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 feelme 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.
