I keep chugging my drink, eyes scanning the room again. Even though it’s my father’s birthday party, I don’t do it like no regular birthday thing. This is a gangster’s gathering, family only. People who rode for him. Pictures of him on the wall, one in particular, him sitting like a king, my mom standing proud beside him.
“Mari the Great!” my uncle calls out over the music. I chuckle.
He leans in toward Zara, voice raised just enough to cut through the music. “So you’re Zara… how you doing?”
She flashes him a quick smile. “Hey, I’m good. Thanks for asking!” she yells back, her voice bright, even over the beat.
He chuckles, looking her up and down with a fatherly gaze. “Very beautiful lady. You remind me of my daughter.”
I chuckle under my breath, watching the exchange. Zara glances over at me, trying to hide the way she’s flattered. I see it, though. I see everything. An hour slips by. Liquor flowing. Hips rolling. Heads bobbing to a nonstop stream of Vybz Kartel and Bounty Killer. That’s how my pops liked it, raw, gritty dancehall. Man fi man music. Woman fi bruk out music. People leaned up, laughing, bussin’ jokes, while some hit the dance floor.
If only the snake in the circle wasn’t still breathing. But mi nah mek that mess up mi night.
It’s time for the speech. My annual one. It’s a tradition. People start cheering before I even grab the mic. Out the corner of my eye, I spot my mom walking in. Bright smile. Her face beat. Hair neat. She got that powerful Black woman presence, you feel her before she even speaks. Behind her, Jordane and Janel trail in, chatting low.
“Mi come late,” she laughs as she reaches me.
I hand her the mic. “Do yuh thing, Mommy.”
Then I step back to Zara’s side. As soon as my mom starts talking, the room hushes. She’s sharing memories about my father, starting off soft with the real moments. You can feel the love in her voice. Then she dips into the jokes, and laughter spreads through the crowd. Zara starts giggling beside me.
“That must did hot,” she laughs under her breath.
“Wah did hot?” I ask, even though I heard exactly what my mom just said. I just want to hear Zara say it again. She looks at me with the most annoyed face and rolls her eyes.
I move in closer. Slide my hand down to her ass and grab a handful through the dress. I bite my lip, still watching her. She shifts, trying to ignore me. Eyes still on my mother, like she’s not feeling what I’m doing.
I stay right behind her. Hand still there. “Wah did hot?” I press again, voice low.
She hisses. “Yuh nah listen the lady?”
I chuckle, not even hiding it. “Never a listen,” I lie straight-faced, squeezing her again.
She reaches to move my hand but I press firmer. Her body jerks slightly, but she gives up quick. “Listen to yuh mother and leave me alone nuh,” she mutters, brows pulling together.
I finally move my hand, smirking to myself. I glance at my mother, strong and composed on the mic, holding the room like the queen she is, then I look back at Zara. Her arms folded, jaw tight, eyes forward. But her cheek twitching like she’s holding back a smile. Mi get to her. As usual.
“Yuh still have me up?” I ask again, eyes on her. She hisses, low and sharp.
I don’t know what it is, if it’s because I want her or because she’s ignoring me, but I feel this itch to get under her skin. Normally, that’s not even me. I don’t do the whole annoying-boyfriend thing. That’s more Rick and Gutta’s style. But if I want you? I’ll do it.
“Eeeh?” I smirk.
She cuts me a glare that could knock a man off his feet. “Mi nuh inna the talking mood,” she says, eyes shifting away from me again.
I chuckle. “Look how long that.”
She swings her head back around. “Disrespect nuh have no expiration date, Nickoi.”
“True,” I admit, biting back a smile.
You said yuh never care… now look at you. Begging fi attention.
Cyaa do without har too long. I’ll admit that. That’s just the truth, man. “Mami,” I whisper, dipping my head to her neck.
I inhale. She smells like roses. Sweet, fresh, and soft. My hand slides back to her ass and I pull up behind her, chest brushing her back.
She turns halfway, her face tight. “What do you want, Nickoi? ‘Cause last time I checked, you were mad silent, acting like I’m invisible. Now all of a sudden you wanna socialize?” Her voice switches up. She’s annoyed.
