“Mi love this fi the dolly,” Sash grins. The door opens. And just like that, Nickoi walks in. He’s still in his hospital gown, the sky-blue disposable kind, tied halfway so his tattoos peek out from the short sleeves. His Rolex sits on his wrist, shining under the hospital light. The mesh cap still on his head, long neat plaits peeking under it. His mask hanging under his chin, exposing his jawline. Effortless. Mmmmm yum!
Den yuh say me fi remind yuh fi nuh breed again…
Sash sees him walk past and widens her eyes. She looks at Zahir, then back at him. “Zahir a go be problem,” she mutters. “Same way him fadda walk inna room and girl lose sense.” Oh boy…
Everybody laughs.
Nickoi don’t even smile yet. He goes straight to the bassinets, looking down at his seeds. He studies them with that unreadable expression—but you can tell he’s in love.
Then he speaks, low and serious. “Dem perfect.” He leans down and kisses both their foreheads. Nickoi finally walks over to me. Even beside me, he keeps glancing back at the twins. People, it look like mi naav no man again…
I grab his gown and pull him closer, wrapping my arms around him. He lowers his head to me and I kiss his lips. His beard brush my chin and it give me chills. I whisper, “So finally, a gift your money can’t size up to.”
He chuckles under his breath. That smooth, low laugh only I ever get to hear.
“Our babies are the perfect gifts…” I say softly, he looks me dead in the eye. “Happy birthday babe, I love you.”
33
Calls
6 Months After…
One thing about my mornings, they’re always chaotic. Between my lateness problem and this rude-ass baby. “Come papa,” I sigh. Zahir wriggles away again, giggling. This is my sixth attempt to get his diaper on.Lawddd… a really Nickoi pickney this.When I pout in defeat, he moves closer. I smile, grab his feet, then he slips through my fingers again and backs away laughing. I check my watch. Almost 8 a.m. Chro! And I’m still in the house?
A yuh usual thing fi late enuh, miss. So calm dung,my subconscious chimes in. I ignore her.
“Alright, Mommy have to leave now.” I grab him, pulling him gently when I realize he has no plans to quit. Then I pin him down and dress him. Whew. Finally.
I turn him around, slap his butt, toss him over my shoulder, grab my bag, and head out.
“Babe,” I call as I reach downstairs.
“Last one,” Nickoi says, holding the spoon at Zahira’s mouth. He’s feeding her crushed potatoes in her high chair and she’s calm. Mhm. Very unlike her. She’s never calm when I’m feeding her.
“Mami,” he says, not looking at me. I stand behind him and Zahir starts kicking, arms stretched out toward him. I tighten my grip. Hmm. True him see Daddy.
“O-ah,” he coos, still reaching.Hey, dem baby yah nuh rate yuh enuh, Zara,my subconscious laughs. Sadly, only when it’s time to breastfeed them. Nickoi puts down the spoon and wipes Zahira’s lips before finally looking at me.
“Ready fi leave now, Mami?” I nod, and he takes Zahir from me. The baby lights up in his arms. Nickoi smirks at him, then looks at me. His eyes scan me slowly. Why him a look pan me so? If he could undress me with his eyes, I’d be naked.And pregnant, too,that girl in my head adds.
He stares into my eyes, and I shift on one leg, awkward. “You a go work like that?” His brow lifts. I blink. How mi dress?Ask him, nuh ask me or the readers dem. We nuh know!
“Wah do the dress, Nickoi?”
“Tight.” His voice drops an octave. He licks his lips. I start blushing.
“It’s not that tight,” I defend.
“Hmm.” He’s unconvinced, then grabs my butt. What’s wrong with Nickoi this morning? He puts Zahir in the feeding chair and steers me into the living room. That look in his eyes, I know it too well. He licks his lips again, looking me up and down. I gulp.Zara, kiss him nuh.What’s wrong with me? I’m supposed to be at work, not standing here melting over this man. A sigh leaves my lips. I need to get it together. Why am I entertainingthis? Nickoi bites his lip like he knows he’s teasing me. Lordt. This man makes me wanna, *coughs.* Let me behave. My eyes drop to his chest. If I keep staring into his eyes, I might lose all my senses.
“Aum—” I try, but he leans close, his lips brushing my earlobe. And just like that, I lose my senses.Just. Like. That,my subconscious hums.
“Nah stop yuh from being sexy, enuh. But if I’m not around, yuh cya wear this. It a show yuh up too much, and mi nuh wah kill nobody.”My breath catches. His voice is low, but his eyes are filled with lust.
“But…” I start.
He cuts me off with a look. “Zara, doh argue wid me.” I nod and walk back to the room. In the mirror, I smooth the fabric of the dress. This one’s a little looser. I hope it ‘passes.’ Mi cayless eeeh? Have man a dictate what I wear?A man Government.
