Page 24 of Certified Pressure 3 (Certified Pressure #3)

Toni and Kay’Lo had left out first, riding in his car.

Pressure wanted to drive us himself, so we took the G-Wagon.

The way the sun hit the emerald paint made it look like money rolling through the city.

Pressure had on his black shades, one hand on the wheel, the other hand resting on my thigh.

Kevin Gates was playing loud and he was rapping a few words under his breath while I sat there just watching him.

I don’t know what it was about that man drivin’ that always did somethin’ to me. He looked so in control, so confident. Every move he made had purpose. I kept my hand over his while his fingers drummed lightly on my leg. It felt good just ridin’ with him, no arguments, no tension, just peace.

We pulled up to the restaurant a few minutes later. It was one of those upscale spots with a modern vibe — glass walls, palm trees out front, gold trimmings on the doors. I already saw Kay’Lo’s car in the front.

Inside, the hostess led us to a private table near the window. Toni and Kay’Lo were already seated, both of them looking good as hell, and like the perfect couple who were deeply in love. Toni had on a black romper with her loud red curls bouncing and that big smile she always wore when she saw me.

“Okay, miss body,” Toni said, grinning. “You look good as hell, girl.”

I laughed and hugged her. “You know I was just about to say the same thing.”

We sat down, and the waitress came over with menus. Pressure ordered a drink for us before I could even open my mouth—a frozen pineapple margarita for me and a whiskey ginger for him. Toni got her a daiquiri, and Kay’Lo ordered a beer.

When it came time to order food, Pressure asked for jerk shrimp pasta, and I went for the grilled salmon with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Toni got Cajun salmon with garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli, and Kay’Lo went for the ribeye with mac and cheese and greens.

Once the drinks came, the conversation flowed easy. Kay’Lo was cracking jokes about how Toni was always tryna outdrink him, and she swore up and down that she could handle her liquor better than he could.

I laughed, shaking my head. “Y’all crazy.”

Pressure leaned back in his chair, watching everybody with that calm look he always had when he was relaxed. He wasn’t saying much, but his energy felt good. His hand was still on my thigh under the table, his thumb moving slow against my skin.

“So,” Toni said, glancing between us, “have y’all picked a wedding date yet? I mean, since this is an arranged thing, y’all should be walking down that aisle soon, right?”

I smiled and looked at Pressure, but his expression didn’t change much. He sipped his drink before answering. “We workin’ on it.”

Toni nodded. “That’s what’s up. Y’all gon’ make it big, huh?”

“Yeah,” I said quick, jumpin’ in. “I want it to be huge. You know, something that feel royal but still us. I been looking at venues and designers.”

Kay’Lo laughed. “You know this family big as hell. That guest list gon’ look like a festival lineup.”

We all laughed, and for a second, it felt light again, but as I looked at Pressure, I could feel that small shift in my stomach.

He wasn’t acting uninterested, but he also wasn’t showing that excitement I wanted to see.

I wanted him to ask questions, to get into it with me and to act like he couldn’t wait.

But he just sat there calm, nodding every so often, letting me talk.

I told myself to let it go. I wasn’t about to ruin the mood. We were all laughing, eating and drinking. I wanted to keep it that way. The food was bomb, and the drinks were hitting just right.

But every now and then, I caught Pressure checking his phone. It wasn’t long, but just quick glances. I didn’t say nothing, but deep down, it made me wonder if Pluto’s name was what had his attention.

Toni looked at me mid-laugh and said, “Girl, y’all gon’ be the next power couple for real. I can already see the headlines.”

“Don’t gas her up,” Kay’Lo said in a joking tone. “She already think she the queen of Trill-Land.”

“I am,” I said playfully, pushing my hair from my shoulders.

Pressure looked at me and smiled, and that one look made my heart slow down a little. For a second, I stopped overthinking and just enjoyed him being here.

We stayed at the restaurant for over an hour, talking about everything from wedding ideas to future trips we wanted to take as couples. Toni was already talking about how she wanted all of us to go to other islands together once the wedding was over.

By the time we finished our food, the drinks had us all laughing harder. Pressure was leaning back with one arm over the chair, his shades pushed up on his head, watching everybody like he was taking it all in.

