“You make me happy,” he says, without missing a beat. That pulls a smile out of me instantly. Then he gets in.
I glance at the bags in the back. “I get you,” I murmur. “But I couldn’t do it. Spend all that on clothes?”
Neither could I. But he’s the one buying it, so…
“Zara, I just dropped nearly a mil in that store because I see how you tatami bad beats dem. And I love you. The money? It doesn’t matter if I’m using it to make you smile. I swear, I’d go back in and spend it all again if it means seeing you happy.”
I melt.
This man is surreal.
“Jesus… what did I do to deserve this?” I whisper, not even meaning to say it out loud.
Woiii… it already come out,my subconscious mutters.
“I should be the one asking that,” he says, glancing over at me. “’Cause ever since I’ve had you, I feel different. Swear, you make me feel alive again.”
Damn. I know exactly what he means. I smile warmly. Words fail me. Quietly, I unclip my seatbelt and shift over to him, hugging him before I press my lips to his. My fingers slip into his hair as I kiss him deeper. His arms wrap around me, pulling me close, like he never wants to let go.
When we finally break apart, we’re both breathless, just staring at each other. I slide back into my seat, heart still racing, and buckle up again. He starts the car. As we drive, I can’t stop thinking about that kiss. Every time we touch, the feeling gets more intense, like something brand new all over again.
Girl… that’s what you’re thinking about right now?
I chuckle to myself.
Mi cyaa believe Nickoi have yuh in Polo fi days.I mean, polo fi years.
10
Commotion
Watch who deh here now,” my mother says the moment I step into the house. It’s been a while since I’ve been here. And a yasso mi used to deh all the time enuh.
True… but things change.
“Wah gwan, Mommy?” I ask, brushing off her excitement. She meets me at the door, pulling me into a hug before gently turning us around, speaking low in my ear.
“The whole a dem in deh a mourn fi him, and the Mobay one dem deh pan video call,” she whispers quickly, then raises her voice like nothing happened. “So weh Zara?”
“She deh home,” I tell her casually, playing along. She nods like that was the answer she expected.
A really yuh mother.
“So why yuh never carry har?” she presses.
“She did a sort out some things, so mi just lef har,” I reply, keeping it short.
Yuh nah tell dem say yuh breed Zara? And yuh propose too?
“Man inna the place!” Jordane calls out from inside. I turn around, forcing my thoughts quiet. Mi o’ deal wid all a that later.
“Deh pan, bro?” I ask him. He flashes a banger phone in his hand, smirking.
“Mi a gwan chap the line enuh,” he says, flipping the phone like it’s a toy.
“So you nuh go school today?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Mi deh pan suspension,” he shrugs.
