Shit. Just the way he says my name slowly, freezes every nerve in my body. I look up, and he’s standing in the doorway.
Nickoi. No expression on his face. No anger in his voice. Just a dangerous kind of stillness. His eyes? Dark and unreadable, fixed on me. My chest tightens. No. no. no… mi cyaah do this right now. I press my palms to my face, but I still feel him watching me.
This past stress sis be safe though,my subconscious teased just in time.
14
Medicine
“You see man a talk to yuh and yuh hang up?” Nickoi’s voice is calm but laced with an edge that slices clean. He lets out a chuckle, but there’s no humour in it. Then his face resets. Dead serious.
“Yuh mussy lick yuh chip.”
My stomach dips. But my mouth? Still hot.
“Yuh did a grieve mi, so mi hang up. Simple,” I snap, not thinking, just defending myself. His gaze slices across the space between us, locking me in place.
Zara… yuh mouth.
He turns his head, slow, toward Lizzie. She gives him a tight, polite smile before excusing herself. “Mi go get the drink,” she murmurs.Coward. I woulda run too.
I glance back at Nickoi, trying to keep my face neutral. Feminine. Sweet. “Wah mi tell yuh the other day inna di room?” he asks, voice low. Even.
I shrug. “Mi nuh know,” I mumble, eyes darting to the side.
“Look pan me.” I don’t move. He takes a step forward.
I hiss under my breath and finally raise my eyes. His stare is cold. Focused. Like he could see through my head and straight into my intentions. My heartbeat quickens, but my face stays still.
“Mi nuh member,” I offer, soft this time. Trying to soothe the moment.
Now yuh nuh want it escalate, after yuh just get bold?
“Mi tell yuh fi stop gwaan like yuh wah diss me. A nuh that mi seh?” he says, stepping even closer. I nod, slowly. A quiet, careful nod. His presence feels heavier now.
“Mi never a try diss yuh,” I say. My voice barely carries, but I know he hears it.
“Mi have the phone connected to the car majority of the time and mi have mi nigga dem in a the car wid me,” his tone flat but sharp. “And mi a talk to yuh and yuh go hang up in a man earz like you nav no respect fi me.”
Shame burns low in my belly. A slow ache spreading across my chest.
Damn, Zara… yuh embarrass the man.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur, voice tight. He hisses under his breath then turns.
“No worry. Mi a cut… right now mi affi reach inna treez fi meet one supplier. Take care a yuhself.” And just like that, he walks off. No kiss. No eye contact. No nutt’n. Him not even acknowledge mi apology.
A simple kiss teeth and silence?
That’s an answer too, ma’am.
I follow him back inside, slow and cautious. He’s already at the kitchen, talking to Lizzie in that cool, businesslike tone he saves for when feelings done shut off.
“Cook salmon fi har, and ensure she tek the vitamins.”
Lizzie nods. “With rice?”
“Yeah. Give har vegetables too,” he adds, then pauses. “Thanks.” He says it like he means it. Like no matter how vex him is, he’s still respectful, and he still cares about me. That’s what stings.
