Page 94 of Certified Pressure 4
Now, here we were again. Same words. Different story.
I smiled at the phone, shaking my head a little.
You can come lay with me after you marry me.
A second later, his reply came through.
LOL. I love you so much, baby. I can’t wait to slip that ring on your finger tomorrow and officially make you my wife.
That made my heart melt. I could almost hear his voice in those words. I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt.
I love you too. I can’t believe it’s really happening.
We been through too much not to make it here. I told you I was gonna marry you. Look at us now.
I’m so proud of us.
Me too, baby. But don’t go into labor tomorrow. I’m not tryna deliver no baby at my own wedding… again
I laughed out loud, covering my mouth.
You the one that didn’t wanna wait until after the baby got here.
You damn right.
I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.
I love you, baby. Goodnight, Mrs. Mensah.
I stared at that message for a second, my eyes stinging just a little.
I love you too, Pressure. Goodnight, Mr. Mensah.
I placed my phone on the nightstand and rubbed my belly slow, whispering to my baby. The little kicks under my palm made me smile even more.
As my eyes got heavy, I thought about everything we had survived to get here, the heartbreak, the rumors, the fights, the chaos, and how none of it had been enough to break us. We had been through storms that would’ve drowned other people, but somehow, we always found our way back to each other.
The last thing I remember before falling asleep was the faint sound of laughter from outside and the feeling of peace in my heart. Tomorrow, I was walking down that aisle to marry my best friend, the father of my children, and the love of my life.
I was finally getting everything I prayed for, and this time, I knew it was mine for good.
The Garden of Kings
The dressing room was packed and I was struggling to get into my dress, which scared the hell out of me. The fabric hugged every curve, and even though the designer had adjusted it four times already, my belly was still growing by the day. Every moveI made felt like I was carrying the world in front of me. My aunt Deanne was on one side helping me keep my balance, and one of Pressure’s cousins was on the other side holding the train of my gown so I wouldn’t trip on it. Everybody in the room was moving around fast, fixing little details, whispering about last-minute things, and trying to make sure I didn’t trip or fall.
We were insideThe Garden of Kings, a building that looked like it belonged in a dream. The ceilings were high, glimmering with chandeliers that sparkled like stars. The marble floors stretched far enough to make your footsteps echo, and the walls were covered in gold-trimmed patterns that told stories of royalty and legacy. This wasn’t just any venue. The Garden of Kings was a place only billionaires could afford to touch. Millionaires tried to rent it for events but could never make it past the waiting list. Every corner smelled like fresh orchids, and the massive glass windows overlooked acres of manicured gardens with water fountains, rare flowers, and white peacocks walking around. It felt like something out of a fairytale, and I still couldn’t believe this was where I was getting married.
My makeup had already been done hours ago, and it was flawless. My skin glowed like honey, and the soft shimmer around my eyes brought out every bit of the love and excitement I felt. The artist had given me a nude lip with a touch of gold gloss, just enough to make me look timeless. My curls were pinned up into a soft bun, a few loose strands framing my face just the way Pressure liked.
Toni walked over, her smile wide and real. She looked beautiful herself, wearing a fitted champagne-colored gown. “Girl, you look so damn good,” she said, wrapping her arms around me tight.
I laughed softly, trying not to cry. “Thank you, Toni.” My voice cracked anyway.
She pulled back, shaking her head. “Don’t do that. Don’t start crying, you ‘bout to mess up your makeup.”
“I can’t help it,” I said, laughing through the tears that were already slipping out. “It just hit me. I’m really about to marry him.”
Toni smiled and touched her chest. “You deserve this. Every bit of it.”
