin’ like she ain’t miss a beat.
“You not tired yet, baby?” I asked, breathin’ heavy and grinnin’ while she fanned herself with her hand.
She shook her head, laughin’. “I’m good. This yo’ night, I’mma let you act a fool.”
“You mine now, you in this too,” I said, pullin’ her close and kissin’ her again.
Kay’Lo and Renza started shoutin’ our names, yellin’ “Big Trill weddin’! Pressure and Pluto in the buildin’!” and the crowd went up again. Champagne popped, liquor poured down on the floor, and for a second it felt like the whole world was dancin’ with us.
I was drunk as fuck by then. My words was slurred, my steps was loose, and my laugh wouldn’t stop comin’ out. Every time I turned around, somebody was handin’ me another drink. I ain’t even know what I was sippin’ at that point, but it ain’t matter. I was surrounded by my people, my brothers, my woman and my happiness.
Toni had kicked off her heels and was rappin’ bar for bar with Blaqson. They was in the middle of the dance floor, goin’ crazy, hair flyin’, arms in the air, both of ‘em screamin’ the lyrics at the top of they lungs.
Even the security guards was laughin’, and enjoyin’ the show.
I leaned over the table, grabbin’ another glass. “This for love,” I said, tryna toast to myself, and damn near spilled it all over my pants.
Kay’Lo snatched it before it hit the floor. “You done, bro,” he said, laughin’ hard.
“I’m just gettin’ started,” I said, stumblin’ a lil’ before catchin’ myself on his shoulder. “Where Pluto at?”
“Right there,” Renza pointed, noddin’ toward her. She had changed out of her gown and into this long silky gold dress that fit around her belly just right. Her hair was flowin’, her jewelry glistenin’, and she looked like a goddess walkin’ through.
