“Mi have shoes already,” I say, thinking about the heels in the gift bag from yesterday.
Without a word, he reaches beside him and hands me a sleek little black bag.
“Money in deh,” he says casually, not even looking at me.
My heart does a soft somersault. I glance inside, then look over at him jaw clenched, focus on the road, just doing what he always does. Taking care of me. I don’t even say thank you out loud. I just reach for his hand and squeeze.
“Mi did have money enuh,” I murmur, peeking into the bag. “Yuh forget the whole heap a cash weh yuh give me inna the Birkins?”
Nickoi barely glances at me, eyes on the windshield. “Save yuh money.” Just like that no discussion, no back and forth. It’s the kind of soft dominance he carries naturally.
“Okay then…” I smile, leaning over to press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”And this man? Always giving me too much.
I look back in the bag and blink. “This probably too much fi one dress though.”
He shrugs. “Yuh never know wah yuh might see and like. Yuh say dress now but suppose yuh see jewelry? Or something else?” His voice is calm, matter-of-factly. Like spoiling me is just a regular Tuesday. He has a point.
“Maybe like jewelry,” I hum, already thinking about what would match the neckline I don’t even know I’m choosing yet.
He nods. “Yah. A so shopping go,” he says, like a man who’s done this before. Not for just anybody. But for me.
Fifteen minutes later, we pull into the plaza and Nickoi parks neatly behind Mommy’s rental. She’s already out the car, bright smile on her face, arms folded like she’s been watching us pullup. She walks over to Nickoi’s side first, of course she does and he starts smiling before she even says a word.
“What a way unuh late!” she laughs, then tilts her head toward me. “Mi bet a Zara tek long fi get ready.”
I start cracking up right away, especially when Nickoi nods, not missing a beat.
“She take one full year, Ms. Michelle. Mi swear,” he says, cool as ever.
“Oh please.” I nudge him playfully, laughter still bubbling from my chest. “Mi never take that long, stop exaggerate.”
He chuckles, and Mommy shakes her head smiling. “Yuh nah come out, miss? Member we probably affi do whole heap a walking, worse yuh indecisive.”
“Alright, alright!” I lean over and press a quick kiss to Nickoi’s lips. His hand lingers on my thigh, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Tek care, enuh Mami.” My stomach flips. That soft nickname on his tongue never gets old.
I smile, stepping out. “I love you.”
He meets my gaze. “I love you too.” I close the door just as Mommy looks at me with that little smirk only moms can pull off. Then she glances at Nickoi through the window.
“Alright Nickoi we going to see if we can find a dress. Drive safe,” she says.
“Yeah man. Respect,” he replies, chin tilted and I swear he can make the simplest words feel like affection.
He holds my gaze for another second longer like he doesn’t really want to leave before rolling the window up and honking once. Then just like that, he’s gone.
NICKOI
“Wah yuh just say?!” I snap, my voice rising without warning.My heart’s already thumping from the call, Janel crying on the line, barely able to speak. “Lorie brother… box me,” she sobs.
Box who?
My foot eases off the gas for a second.Box who?
“And why him woulda box yuh?” Mi not even a wait fi the answer, mi brain a move too fast, connecting dots mi d’even want connect.
“H-him box me and say him nuh fraid a mi bredda,” she cries, voice cracking, “And say Nickoi put him hand pan fi him sister, so him put back fi him hand pan me. A-and him say him a go hurt me if me tell you. But mommy say mi fi talk, cause him a bad man.” My jaw clenches. I yank the gearshift, reverse hard, and speed off.
