I hit video call before I can second guess. Mommy answers, laying down with her bonnet slightly off-center.
Her face softens when she sees me. “Hey baby.”
“Mommy!” I choke, already tearing up. “Mi just check mi final results. Mi pass every course!”
Her eyes widen. “Inna flying colours?!” She’s up like a shot, tripping over her own feet as she takes off running, phone rocking from side to side.
I laugh through tears. “Mommy?!”
She throws open another door like she just got news the lottery reach. “Mommy! Mommy! Wake up, Zara pass everything!”
I hear Mama groan. “A wah happen?”
“She pass!” Mommy yells, voice cracking. “She pass all her courses mommy!”
Mama appears, eyes still foggy with sleep. Then she sees me, and they clear like glass. She comes closer, reaching for the screen like she can hold my face.
“That’s my girl. Mi been praying fi yuh, enuh. You worked hard. God see your effort, and him bless yuh. Well done.”
My chest tightens. I smile through it, nodding, wiping tears. “Thank you, Mama.”
This is what I wanted. Not just the grades. This. Making them proud.
I talk with them for a while longer, soaking in the joy. After we hang up, I text Gavin the news, then drag myself to the bathroom. I shower, do my skin routine, and climb in bed in just an oversized tees. I press play on Red Notice. The screen flickers, action and sarcasm dancing across the room. I’m halfway paying attention.
The door opens. Nickoi walks in.
He doesn’t say anything. Neither do I. My throat locks, even though my mind screams. He pulls off his hoodie, muscles flexing, tattoos catching the light. I look away fast, my heart tripping in my chest. I fake a laugh. Too loud. Too light. Likethe movie just got funny. It didn’t. I don’t even know what scene we’re on. But I refuse to let him see me breaking. Not after deh shame deh. The room is dim. The only light seeps in from the bathroom door as it clicks shut behind him.Haha, poor thing.
I sit still, chest rising slow and heavy. I hear the water running, the soft creak of the faucet, the sound of him moving around like I’m not here. I gulp hard. I honestly hate this. Why him a do this to me?
The space between us feels like punishment. And if that’s what this is, then trust me, it’s working. My whole body is stiff with regret.
Man a teach yuh a lesson.
Fine. If that’s the case, mi learn. Him really a go ignore me the wul time?
Fake sick.
The idea creeps into my mind like steam under the door. I’m really thinking about it but mi nuh sure. I don’t know what to do. I can’t believe mi even a consider this.
You wah yuh boyfriend fi talk to yuh again? Do weh yuh affi do.
I chuckle lowly to myself, a wicked little smile curling at the edge of my lips. I wait. He walks out of the bathroom, towel gone, boxers on, skin still warm from the shower. He smells like that deep, clean cologne I love. He lays on the bed, far from me. His body turned away like mi invisible. A whole person could sleep between us. My heart thunders in my chest. This plan better work. Suppose him see say mi a act?
It would a just piss him off, so dweet good and done.
I glance at him through the corner of my eye. He’s on Instagram, scrolling with ease. I watch as he double taps a girl’s picture. My stomach twists. It’s natural. But the way mi feeling? Mi jealous. Especially when him nah talk to me. I sigh, deepand dramatic. Then I press my palm to my forehead like mi dizzy. Slide off the bed, nice and slow, stumbling just enough to catch his attention. I bump my foot against the nightstand, hard enough to be believable, soft enough not to bawl out. I reach for the bed to catch myself. He looks at me. Yes!
I groan, dragging my steps like mi weak, heading toward the bathroom. “Zara,” he says, voice sharp with concern. I smile to myself before turning back to him, eyes wide and slow like mi under pressure. He sits up, instantly alert.
“Wah do yuh?” he asks, already moving.Yes yes yes!
“I feel dizzy,” I whisper, voice soft and shaky.
His whole body softens. His hands reach for me. He wraps one strong arm under my thighs, the other steady against my back. When he lifts me, mi melt into him. My arms find his neck. My head falls onto his shoulder like a perfect fit. My body knows this hold, missed it. He sits on the bed, settling me in his lap.
My legs straddle his waist. His hands steady me, his gaze holding mine. “Still feel dizzy, Mami?” he asks.
