Chapter 15 Kay’Lo Mensah
Greystone City, Oak Pointe Subdivision
I’on know why but when I walked in the crib with Toni, I had this lil’ gut feelin’ that some shit wasn’t right.
It wasn’t nothin’ I could really explain, it was just one of them things you feel in your gut.
The tension was still sittin’ on me from that park, and my blood was still pumpin’ like I ain’t calmed down yet.
Toni was quiet, her hand still in mine, and even though she was tryna keep it cool, I could tell she was worried about me.
I ain’t give a fuck who it was. I ain’t give a fuck if it was her uncle, cousin, or pastor, ain’t no nigga supposed to walk around after touchin’ her wrong. Period.
When we made it to the livin’ room, Toni turned around and wrapped her arms around me.
Her face pressed into my chest, and I could feel how tense she was.
I let out a breath, rubbed her back, and tried to let that anger roll off me, but it wasn’t goin’ nowhere.
She looked up at me and said soft, “You okay, baby?”
“Yeah, I’m good,” I said. I leaned down, kissed her slow, and whispered against her lips, “Go get naked.”
She smiled, that lil’ smirk she do when she know I’m serious, and walked off toward the room. Her hips was movin’ like she knew I was watchin’ her too, and she was right. I watched every step she took before I turned my head toward the backyard.
I stepped out back, pulled the half-smoked blunt from behind my ear, and lit it.
The flame hit the end, and I took a slow drag.
The smoke filled my lungs and gave me a second to think.
The sky was dark as hell but quiet, and all I could hear was the faint sound of cars somewhere in the distance.
I reached in my pocket, pulled out my phone, and hit Pressure’s line.
He picked up after a few rings, and before I could even say a word, I heard Prestyn cryin’ in the background. The lil’ nigga was loud too.
Pressure sighed heavy and said, “Man, I’m tryna talk and this lil’ boy actin’ like he been neglected all his life.”
I started laughin’. “Aye, boy, that’s that daddy life. You wanted it.”
“Shut yo’ ass up,” Pressure said, and I could hear him tryna bounce the baby or somethin’. “Nigga don’t never wanna sleep.”
“You sound tired as hell, fam,” I said, chucklin’ while blowin’ smoke toward the pool. “Where yo’ girl at?”
“She right here, takin’ forever to get the bottle.”
“Mm,” I said with a smirk. “You in daddy boot camp. Pluto got yo’ ass trained to go.”
He scoffed. “Nigga, I’ll hang up on you.”
That made me laugh harder. “A’ight, a’ight, I’m playin’.” I took another drag before lettin’ the smile fade. “But real talk, fam, some shit just went down today.”
Pressure got quiet for a second, then asked, “What happened?”
I told him about the park, about Toni’s uncle Darnell and that disrespectful ass son he had with him. “Nigga gon’ lift his shirt up, and show me his gun like he the only one that got it on him.”
Pressure didn’t even hesitate. “And you ain’t blow his shit off?”
I chuckled low, but it wasn’t outta humor, it was frustration. “Nigga, I ain’t have the chance to.”
“Man, fuck that. If it was me, I woulda let that bitch off.”
“Yeah, I know you woulda.”
He laughed, that deep, careless laugh he got. “You want me to fly out?”
“Nah,” I said quickly. “You got your hands full. Yo’ ass done already got shot up. I ain’t tryna put you in no shit while you out here changin’ diapers.”
“Bitch, I’ll still pop a nigga with one hand if I need to.”
I grinned, flickin’ ash off the blunt. “A’ight, Super Dad. Keep that energy.”
Pressure laughed again, and I could hear Prestyn still whinin’ in the background. “Aye, I’mma hit Kay and Blaq. They need to slide out there and stay close. Matter fact, hold up, I’mma put Renza on three-way.”
Before I could say anything, I heard the line click and Renza’s voice come in loud. “Man, why the baby sound like he beefin’ with you?”
Pressure snapped, “Shut yo’ dumb ass up.”
I was laughin’ now, and Renza joined in. “Boy, that nigga sound stressed. Prestyn got yo’ ass in a chokehold.”
Pressure said, “Fuck both of y’all. I’m dead ass.”
I was still laughin’ when he passed the baby off to Pluto, tellin’ her he’d be back.
Then his tone changed. “A’ight, now for real.
You shoot Renza that address. I want him out there tonight.
You tell Blaqson to load up the jet and make sure he pack it up right.
If a nigga act like he want it, give it to him. ”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Bet. Say less.”
Pressure paused before addin’, “You family, nigga. We don’t fold. You did what you was supposed to do, but we ain’t lettin’ that shit slide.”
