Her lips trembled as the tears finally fell. “Don’t do this to me, Pressure,” she whispered, her voice crackin’.
I swallowed hard and wiped her tears away with my thumb. “If I could take all that shit back, I would. I’m sorry for everything I put you through. I wanted our baby so bad. I wanted him more than I ever wanted anything. Losin’ him broke me in ways I ain’t even know I could break. That’s why I clung to you. But we can’t keep livin’ in that grave. We can’t keep breakin’ each other just ‘cause we too scared to let go.”
She let out a sob and leaned into my hand. “Please…”
“I gotta let you go,” I said, my voice tremblin’ for the first time. “I love you, but not like this. You deserve better. You deserve freedom. I’m so sorry for holdin’ you back.”
Her sobs echoed through the foyer, heavy enough to make even Renza shift uncomfortably. I kissed her forehead one last time and stepped back. “Go be free.”
Her whole body shook as she grabbed her bag and walked passed Kashmere rollin’ her eyes. She turned slow toward me, and when she walked away, it felt like a piece of me was walkin’ with her.
Regardless of how she felt, she knew in her heart, it was time to let go. I could just tell by the way she chose not to put up a fight.
My phone kept buzzin’ in my pocket, but I ignored it. My eyes was already locked on Kashmere.
“Come here,” I said.
She walked over with tears already slidin’ down her cheeks, but hers were different. She was smilin’ through them, her eyes shinin’ with hope. “I can’t believe this is real,” she whispered.
I reached into my pocket, my fingers brushin’ against the ring box. The weight of it felt final, like once I pulled it out there was no turnin’ back. My phone buzzed again under my hand, vibrating against the box. I cursed under my breath and pulled the phone out, ready to shut it off.
Then I froze.
It was Pluto.
Her name lit up my screen like a ghost comin’ back to haunt me. I swallowed hard, my thumb hoverin’ over the screen. I should’ve ignored it, but I couldn’t. I pressed accept.
“Pressure,” her voice came through, shaky but firm. “I’m outside the gate.”
My chest locked up. “What?”
“I’m outside,” she repeated quickly. “Never mind, a car is comin’ through. I’m already on my way inside.”
“Pluto—” I started, but the line went dead.
I shoved the phone back in my pocket and turned toward the door, my stomach twistin’. Renza and Blaqson was right behind me when I yanked the door open. A few moments later, I saw Pluto walkin’ up the driveway with her bag in her hand, her eyes locked on me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.
My chest exploded with emotions I couldn’t even name. Before I could say anything, she dropped her bag, rushed forward, and crashed into my arms. Her lips hit mine like she had been starvin’ for this shit, and I kissed her back without even thinkin’, my hands grippin’ her waist like I never wanted to let her go.
When I finally pulled back, breathless and stunned, I turned around, and froze.
Kashmere was standin’ in the doorway, her face pale, her mouth parted and her eyes full of disbelief as she watched us.
The whole world stopped.
I couldn’t even lie… this shit was crazy as fuck. Pluto was in my arms and Kashmere was standin’ at the doorway with a broken heart I ain’t even know if I could piece back together.
I backed up slow, my hands still tinglin’ from touchin’ Pluto, but my eyes locked dead on Kash. She wasn’t sayin’ shit, but the look she gave me cut deeper than any words could. It was disbelief and pain all mixed up, like she couldn’t believe I just played in her face like that.
And the worst was she didn’t even know what I was about to do. She didn’t know I was standin’ there earlier with a ring in my pocket, ready to make her my fiancé.
I pulled in a breath and walked back into the house, my chest tight. Renza and Blaqson was already there lookin’ at me like,nigga, what the fuck?Kashmere was still frozen in the doorway, tears rollin’ down her face as her eyes bounced between me and Pluto.
She reached for her luggage like she was ‘bout to dip, but I moved quick, rushin’ toward her. “Kash, chill,” I said, my voice low but urgent.
She stopped, her hand still grippin’ the handle, and looked up at me. She didn’t speak, but she ain’t have to. Her tears told me everything she wanted to say.
I stared deep into her eyes, and it was like we was talkin’ without movin’ our mouths. She was tired of bein’ second place. She was tired of me choosin’ everybody else over her. And through my eyes, I was tryna tell her I saw her, that I loved her, and that I was tired of doin’ her wrong.
