Chapter 14 Medicine #2
The gate clicks shut behind me. I walk back inside, the silence suddenly louder than before.
I grab my water, chug it like it’s going to save me, then unlock my phone with shaky fingers.
Results. The screen loads. My heart stutters.
Then I gasp. Loud. Ugly. Real. The scream tumbles out of me like it’s been waiting in my chest all week.
“Mi pass! Oh God mi pass everything!”
Pretty bright girl right through, the voice in my head whispers, giddy and smug.
I hit video call before I can second guess. Mommy answers, laying down with her bonnet slightly off-center.
Her face softens when she sees me. “Hey baby.”
“Mommy!” I choke, already tearing up. “Mi just check mi final results. Mi pass every course!”
Her eyes widen. “Inna flying colours?!” She’s up like a shot, tripping over her own feet as she takes off running, phone rocking from side to side.
I laugh through tears. “Mommy?!”
She throws open another door like she just got news the lottery reach. “Mommy! Mommy! Wake up, Zara pass everything!”
I hear Mama groan. “A wah happen?”
“She pass!” Mommy yells, voice cracking. “She pass all her courses mommy!”
Mama appears, eyes still foggy with sleep. Then she sees me, and they clear like glass. She comes closer, reaching for the screen like she can hold my face.
“That’s my girl. Mi been praying fi yuh, enuh. You worked hard. God see your effort, and him bless yuh. Well done.”
My chest tightens. I smile through it, nodding, wiping tears. “Thank you, Mama.”
This is what I wanted. Not just the grades. This. Making them proud.
I talk with them for a while longer, soaking in the joy.
After we hang up, I text Gavin the news, then drag myself to the bathroom.
I shower, do my skin routine, and climb in bed in just an oversized tees.
I press play on Red Notice. The screen flickers, action and sarcasm dancing across the room. I’m halfway paying attention.
The door opens. Nickoi walks in.
He doesn’t say anything. Neither do I. My throat locks, even though my mind screams. He pulls off his hoodie, muscles flexing, tattoos catching the light.
I look away fast, my heart tripping in my chest. I fake a laugh.
Too loud. Too light. Like the movie just got funny.
It didn’t. I don’t even know what scene we’re on.
But I refuse to let him see me breaking.
Not after deh shame deh. The room is dim.
The only light seeps in from the bathroom door as it clicks shut behind him. Haha, poor thing.
I sit still, chest rising slow and heavy. I hear the water running, the soft creak of the faucet, the sound of him moving around like I’m not here. I gulp hard. I honestly hate this. Why him a do this to me?
The space between us feels like punishment. And if that’s what this is, then trust me, it’s working. My whole body is stiff with regret.
Man a teach yuh a lesson.
Fine. If that’s the case, mi learn. Him really a go ignore me the wul time?
Fake sick.
The idea creeps into my mind like steam under the door. I’m really thinking about it but mi nuh sure. I don’t know what to do. I can’t believe mi even a consider this.
You wah yuh boyfriend fi talk to yuh again? Do weh yuh affi do.
I chuckle lowly to myself, a wicked little smile curling at the edge of my lips.
I wait. He walks out of the bathroom, towel gone, boxers on, skin still warm from the shower.
He smells like that deep, clean cologne I love.
He lays on the bed, far from me. His body turned away like mi invisible.
A whole person could sleep between us. My heart thunders in my chest. This plan better work. Suppose him see say mi a act?
It would a just piss him off, so dweet good and done.
I glance at him through the corner of my eye.
He’s on Instagram, scrolling with ease. I watch as he double taps a girl’s picture.
My stomach twists. It’s natural. But the way mi feeling?
Mi jealous. Especially when him nah talk to me.
I sigh, deep and dramatic. Then I press my palm to my forehead like mi dizzy.
Slide off the bed, nice and slow, stumbling just enough to catch his attention.
I bump my foot against the nightstand, hard enough to be believable, soft enough not to bawl out.
I reach for the bed to catch myself. He looks at me. Yes!
I groan, dragging my steps like mi weak, heading toward the bathroom. “Zara,” he says, voice sharp with concern. I smile to myself before turning back to him, eyes wide and slow like mi under pressure. He sits up, instantly alert.
