“How so?”
I stare at her. “Like… mi cyaa’ lose yuh,” I say, voice low. Her eyes go watery. She looks up at me while my hand rests on her ass, and I wipe her tears with my thumb.
“Awww, I really love you too,” she says.
“Mi know man,” I chuckle. Eventually, I try watching the show for real, just to see what’s so great about it. It’s okay. Not something I’d watch again.
“Mi love Archie, babe,” she says out loud. That catches me. Celebrity crush is pretty normal but I’m a petty nigga.
“Vanessa look good too,” I shoot back. Not even sure if that’s the name. She’s quiet.
“Who name Vanessa, babe?” she asks, side-eye sharp. Just then, the girl shows up on screen and I point.
“See mi woman deh.”
“Doh seh that.” She pinches my arm. “And her name is Veronica, not Vanessa,” she corrects. She’s playful, and I like her like this.
“How yuh wah seh Archie a yuh man?” I tease. Zara sits up, laughing.
“Nickoi, I did not say that!”
“Well yuh never seh it so… but a dat yuh mean,” I grin.
“So yuh jealous?” she asks, poking my cheek with her nails.
“That hot,” I joke.
“That nuh hot,” she laughs and sinks the nail deeper.
“B…” I groan, and she keeps at it.
“Doh seh no other woman look good. Celebrity or not, yuh yer that?” she warns, dead serious. Wait… a who dis? I try to hold back my laugh.
“Bad yah bad mi up?” I ask, voice calm.
“Mi nah say it again,” she means every word. I settle into the moment. Back to watching the show… but mostly just watching her.
ZARA
The Next Day
I wake up at 6 AM to find Riverdale still playing. Season three already. We started it last night. Well, I did. Nickoi was just there, mostly watching me or his phone. Him couldn’t even pretend to care? After a few eye-rolls and no effort from him, I stopped begging and just watched it alone. Still, I enjoyed it. That’s what matters. Now, I’m in the kitchen feeding the twins while mama laughs at Zahir’s dramatic lip-smacking.
“You guys love mama’s apple barley porridge, huh?” I coo.
“Watch Zahir face,” mama chuckles. Once they’re done, I hand her $5000. She blinks, surprised.
“This too much, Zara.”
“No mama, treat yourself… order food or suh’m,” I say, zipping my purse just as Clova’s name flashes across my screen. “Morning Clova, what’s up?”
“Zara mi wah order some bundles fi mek a wig. Mi know yuh probably a go work now, but mi just did wah mek yuh know.”
“I’m about to leave but I’ll call you later, alright?”
“Alright hun.” I sigh. Add that to the drop-offs I have to handle today. Nickoi hates when I do them myself. Says it’s notmy job. He has been searching for someone over the past few days.
“Zara.” Speaking of Mr. Jacobs. He’s in the doorway with Zahir in his arms, wearing a white tee, Amiri shorts, and slides. He doesn’t even try. I could eat this man for breakfast.
