18. Pressure Mensah #2
“Yeah,” I said, leanin’ back. “I don’t even get it. She been callin’ like she ain’t spent the last two years runnin’ from me.”
Blaqson leaned forward. “She probably seen that ad about the women,” he said. “You know how that go.”
I nodded slow. “She did ‘cause she mentioned it on the phone. Brought it up like she ain’t been the one givin’ that pussy away to another nigga.”
Renza cut in with a look that told me he already had this figured out. “She playin’ games, bro. It’s cool when she moves on with another nigga, but the second you look like you movin’ forward without her, she poppin’ up to try and block it. Old move. I’ve seen that play before.”
Kay’Lo shook his head. “Stay focused, fam. Don’t let her plottin’ ass fuck up what you got goin’ on here. You got too much in motion.”
“I know,” I said, even though part of me was still twisted about it. Ka’mari had that effect on me.
Renza must’ve caught it in my face, ‘cause he stood up, came around the desk, and slapped me on the back before lettin’ his hand rest on my shoulder.
“Listen, my nigga. You got a whole house full of fine-ass women who actually want you and see the good in you. Don’t throw all that new pussy away for somebody who only pops up when it benefits her. She’s not worth it.”
I didn’t say nothin’ right away but just nodded. He wasn’t wrong.
Some time passed while we went over a few things, then I finally pushed back from the desk and headed toward the foyer. The women were all gathered, talkin’ low amongst themselves, but they straightened up when they saw me comin’.
I started with Zaniyah. She looked up at me with that smile that had dimples deep enough to leave an impression. “I had a good ass time with you the other night,” I told her. “So, it’s only right I choose you first.”
Her face lit up, and she stepped in close to hug me. Then she moved off to the side.
Next was Chanel. She strutted over like she just knew I was gon’ pick her next.
She had one hand on her hip, her walk all hips and attitude.
I reached up, rubbed under her chin, and muttered, “Ol’ feisty ass.
” She smirked, and I promised her we was gon’ get our time in.
She gave me that look like she’d hold me to it before movin’ back.
Toni Roc was next, then Jayla. Both of them came forward, and I gave them their moment before sendin’ them over with the others.
My eyes landed on Pluto. I took my time lookin’ at her, lickin’ my lips without even meanin’ to as the memory of her pretty ass pussy slid through my head.
I called her over. She came without hesitation, wrappin’ her arms around me and holdin’ on a little longer than most, and I didn’t rush her ‘cause I wanted to feel her just as bad as she wanted to feel me.
When she finally stepped back, she went to join the rest.
I called Imani, then Renae, Savannah, Nyah, Soriya, and Khari in quick order. Each one stepped forward, we exchanged a few words, then they moved to the side.
When it was Kashmere’s turn, she walked up slow, her eyes locked on mine the whole way. “That’s how we doing it?” she asked, her tone cool but sharp enough to let me know she felt some type of way about me choosing her out of the last three.
“Chill,” I told her, leanin’ in to kiss her cheek.
But she pulled back just enough to make it clear she wasn’t lettin’ me off easy.
Her eyes stayed on mine, unblinking, like she was lookin’ for answers I wasn’t ready to give.
I didn’t speak on it, but I knew why she felt some type of way.
She’d been in my bed last night, close enough for me to feel her breathin’ while she rubbed my back until I fell asleep.
That kind of peace was rare for me, and maybe that’s why it stuck with her.
Now there was only Lola and Ariyah left.
I looked at Lola. I still hadn’t figured her out completely, but when my eyes met hers, I couldn’t deny what I saw.
“You’re hard to figure out,” I told her honestly.
“Don’t really know what to make of you.” I let my gaze slide down her perfect frame and back up, takin’ in everything.
Her eyes glossed over as she stepped forward. There was a light tremble in her smile when she hugged me and kissed my cheek before movin’ to stand with the others.
That left Ariyah. She was a sweet girl, real pretty... But I couldn’t fake a connection that wasn’t there. “I can’t keep you,” I told her. “We don’t seem to have much in common, and I don’t wanna waste your time.”
She nodded with grace, stepped in to hug me, and headed upstairs to pack her things without drama.
As the women began to move away, my eyes found Kashmere again.
She was looking back at me, and for a few seconds, it felt like the rest of the room fell away.
There was no smirk on her lips this time, no quick joke or smart remark.
Just that unshaken stare like she was readin’ me inside and out.
And even though I had thirteen women left to think about, part of me wanted to forget all of them and see what it’d be like to keep her close for more than a night.
I didn’t let it show, but I knew the truth—she wasn’t just another one in the lineup, yet I had her feelin’ like she was.
By the time the room cleared, I had my thirteen, but I also had one more problem on my hands, and she was walkin’ away in heels, not lookin’ back, even though I could still feel her eyes on me.