“Wah do yuh?” he asks, already moving. Yes yes yes!
“I feel dizzy,” I whisper, voice soft and shaky.
His whole body softens. His hands reach for me.
He wraps one strong arm under my thighs, the other steady against my back.
When he lifts me, mi melt into him. My arms find his neck.
My head falls onto his shoulder like a perfect fit.
My body knows this hold, missed it. He sits on the bed, settling me in his lap.
My legs straddle his waist. His hands steady me, his gaze holding mine. “Still feel dizzy, Mami?” he asks.
I nod, lashes low, lips parted like I just can’t manage. He lays me down with care, adjusting the pillow behind my head, then shifts closer, one leg bent beside mine. His fingers move to my temple, slow and soft, rubbing circles. Awww look how the bwoy love we!
“I’m gonna get some water for you,” he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead before walking out. Guilt creeps in, thick and sudden.
Mi really have him worrying… but mi couldn’t tek the silence. I had to do something. Then I hear his voice. He’s on a phone call?
Mi heart start beat again. Laad Jesus.
Not him call Dr. Jacobs and nutt’n no do we!
Haha. You a kill me.
I listen, still playing my role. “Allow her to lie down and get some rest… you give her the water yet?” the doctor asks through the phone.
“That mi a do now, so a just the water and mek she rest?” he repeats, sitting on the bed. “No medication?”
“No, you see because it’s a normal thing during pregnancy I wouldn’t recommend she take a pill.”
He sighs, rubbing his hand down his face. “Ah mi a go call yuh if this nuh work, thanks though, and good night.”
He hangs up, sets the phone aside, and brings the glass of water to my lips. I sip slow. His eyes are on me, full of worry. Full of love. I lay back again, breathing deep. After a full minute, I sit up just a little. He’s still watching me. Aw.
“Mi feel better now,” I say softly.
His whole face shifts, relief blooming in his expression. He lies down next to me, and this time, when I press my body into his chest, he wraps his arms around me like he been waiting for this the whole time.
You gwaan with yourself enuh… him shoulda ketch yuh.
“You good?” he asks when he notices I’ve gone quiet.
I look up at him, eyes soft. “I’m good.” You nuh vex wid me no more?
He just hums. “Okay.” Then he starts running his hand down my arm. Slow strokes. Sensual. Unhurried. Like he’s tracing his forgiveness into my skin.
“I looked at my results,” I say, easing the silence.
He raises a brow when I add. “I didn’t do so good.”
He watches me for a second then bursts out laughing. “Mi know you a lie,” he chuckles.
I try to hold my laugh but it slip out anyway. “Chro,” I mumble.
“If Suzanne do so good and only fail one course, mi nuh see how you woulda do bad.”
I smile. “I passed all my courses.”
He grins. That proud-man smile that warm me from the inside out.
“Congratulations, Mami,” he says, leaning in to peck my lips.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Wah you want fi that?” he asks, voice dipping again.
My breath catches. I grin. He turns us over effortless and now he’s hovering above me, his weight pressing gently between my thighs. I feel the heat rising. “Talk, nuh,” he says, trailing kisses along my neck. Jesus.
“Mi nuh know,” I whisper, biting my lip.
“You sure?” His voice now deeper, low and sinful.
“Mi get everything already. Mi nuh know…” I giggle. “You nuh affi give me anything—”
He cuts me off with a kiss. Deep and possessive. “Shhh… you cya pass everything, and mi nuh get you something,” he murmurs against my lips.
I pause, brain foggy from his mouth, his warmth. “I want something that’ll help me make my own money…” I murmur.
He pulls back slightly, studying me. “It can be anything,” he says.
“A business?” I ask.
He nods, like he already expected it. “Maybe a clothes store or hair. Since mi love mi laces.”
He smiles, tracing circles along my thigh. “You said both clothes and hair. But yuh nuh choose one.”
I smile back, eyes flickering between his lips and his eyes. “Mi think everybody doing clothes,” I whisper. “So mi a go choose the hair.”
He nods slow, proud and full of something sweet. “Hair it is,” he says, before returning to my neck kissing, licking, loving on me. I lie there beneath him, skin warm, lips parted, heart full realizing this is what it feels like to be loved soft… and fully. Exactly how I deserve.