I dropped the weights back in place and sat up, rubbin’ my hands together before lettin’ out a breath.
“Man…” I muttered, shakin’ my head a lil’. “I went to Reni’s people house earlier.”
That got both of they attention without me even havin’ to look up.
“And?” Pressure asked, watchin’ me now.
I leaned forward, restin’ my forearms on my thighs. “Her pops was pressin’ me.”
“Pressin’ you how?” ’Lo asked.
“On marriage,” I said, finally lookin’ up at ’em. “Like… pressin’ pressin’. That shit caught me off guard.”
Kay’Lo let out a low breath and nodded like he already knew what type of time that was. “Yeah… that sound about right.”
“They don’t know you,” he added. “They just see they daughter and what they expect for her.”
“Exactly,” I said. “And I ain’t even mad at it. I get it, and I respect it. Some shit just be common sense, but that don’t mean I’m about to jump up and make no big ass move like that just ’cause he feel like it’s time.”
Pressure smirked. “You should’ve told that nigga to stay in his lane.”
I shot him a look. “Man, I wanted to. But I ain’t disrespectin’ her daddy like that. I know where he comin’ from.”
’Lo nodded again. “They just don’t know how you move yet. You ain’t the type to rush shit.”
“That’s all I’m sayin’,” I replied. “But that don’t mean I can’t see Reni bein’ my wife… one day.”
Pressure let out a laugh under his breath. “Nigga, I can’t even picture you bein’ nobody husband right now.”
’Lo shook his head. “Or no daddy.”
I smirked, lookin’ between both of ’em. “I’m about to be a daddy.”
They both froze for a second.
“To who?” they asked at the same time.
I leaned back like it was nothin’. “To yo’ baby, nigga,” I told Pressure.
He tried to hold it together, but I caught that grin creepin’ in. “Nigga…”
He shook his head, laughin’ low. “She asked Sha’Nelle too.”
’Lo lost it. “Oh yeah, that’s yo’ god baby mama now.”
“Man, shut the hell up,” I said, laughin’ with ’em, shakin’ my head.
We finished up after that, everybody gettin’ their last sets in before callin’ it a night.
I grabbed my towel and threw it over my shoulder, then headed out the gym, lettin’ them keep jokin’ behind me.
By the time I got back to my side of the house, the quiet hit different. I went straight to the bathroom, cut the shower on, and stepped under the water, lettin’ it run over me while my mind replayed everything ‘Lo and Pressure said.
I ain’t like how they kept bringin’ up Sha’Nelle when I ain’t even seen that damn girl. That shit ain’t have nothin’ to do with nothin’. But at the same time, the way they brought her up out the blue like that made me pause a lil’ longer than I wanted to.
I washed up, stood there for a minute longer, then got out and dried off. I brushed my teeth, washed my face, then grabbed my grease and brushed my waves down until they sat right before throwin’ my durag on.
I pulled on some black sweatpants, left my chest bare, and walked over to the couch in my room. I cut the TV on, flipped to the sports channel, and rolled up.
