Chapter 28 Kay’lo Mensah #2
I would start at her shoulders, work my way down her arms, over her back, then I would kneel in front of her and take my time with her belly.
I oiled her stomach slow, spreadin’ it in circles while I stared at the stretch of her skin growin’ for our baby.
I loved that shit. I loved how her body was changin’, and how full she looked.
I loved how she carried my daughter so beautifully.
Sometimes I pressed my lips right under her belly button and just stayed there for a second, breathin’ her in.
Of course, she acted annoyed. “Kay’Lo, stop.”
She said that bullshit but never actually pushed me away. I just ignored that shit, kissin’ lower, then back up to the side of her belly where I felt movement.
“My baby in there wildin’,” I said, smilin’ against her skin. “She gon’ be just like me.”
“Lord help her,” Toni would mutter.
Even when she pretended like she wasn’t feelin’ me, she still let me hold her hand when we walked through the mansion.
I laced my fingers through hers like it was automatic, and she wouldn’t squeeze back, but she wouldn’t let go either.
I walked her slow with one hand holdin’ hers and the other restin’ on her stomach, talkin’ to my daughter like Toni wasn’t even mad at me.
Those past few days had been just like that; me showin’ up and lovin’ her through the attitude. It was me not arguin’ back and kissin’ her even when she turned her head just enough to make it difficult. Because at the end of the day, this was my wife… and I loved her.
Today was Prestyn’s second birthday, so we had to leave the crib and head over to Pressure’s place. Sha’Nelle wasn’t feelin’ well and ain’t wanna risk gettin’ the kids sick, so she stayed behind, which meant it was just me and Toni ridin’ together.
Toni came down the stairs dressed in this soft fitted dress that hugged her belly just right, and even though she had still been givin’ a nigga that cold energy, she looked so damn beautiful it made my chest tighten a lil’.
Her hair fell down her back smooth, her skin glowin’, and the way she walked careful but confident with our baby in front of her made me wanna grab her up right there.
Instead, I just held my hand out. She looked at it for a second like my shit was dirty, then placed hers in mine without a word.
We walked out the mansion like that, my grip firm around her fingers while she stared straight ahead like she ain’t even feel me there. I opened the passenger door to one of my whips and helped her in, makin’ sure her dress didn’t catch. I made sure she settled comfortable before I closed it.
I walked around the front and got in the driver’s seat. Before I hit the push to start, I looked over at her. She was starin’ out the windshield like the view ahead was the most interestin’ thing in the world.
I let out a small laugh and shook my head. This woman stubborn as hell.
I reached over and grabbed her chin, turnin’ her face toward me. She tried to resist at first, but I held her steady until she looked at me.
“I love you,” I whispered, starin’ straight into her eyes.
She blinked slow but ain’t say nothin’.
“So, you ain’t gon’ say it back?” I asked.
She looked away again. “I’m fine.”
“That ain’t what I asked you,” I said, keepin’ my tone calm.
I studied her face for a second, then leaned back in my seat.
“A’ight,” I muttered.
I hit the push to start and the engine came alive. As I pulled out the driveway, I kept one hand on the wheel and rested the other on her thigh, my thumb rubbin’ slow over the fabric of her dress. She ain’t move it, but she ain’t lean into me either.
I ain’t like the way she was actin’. It wasn’t ‘cause she was mad, but ‘cause she was hurt, and I knew I was the reason for that crack that Echo’s interview reopened.
When I pulled up to Pressure’s, I cut the engine and sat there for a second lookin’ at the house and the line of cars crowdin’ the driveway. My cousin ain’t never did nothin’ halfway, and today clearly wasn’t no different.
Royal blue and orange balloons was tied along the front gate and wrapped around the columns by the entry, and even from where I sat I could hear kids laughin’, music playin’, and grown folks talkin’ loud out back like the whole place had turned into a damn carnival.
The front door kept swingin’ open and closed while guests moved in and out, and every few seconds another kid ran through the house with frostin’ on their face or a toy crown sittin’ crooked on their head.
I could hear the sound of inflatables somewhere in the back and the high-pitched screams that only happy kids make when they burnin’ energy.
I shook my head and smiled to myself ‘cause Pressure always went all out for his boys, and if this was just the front of the house then I already knew the backyard was probably on another level.
I got out the car and walked around to Toni’s side, openin’ the passenger door before she even reached for the handle.
