“Mi get everything already. Mi nuh know…” I giggle. “You nuh affi give me anything—”
He cuts me off with a kiss. Deep and possessive. “Shhh… you cya pass everything, and mi nuh get you something,” he murmurs against my lips.
I pause, brain foggy from his mouth, his warmth. “I want something that’ll help me make my own money…” I murmur.
He pulls back slightly, studying me. “It can be anything,” he says.
“A business?” I ask.
He nods, like he already expected it. “Maybe a clothes store or hair. Since mi love mi laces.”
He smiles, tracing circles along my thigh. “You said both clothes and hair. But yuh nuh choose one.”
I smile back, eyes flickering between his lips and his eyes. “Mi think everybody doing clothes,” I whisper. “So mi a go choose the hair.”
He nods slow, proud and full of something sweet. “Hair it is,” he says, before returning to my neck kissing, licking, lovingon me. I lie there beneath him, skin warm, lips parted, heart full realizing this is what it feels like to be loved soft… and fully. Exactly how I deserve.
15
Ride
The weekend disappears in a blink and now it’s Monday. I’m up early like, beat-the-sun early. I take my vitamins, eat something light, then head to the shower. Steam wraps around me like a hug, but my mind’s already a few steps ahead, today’s the day I meet Mommy in town. Graduation dress mission.
By the time I get dressed, edge control set and lip gloss on, I’m headed downstairs, one hand gliding across the rail. My stomach flutters, nervous excitement maybe but it still feels good.
Nickoi looks up from his phone, dark eyes locking with mine. “Ready now, mami?” His voice is low, gravelly. Sexy even when he’s just asking a question. He’s taking me, he refused to let me drive.
“Yeah,” I nod, lips tugging into a smile when I catch Lizzie in the kitchen, wiping the counters.
“Morning again, Zara,” she calls out, her face bright.
I walk over and bump her shoulder gently. “Good morning, Liz. Mi a cut now, enuh.”
She nods. “Gwaan. A hope yuh find something fi wear, Miss Indecisive,” she laughs.
I grin, thinking about Friday. She was here all morning and still had to suffer through my scrolling and constant ‘no, not this one.’ “Mi affi choose something today though. Graduation a literally Friday,” I groan, and she lifts a brow.
“Yuh betta. Town have some good options. Jus tek yuh time.”
“I will.” I wave, and step out.
Nickoi’s by the front door now, already dousing the weed he was hitting. He doesn’t even let me comment, just reaches out and pulls me in by the waist, his touch instinctive. We slide into the X6, and I smile when the soft glow of purple neon lights hums to life under the dashboard.
“This gets me every time,” I say.
He just chuckles, easing into the driver’s seat beside me. “Your madda still a drive the rental?” he asks, eyes on the road.
I nod, but a sudden sting in my leg pulls my focus. “Ow.”
He clocks it instantly. “Wah happen?” His palm lands firm on my thigh.
“Pain in my legs,” I wince, he’s rubbing at the spot, but he leans in and does it for me warm, slow pressure in just the right place.
His thumb presses into the muscle until the ache fades. I exhale. “Thanks.”
He watches me for another beat before starting the engine. Before we move, his hand brushes my seatbelt to make sure it’s locked in. “Weh we a meet har?” he asks.
I give him the location, and he nods, pulling into traffic, left hand relaxed on the wheel, the other resting close enough to me that our arms brush now and then. A silence settles,comfortably, until he glances at me again. “Just dress yuh buying?”
