“I love you.”
“I love you more Mami.” I stand in front of the mirror and begin undressing.
“Do you?”
He nods. “I do.” Watch him still a practice. When it’s our wedding day, somebody a guh ready.
“But not more than the babies,” he smirks. I tilt my head, I can’t be mad at that. I step out of my dress, toss it into the laundry, and wrap a towel around my body. He watches me from the bed, pretending to be focused on his phone. I smile and head into the bathroom.
***
“Yuh cya surprise mi?” Gavin mutters, tying my pink Bridgets for me. I’m in a white floral doll dress, short and cute. I admire the way it shapes my body, especially from the back. No wonder babe keeps stealing glances. “Everywhere we go, yuh make people late. Yuh cya change?” Gavin hisses under his breath.
“Gavin, easy nuh man,” Sash laughs from the doorway. My eyes drift to Nickoi, who’s mid-chew, brown stew fish in his plate, eyes locked on me.
“Zara dat man,” he mumbles with a smirk.
“Yay-yay,” I sing, grinning to grab his attention.
“Gutta a fawud wid you,” he tells me, nodding toward Gutta, who’s glued to his phone. I frown slightly. Nickoi catches it instantly.
“I just want to feel normal,” I whisper low enough for only him to hear.
He exhales. “Ah… just mek sure your phone charge. And no stop nowhere else. Straight there and back, yuh hear?” I nod. Meanwhile, I catch Sash eyeing Gutta like she can’t help herself. Gutta looks up, meets her gaze, and she instantly coughs and looks away. Gavin’s already at the door, telling everyone goodbye, but his glare lands on me. He’s still annoyed.
I lean into Nickoi and press a soft kiss on his lips. “I love you. Take care of our babies like you always do.” He pauses, eyes locking with mine, this time not with lust, but something deeper. Something unsettled.
“Zara,” he says, voice steady.
“Yes?” I ask softly.
“Mi know yuh just want to enjoy life and spend time wid yuh fam… but it’s a risk for me. You know that, right?”
I nod slowly. “Yeah.” He reaches into his pocket and presses something into my hand. Pepper spray. My gut tells me that wasn’t what he originally planned to give me.
“Okay,” I murmur.
“We need fi talk later… but go enjoy yourself,” he says, his tone serious. He goes back to eating. I slide the pepper spray into my bag. One second… two. He doesn’t kiss me again. He always does. It’s our thing. Something’s wrong.
“Babe… the kiss?” I whisper. He wipes his mouth and leans over to kiss me, but it feels… different. Distant. I hesitate, then meet his gaze and give him thelook.The one that says I know something’s wrong.
He sighs. “Not right now… later when yuh fawud.” I nod.
“I love you though, and I’m gonna drive safe,” I remind him, another thing he usually says.
I glance at Gutta. “Later, Gutta.”
“Alright. Be careful and have fun,” he replies, barely looking up. I close the door. Pause. Glance back one more time. Nickoi’s eating again, but his energy’s off and it doesn’t sit right with me. Yeah… we definitely need to talk later.
***
I park the car, cut the engine, and exhale. I really just drove from St. Andrew to St. Ann without hitting a single soul. No scrapes, no nutt’n. The voice in my head pipes up:A the furthest yuh ever drive.Yupppp. And I parked like a damn pro too. Might be new to this, but I’m good at it already. Sash points at the red and black “Plantation Smokehouse” sign, excitement in her voice.
“Gav, mi wah take a picture over there.”
“So take it then,” he shrugs. I hear the sarcasm. So does she.
“Gav…” she drags his name, trying to sweeten her tone.
