“Joe?” I call louder. He jerks awake, eyes wide.
“H-Hey Zara,” he stammers, confused, glancing around as he realizes the power’s out.
“The light just gone. Yuh can check the breaker please?” I ask. He nods and steps outside. We follow him back in, and I run to grab my phone while he flicks the switches. Click. Click. Buzz.Sweet, beautiful light.I grin. Yuh know that joy when current come back after blackout? Like the whole house exhale. Yeah… that’s the feeling. “Thanks, sir,” I smile. He nods, about to leave, but I stop him.
“Yuh nuh work pon shifts?” I’m concerned.
“It’s just me now. The other guy deh abroad,” he says.
“But yuh a lose sleep,” Suzanne adds. Mi a go say it to Nickoi, because he’s a good man and he’s getting tired.
“Yeah,” I agree.
Joe chuckles. “Mi get rest, man. Mi have a likkle room. But mi prefer stay near the office just in case,” he starts smiling. “Also, congrats on your baby girl.”
“Thank you,” I say genuinely. He walks off, and Suzanne and I go back inside. We restart movie night. She fries nuggets and plantains whileThink Like a Manplays in the background. I pop a nugget in my mouth and start cracking up at Kevin Hart. I needed this kinda comedy.
“Mi wah laugh more,” I say, motioning for her to change the movie earlier.
“Everybody famous inna dis,” Suzanne says, snuggling into the sofa. I rest my head on her shoulder and pull Nickoi’s Gucci blanket over us. Well… it’s mine now.Mi say the gyal love mannn.
“Watch mi husband!” I shout when Chris Brown appears on the screen. Suzanne giggles, chewing a plantain.
“Mi love him too, but mi nuh like him inna dis. Him a use the nice gyal.”
“A fi real,” I agree. Chris always been one of my crushes. That smile? Dangerous.
Two hours pass and the door creaks.2:00 a.mand him just a come home?
Weh yuh a do up so late?my subconscious snaps.
Truth is, if Nickoi nuh inna the house, mi cyaa sleep. Yupp, and if him nuh beside me, and I don’t know for sure that he’s safe, my heart and my adrenaline spikes. Call it what you want, but mi love mi man bad bad bad.
“Mami, why yuh still up?” he asks, shutting the door behind him. I scan him head to toe. He looks okay. Thank God.
“Why yuh come home so late?” I ask. He presses his lips together, trying not to smirk.
“Mi never a misbehave,” he says, voice low and sexy. I smile despite myself.
“Good,” I murmur.
“You nuh get no sleep?” he asks, settling in beside me.
“Mi get nuff five minutes sleep pan Suzanne shoulder, yes,” I joke.
“You need fi sleep,” he says flatly. I squint at him. Really? Not even a likkle fake laugh?Zara, yuh rather a fake laugh?No… but still, him could a try!
“Now that you’re here… I can sleep,” I say, turning to walk away.
“Cyaa sleep without Daddy?” he teases. I turn around, smiling.
“You need to sleep,” I smirk, then start heading upstairs.
“So yaw gwan?” he calls after me, and I smile to myself before gently pushing open the door to our room.
***
I left school early today and Nickoi brought me to the gym. Riley, my trainer is sweet. Firm, but sweet. I said my goodbyes, stepped out… and bam. I hit someone. “Jeez,” I mutter, bracing against the wall for balance.
