Page 149 of Certified To Handle You 2

“You makin’ a face.”

“I’m just wonderin’ how you got all the way to ‘when’ and ain’t talked to the woman in two months.”

Pressure looked toward him and said, “Let him finish bein’ delusional before you bring facts into it.”

I leaned back and stared at both of ‘em. “Y’all supposed to be supportin’ me.”

“We are,” Pressure replied. “That ring hard, and I know you love ‘Nelle. I’m still surprised yo’ ass sittin’ here buyin’ an engagement ring after puttin’ her nigga in a trunk.”

“That ain’t got shit to do with this.”

“It got everything to do with this,” Kay’Lo said. “She blocked you, nigga.”

“I know she blocked me,” I replied. “I also know ‘Nelle. She mad now, but she ain’t gon’ stay mad forever.”

Pressure rubbed his beard while lookin’ at me. “And what make you think she gon’ go from blockin’ you to marryin’ you?”

“‘Cause I ain’t askin’ her to come live in this mansion no more,” I told him. “I’m gettin’ us our own shit. I’m done tellin’ her what she gotta do without showin’ her what I’m bringin’ to the table besides money and problems.”

Kay’Lo’s expression changed ‘cause that was the first time I had said the whole plan out loud.

“I know where I fucked up,” I continued. “I kept thinkin’ ‘cause I love her and could take care of her, she was supposed to drop everything and follow me. I ain’t give her no real picture of what she was followin’ me into. She thought I wanted to take over her life, and shit, I probably did. I still wanted that woman all to myself, but I gotta give her somewhere she can still be herself.”

Pressure watched me for a long second before noddin’. “That part make sense.”

“I ain’t say I’m finna turn into some calm ass nigga who let her do whatever,” I added. “I’m still me. I’m just done makin’ her feel like lovin’ me mean she gotta lose every other part of herself.”

Kay’Lo leaned back against the couch. “You really been thinkin’ about this.”

“Every damn day,” I admitted. “I ain’t sleep right, eat right or enjoy shit the same since she cut me off. I tried givin’ it time, and all time did was show me I don’t want no life that don’t got her in it.”

The jeweler stayed quiet while we talked, but his eyes moved between us like he had walked into more than a jewelry appointment.

I reached down beside my chair and pulled the black duffel bag closer. When I opened it, stacks of cash filled the whole thing. I ain’t know whether the nigga normally accepted cash for pieces like this, but the look on his face told me he would today.

“This cover it?” I asked while turnin’ the bag toward him.

The jeweler looked inside before noddin’. “It covers the ring and the custom work we discussed.

Once everything was packed, the jeweler stood and shook my hand. Pressure had one of his men escort him out while Kay’Lo reached for the ring box and tried to open it again.

I slapped his hand away. “Quit touchin’ my shit.”

“I was lookin’, bitch,” Kay’Lo said while leanin’ back. “Damn.”

“You looked already.”

Pressure picked up his drink from the table and stared at me over the rim. “I ain’t never thought I would see this version of yo’ ass.”

“What version?”

“The one buyin’ a ring and talkin’ about buildin’ a house for a woman who won’t answer his calls.”

I looked down at the box in my hand and ran my thumb across the top. “I ain’t never met nobody worth doin’ all this for.”

Kay’Lo nodded toward the ring. “You gotta plan it right. You can’t just pop up in her city with that bitch and expect her to forget everything.”

“I know,” I answered. “That’s why I ain’t gone yet.”