Kay’Lo slapped his hand across the table, laughing about something dumb that Toni said, and when they calmed down, Pressure leaned over and dapped him up. “I’ll see you back at the crib,” he said.

Kay’Lo nodded. “Bet. Y’all be safe.”

We all hugged before leaving, and when we stepped outside, Pressure opened the passenger door for me. I got in, fixing my dress as he walked around to the driver’s side.

As soon as he sat down and started the car, I looked over at him and said, “You know what I was thinking?”

He glanced my way. “What’s up?”

“I think today would be a good day to stop by your parents’ house.”

He paused, one hand on the wheel with his eyes still on the windshield. He didn’t say nothing right away. He just sat there for a second like he was thinking. Then finally, he said, “That’s cool.”

I was surprised. I thought he was gon’ make an excuse, and say he had something else to do, but he didn’t. He just agreed.

I smiled to myself and looked out the window as we pulled off. The ride was quiet but peaceful. The city rolled by, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized how real this was getting.

This wasn’t my first time meeting his parents, but going there now with him saying he was ready to make this official felt different. It felt like I was really about to step into a new chapter of my life.

As we drove, all I could do was hope his mama would give us her blessing and that whatever small piece of doubt left in his heart would finally fade.

Eboni Keep in Nzuri Hall

When we finally reached the Mensah’s estate my mouth almost fell in my lap. The house didn’t even look real. The stone walls glistened under the sunlight and the gold trimming sparkled like it had been hand polished just this morning. Everything about this place screamed power, wealth, and history.

Pressure had one hand on the wheel, the other resting on my thigh like always, while he talked to his mama on the phone. His tone was low and respectful, and something about it always made me pay attention.

“Yeah, Ma, we just pulled in,” he said. “We’ll see you in a minute.”

I smoothed my dress and looked out the window as we drove further up the long driveway.

My heart was beating fast but in a good way.

This was the kind of place that made you feel like your life was about to change.

Just looking at it, I could see myself visiting on weekends, walking through the garden with his mama, planning brunches, and laughing together like mother and daughter.

I could already picture the family loving me, welcoming me in, and seeing me as one of them.

I could see me and Pressure’s babies running around this house, carrying his last name and his legacy.

Everything about it felt like a dream that was slowly becoming real.

Pressure parked near a line of other cars and turned off the engine. He looked over at me and smiled before getting out. I followed, taking his hand when he offered it. The closer we got to the door, the more nervous I felt, but I kept my smile fixed.

When we stepped inside, I could hear faint music and smell something sweet in the air. The marble floors gleamed, and I could see my reflection in them. The sound of a woman’s voice came from the kitchen, so we followed it until we found her.

Abeni was standing near the counter with the chef beside her. She looked stunning as always, her posture straight and her presence commanding even in something simple. She was tasting something from a small silver spoon when she turned around and saw us.

Her face lit up for a second when her eyes landed on her son. “Pressure,” she said, smiling warmly.

He walked up to her and kissed her cheek before pulling her into a hug. She held him tight, then glanced at me. That’s when the warmth in her expression shifted. She smiled again, but this time it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Kashmere,” she said politely. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“You too, Mrs. Mensah,” I replied softly.

She offered me tea, but I declined with a smile. Her tone stayed calm, but her presence had changed. She thanked the chef and told him to finish preparing the food, then turned to us. “Come,” she said, motioning toward the living room.

As we walked, Pressure asked where his father was. Abeni told him he was in a meeting, her tone casual but her body language giving nothing away.

The living room was large and elegant, filled with glass tables and soft white furniture that looked untouched. She sat on one of the couches and gestured for us to sit across from her.

Pressure and I sat together. The silence that followed was long enough to make me uncomfortable. Abeni looked at us both like she was studying a painting she couldn’t quite understand.

Pressure cleared his throat and stood up. “I’mma grab me somethin’ to drink,” he said. “Y’all good?”

I nodded, and he walked out, leaving me alone with her. The moment he disappeared, the quiet deepened.

I smiled politely. “Your home is beautiful,” I said. “You have such good taste.”

“Thank you,” she replied. Her tone was even, but there was something in her eyes that didn’t match her words.