But it’s not. Not to me.
“Zara… a wah yuh think fi real?” she asks, trying to act clueless, like I haven’t already seen enough.
I don’t answer. I don’t even look at her. Instead, I walk straight inside. The silence between us stretches, then she trails behind me like nothing happened, like she’s not acting weird.
“Mi a go out with babe soon,” I say, flat and final. I don’t have the energy to play nice. “So let’s get this preparation thing going.”
NICKOI
I know it might look sudden from the outside. But I’ve never given a f—k about what things look like. I move off instinct. And my instincts are sharp. I already got her pregnant, and that only made the decision clearer.
Getting married was the last thing on my mind. My brothers knew that. My mother knew that. My sister. Even the big man above knew that.
All that changed when I mether.
I just felt like that ‘girlfriend’ title almost disrespects a woman like her. Not because she’s carrying my child, but because I don’t hand over my last name to just anyone. You have to earn that.
And she did.
She’s the only girl who talks to me like I’m not dangerous. Like she knows I am, and loves me anyway. I gave her the box. I knew she’d think it was a ring. Her hands shook a little when she opened it. Eyes already glassy. She was ready to say yes.
When she saw the watch, I saw it, the disappointment. She tried to cover it. But not fast enough. I caught it. That was the point. I needed her to think that was it. That she misread the moment.
Now marriage is no longer on her radar. Perfect.
Tonight, we’re going to a Beach Front Villa in St. Andrew that Junior told me about. Private chef. Ocean breeze. The workers are already waiting. The ring is 24 karat from Nature. It’s already there. I gave it to the chef earlier. They’re working on the surprise.
Mi nuh want her fi suspect nutt’n when mi tell her say mi a bring har go to a restaurant, so mi build up the idea fi disappoint her with the watch. So mi a gwan trick har fi now.
“Everything is set and ready for you, Mr. Jacobs,” the chef tells me. Beautiful.
“Respect. Expect we 7:30,” I say before hanging up.
She’s downstairs now, helping Sash with some school thing or sup’m. I’m not really sure. I didn’t ask. I’m not the type of man who invades. I’m the type who protects by keeping distance, until it matters.
I shower and get dressed. Pull on a crisp black buttoned shirt, black jeans, and desert Clarks. White gold Cuban catches the light, Rolex from Nature on my wrist, the only man I buy jewelry from.
Two pumps of Creed at my neck. Not to impress her. She already wants me. It’s just how I like to smell when I ruin expectations. My aroma fills the room.
Gyal grabber, that.
Gutta is sliding through to drop something off. I’m expecting him. In the meantime, I check the app. Delivery lagging in a few areas on the North Coast.
I send Keno instructions to get it sorted. He responds immediately.
ZARA
Gutta greets us when he walks in, right after speaking with thesecurity.Mek mi apologize to him.“Um… Gutta?” I call out gently as I walk over to him.
He pauses, a little surprised. You can tell he doesn’t even remember what I did.
Or maybe it’s just not heavy on his mind. “Yuh good?” he asks.
I nod. “I just wanted to apologize… for how I acted the last time you were here,” I say quietly. “That wasn’t kind of me. You’re a good person, and I was wrong for treating you that way, especially in front of everyone.” He watches me for a second, then gives a soft nod.
“That did good enuh, Zara. Mi swear to yuh,” he replies.
“Forgive me?” I ask.
