As soon as the convo ends, I walk away with a deep sigh. “Finally, eeeh.”
My bump’s out there now, loud and proud so every corner I turn, is like the whole world feel entitled to ask mi business. At first, mi never mind. But now? Mi tired. Still, mi always keep it cute. Sweet girl Zara. Mi nah change.
Everybody know seh you nice, Zara.
“Bro, see mi carry yuh woman safe, yah enuh,” Jordane calls out with a grin as we near the gate. I smile.
I spot Nickoi first and hear him chuckling at what Jordane said. Gutta leans on the front of the car, Anna in the backseat waving at me. She opens the door with a grin.
“Good day,” I say, sliding into what’s now my new spot. You’re probably wondering what I mean by new spot? Back seat life. Ever since the bump pop, Nickoi claims that it’s ‘my spot’ and mi hate it.
Mi nuh like drive inna the back, but mi affi tek it. Mi nuh exactly have a choice now, do I?Yuh affi tek what yuh get, madam.
“Pregnancy looks nice on you, boo,” Anna says sweetly.
Really? And mi look fat so? I smile, tucking my feet under me. “Eeeeh, thanks.”
Nickoi and Gutta are chatting with Jordane at the window. The same girl from school stands behind Jordane like she’s waiting on him. Wah happen to him banker girlfriend fi real?Maybe dem lef. Tea.
“So yuh good, Zara?” Gutta asks, peeking into the back.
“Yea mi alright,” I tell him, eyes flicking to Nickoi as he talks.
“No mi nuh ready yet, mi a go out with deh b ya,” Jordane tells Nickoi, gesturing subtly toward the girl behind him.
Nickoi narrows his eyes. “Ah just mek sure yuh reach home before it get dark,” he warns, firm.
“Yah,” Jordane nods and backs off. Nickoi taps the horn lightly.
Gutta laughs to himself. “Man nuh ramp enuh.”
Nickoi smirks. “Everyday is a new bird.” They both chuckle.
Hear them. Nickoi finally drives off, and I ease off my shoes, trying to find some comfort in the back.
“Wah gwaan though, Zara?” Anna asks, sliding her phone into her lap.
“Tired,” I exhale, and she laughs. She keeps giggling as she picks up her ringing phone.
Then Nickoi reaches his hand back blindly, offering me a strawberry milkshake. I take it with a small grin. “Thanks,” I murmur, taking a sip. Cold, sweet, just how I like it. He nods but keeps his eyes on the road. I lean my head against the window, staring outside as the sunlight warms my face. After a while, he glances at me through the rearview mirror. “How was work?” I look at him and smile gently, my milkshake swirling in my cup. I smile, watching him while sipping my drink.
“Well, apart from that lazy girl in class today weh nuh wah do no work, it was good,” I say, and he chuckles.
“She wah yuh dweet fi har?” he asks, and I nod.
“Yes,” I say. I take another slow sip, the cold sweetness of the milkshake sliding down smooth before I set the cup in the holder.
“So how was your day?” I ask, eyes still on him.
“Never bad,” he says, but there’s something behind his words.
“You sure? Yuh still have up Wayne?” I press, and he just shrugs.
Gutta chuckles beside him. “A you a mek eh man nuh do Wayne how him want.”
I look at Nickoi, then back at Gutta. “Mi nuh want him do no more killing.”
“That’s why we deh yah, when unuh wah get in more trouble, we as the woman always hold unuh back,” Anna adds, and I nod. Gutta smiles at her.
