Chapter 1 #2
“Mommy, mi understand say yuh nuh wah see Zara with a thug, but a him she love and him love her too, and a dat matter. Him willing fi help her, and a nuh like seh mi can’t, ’cause mi know seh mi have a grandpickney now and mi always spoil mine.
But if it is that Nickoi a real Drankro and him neva plan fi help him child, mi woulda step in.
So yuh need fi respect this young man, even if him a nuh a one church man,” my mother spats, then sighs.
Mi honestly just wah dem fi stop but mi nuh know wah fi say. Nickoi clears his throat. “Mi aguh cut now, and mi a bring Zara.” Mommy nods, tears filled with relief.
“Alright, I’ll come look for you, baby.” I nod. As we prepare to leave, I feel the tension, particularly with Mama, her eyes on the TV. I hug Gavin, then Mommy, and step forward for Mama’s embrace even though she’s mad at me.
“I didn’t mean to disappoint you, Mama,” I say softly. “When the baby comes, you welcome anytime to meet your great-grandchild.”
She holds me, voice cracking. “You didn’t let me down Zara. Mi just worry you’re not ready, I feel like Nickoi is bringing you into a life you’re not ready for. But mi pray God protect yuh and the baby… and Nickoi.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, wiping my tears.
“I love you guys.” They echo back, “We love you.”
Nickoi stands outside, watching us. I touch his shoulder. “You ready?” I ask.
“Yah,” he nods. We exit, he holds me close.
“Nickoi,” a voice calls, making us both turn around. It’s Mama. She steps out of the house, her expression softer now, and walks right up to him. Without saying a word, she wraps her arms around him, and I can tell, he’s stunned.
“I’m sorry for my attitude,” she says quietly, rubbing my belly. “Keep safe, and take care of my granddaughter and the baby.”
Her eyes flick to me, and she smiles gently. “It’s gonna get bigger soon. Eat healthy, and expect me to stop by now and then to assist.” A smile breaks across my face.
“Thanks, Ms. Sandra,” Nickoi says, respectful as ever. She nods, her expression warm for the first time in a while.
“Drive safe, take care of my granddaughter,” she smiles widely. When we got in the car, I buckle in. My mind runs on my car.
“You a leave me car?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Nuh worry bout that.” He looks at me, warm. “How yuh feel?”
“Relieved… exhausted.”
He smiles. “Alright, Mami.”
We drive in silence until he stops at PriceMart. He fills the cart with expensive yogurts, cereal, meats, snacks, fruits, veggies, everything.
I follow him down the aisles, watching as he tosses everything into the cart without asking me a thing. He doesn’t want my opinion. Apparently only he knew ‘Healthy’ food.
“Babe,” I call, and he pauses mid-step.
“Mami?” he says, glancing back at me.
“You don’t think that’s enough?” I gesture at the cart. It overflows like we’re a family of ten. This will last for a month for sure. He shakes his head. No words, just a simple ‘no’ like it ends the conversation.
I groan, dragging my feet behind him. “I’m tired of walking, babe.”
A woman nearby laughs under her breath, and I give her a weak smile.
Nickoi doesn’t slow down. He’s talking to a worker now, focused, unreadable. My eyes roam the aisle until—
“Bad man Frosted better than Cheerios,” a voice says behind me.
I turn.
Mark.
He freezes when he sees me, like I was the last person he expected to run into. “Mami, fawud,” Nickoi calls, voice calm, cool, commanding. I walk over. But I can hear them.
“A Ms. Williams dat?”
“A wah Meech dat enuh!”
I focus on Nickoi, but the friend doesn’t shut up. “A dat mek Jordane fight yuh fi har.”
Nickoi turns slowly, the boys shift uncomfortably. One clears his throat, then points straight at Mark, like it wasn’t all of them talking a while ago. Nickoi’s gaze lands on Mark.
“A you a Mark?” he asks. His tone is flat. Cold.
Mark nods like a coward.
Nickoi doesn’t even blink. “You need some real friends.” Then he turns back to me, the edge of a smirk playing on his lips.
“Why you so wicked?” I ask, low enough that only he hears. He just chuckles.
“Dem probably think seh cause him disrespect yuh, mi woulda’ do him sup’m. Maybe Jordane tell him dat.”
“A the fact say him friends dem give him up so fast,” I say, smiling. My mind drifts—to Gutta. And that girl… Juaqína.
“Weh Gutta?” I ask.
Nickoi looks at me, eyebrows raised. “Mi nuh sure. Why?”
I shrug, suddenly self-conscious.
“I just wanna apologize. For how mi did behave… especially to her.”
He nods. No judgment. “Aight.”
He pays for the groceries and we get in the car. The drive is quiet. I rest my head on his arm and close my eyes until we reach the house.
“Mi have sup’m fi deal with, so mi a go lef,” he says, voice low.
I frown, not ready to let him go. He looks at me briefly. “Mi a try fi nuh stay too long” I nod. But when I step out the car and head to the bedroom, I realize he’s right behind me.
I sit on the bed, confused. Isn’t he leaving?
“What—?”
He doesn’t answer. He just grabs my face, biting my bottom lip. I moan before I can stop myself. He pushes me gently onto the bed, mouth trailing to my neck. Then to my ear.
“Soon fawud come give yuh weh yuh want,” he breathes. His words sink into my skin. I shiver.
“Nickoi…” I moan his name, and he pulls back with a smirk like he didn’t just flip my whole body upside down. “I thought you said you had sum’ to do.”
“Yah. Mi come fi a tees,” he says coolly, like that moment never happened. I roll my eyes and turn away, annoyed. He always does this, teases me just to leave me hot and frustrated.
He grabs what he came for and turns to me. “Mi a go now. If anything, call mi. Or link Joe.”
He pauses. “Come yer.”
I look up. He’s waiting. I climb to the edge of the bed slowly, and he grabs my throat, kissing me again. Deep this time. My stomach tightens. Then he pulls away, smiling like he’s proud of the pooling he made down there.
“Bye. I love you,” I mutter with an attitude.
He raises a brow. “Who you a talk to so?” He holds my chin, forces me to look up at him, he leans in and bites my lip again, hard this time.
“Ow!” I glare, pulling away as I slide off the bed. He laughs, already at the door. Then he stops. Looks back.
“Mi nah hide nothing from yuh. So mi a mek yuh know, mi a go deal wid Talia.” My heart skips.
I stare at him. “Wah you gonna do?”
“Mi nah put mi hands pon har. But mi a send har back to Mexico. After mi talk to har.”
“Thanks for telling me,” It comes out softly.
He nods once. “Yah… mi love you.” And just like that, my attitude crumbles.
“I love you too,” I tilt my head toward my shoulder.“Bye… Mr. Jacobs,” I add, voice low, still rubbing my lip.
He smiles. “Later, Ms. Williams.” Then as the door close, I think I hear him say. “Soon change that.”
My cheeks warm. Wait… he’s not the type to.. um… maybe I just wanted to hear that.