I held my hand out for her, and she looked at it for a second like she was still decidin’ whether she wanted to keep up that stubborn act.
Then she placed her hand in mine anyway, and I helped her step out careful with that belly sittin’ pretty in front of her.
Soon as she was on her feet, I turned her hand over and pressed a kiss to the back of it. She ain’t say nothin’. She just looked off toward the house like I wasn’t even standin’ here.
I smiled to myself and stepped closer until her back touched the side of the car. My hands rested on the roof above her shoulders, and the second I leaned in, my breath brushed across the side of her neck without me even meanin’ to.
Toni sucked in a light breath before she could stop herself. That lil’ reaction made my mouth curl.
“A’ight,” I murmured low near her ear. “So you still actin’ funny, huh?”
She turned her head like she was tryna look past me toward the house. “Kay’Lo, people outside.”
“I don’t give a fuck,” I said, and my lips brushed her neck anyway.
Her fingers grabbed a handful of my shirt before she even realized she did it. That right there told me everything I needed to know.
My mouth moved slow across the side of her neck, kissin’ up toward her jaw while she tried to keep that tough face on like she ain’t been meltin’ for me since the second I leaned in.
“You been playin’ with me all week,” I whispered near her ear. “And I’m real tired of that funky ass attitude.”
She pushed at my chest. “Boy, stop.”
My hands stayed braced above her head while I leaned closer, pressin’ another kiss under her ear before speakin’ again.
“You know you ain’t gave me no pussy in three days, right?”
She rolled her eyes like that statement disgusted her, but her breath was comin’ a lil’ heavier now.
“And since you wanna keep actin’ crazy,” I continued soft near her ear, “just know when we get back home the rent due.”
She tried to look offended, but the way her fingers tightened into my shirt told a whole different story.
Her chest rose against mine while she stood there pretendin’ she ain’t feel nothin’, and I could already see that stubborn wall she built startin’ to crack.
“Toni,” I said, kissin’ along her jaw before lettin’ my mouth brush her lips for a second. “Stop actin’ crazy.”
She shook her head like she was irritated, but her hands stayed tangled in my shirt while she tried to gather herself.
I chuckled under my breath and finally pushed away from the car before she completely forgot where we was.
“Come on, baby,” I said, takin’ her hand again.
We walked toward the house together, and I held the door open for her before leadin’ her through the livin’ room and out toward the backyard where the whole family was.
The backyard looked like a whole festival.
Pressure had inflatable slides, bounce houses, a damn pettin’ zoo section with goats and shit, a face paintin’ booth where kids was lined up waitin’ their turn, a cotton candy machine spinnin’ bright blue sugar, popcorn stands, and even a table stacked with toy crowns for the kids.
Music played through outdoor speakers while servers moved around with trays of drinks and snacks.
I looked around and shook my head. “This nigga went crazy,” I muttered.
Then I spotted Prestyn’s bad ass, and I had to shake my head ‘cause that lil’ nigga was fresh as hell.
He had his hair brushed down with them tight waves just like Pressure’s hittin’ in the sun.
He had tiny diamond studs in both ears, a small diamond chain sittin’ against his shirt, and lil’ bracelets on his wrist like he already knew he was Pressure’s son.
His outfit was royal blue and orange to match the theme, some baby Jordans on his feet, and he was climbin’ all over one of them big ass costume animals.
He was bouncin’ up and down on it like he was ridin’ a horse, laughin’ loud and wild, not carin’ who was watchin’.
I laughed under my breath. “This lil’ nigga cuttin’ up.”
Right on cue, he looked up and spotted me, and his whole face lit up. He jumped down reckless as hell and started runnin’ toward me with them short, fast baby steps like he was on a mission.
“‘Lo!”
I scooped him up the second he reached me and kissed his forehead and cheek while he laughed. “Look at you,” I said. “Birthday boy out here wildin’ already.”
He grabbed my chain like he always did.
“I got you some good stuff too,” I told him. “You gon’ like it when you open it.”
He nodded like he understood even though he probably ain’t catch half of what I said.
Pressure walked over with Kaylon balanced on his hip, and Renza was right behind him with a drink in his hand.
Pressure looked at Prestyn in my arms and shook his head. “Man, that boy been climbin’ on everything all day.”
“He yours,” I said. “What you expect?”
Renza laughed. “Nigga got more energy than all us.”