That right there hit deep. I felt that same bloodline heat that always came when we talked like this. No matter where we was or what we had goin’ on, we always had each other.
We finally ended the call, and I tucked my phone back in my pocket. The blunt was almost out, so I flicked what was left into the grass. I felt better and even calmer, but I was still lit inside. I knew Pressure and them would move if shit went left, and that alone gave me peace.
When I walked back in the crib, the lights was dim, and I could hear soft music comin’ from the bedroom.
Toni had the door cracked, and when I pushed it open, she was standin’ there in nothin’ but lace, holdin’ that lil’ door swing thing she wanted me to fuck her in, tryna figure out how to hook it up.
She looked back at me and smiled. “You gon’ help me with this or what?”
I grinned slow, walkin’ toward her, that same gut feelin’ still sittin’ there, but it wasn’t frustration this time. It was love.
No matter what the fuck was goin’ on outside that door, one thing about it, I was gon’ handle whoever needed handlin’. But right now, I was gon’ handle her.
It was right at midnight and I was in the bed with Toni, both of us still naked and laid out like we just been through a war.
The whole room smelled like sex and smoke.
The air was filled with the heat from everything we had just done.
The swing she found online and hung up on the back of the door was still swayin’, like it hadn’t even caught its breath either.
Her hair was wild and all over her head, red curls stickin’ out every which way while her soft leg stayed thrown across mine.
Her cheek was pressed against my chest, the sound of my heartbeat makin’ her body rise and fall with it.
She looked so at peace with her eyes barely open, and her lips still swollen from all the kissin’.
My blunt was halfway gone, the end of it glowin’ red in the dark while smoke drifted toward the ceilin’.
My free arm was around her, so my hand slid down her waist to her ass, rubbin’ it slow without even thinkin’ about it.
That was my comfort. My baby slept better when I touched her, like her body needed me close to remind her where she belonged.
And I liked that shit. I liked knowin’ I could calm her down with a touch, and that I could make her fall asleep safe even after I had her screamin’ my name not even an hour ago.
Her skin was soft as hell, warm under my palm, and she kept lettin’ out these lil’ sleepy hums that made me smirk. I took another pull from the blunt and blew it out slow, watchin’ the smoke fade before glancin’ down at her. “You good, baby?” I asked low.
She nodded without liftin’ her head. “Mmhmm.”
“Uh huh, I bet,” I muttered, still grinnin’ as I flicked the ash into the tray sittin’ on the nightstand.
She moved, stretchin’ out her legs and yawnin’ like she just finished a shift at work instead of what we really did. I slid my hand up her back, my thumb drawin’ lazy circles against her skin. She tilted her head up, her voice low and sweet. “Why you lookin’ at me like that?”
“‘Cause you mine, and I can look at you how I want to,” I said, my voice calm but deep enough for her to feel it.
That made her smile, her eyes glazin’ over like she was still floatin’ somewhere between tired and turned on. She cuddled back into my chest and I kissed the top of her head, lettin’ my hand slide back down to her thigh.
Before long, my phone started buzzin’ on the nightstand. I grabbed it, squintin’ at the screen, and saw Renza’s name flashin’. “What’s good, nigga?”
Renza’s voice came through, loud as hell like he ain’t know it was midnight. “Nigga, open the damn door! We outside.”
I shook my head, already knowin’ what it was. “Man, y’all finally made it?”
“Hell yeah,” he said, soundin’ amped. “We been flyin’ since Pressure hung up. Open up. It’s all kinda bugs out here.”
I shook my head, smirkin’. “Scary ass nigga. Give me a second to get out the bed.”
“You too busy fuckin’ to answer. Open this damn door.”
Toni stirred beside me, mumblin’ somethin’ that sounded like my name. Her hand reached for me, and slid up my chest until her fingers found mine. Her voice came out soft, damn near a whisper. “Where you goin’, baby?”
I looked down at her and my whole mood shifted again. Her lashes was low, her lips pouty, and her body was still warm against mine. “Renza and Blaq at the door,” I said, leanin’ down to kiss her.
She pulled me closer, still half asleep, her arm loopin’ around my neck. “They can wait a minute.”
I grinned, lettin’ her tug me back down.
I leaned in on my knees, hoverin’ over her while she smiled up at me.
Her hand slid across my jaw, and I kissed her slow, and deep, lettin’ her taste the weed and whip cream I used on her earlier, on my tongue.
I trailed kisses down her cheek to her neck, suckin’ there until she sighed.
“I love you,” she whispered, her voice all dreamy.