Page 65 of Not My Type (Not My Type #1)

Zara

When we get home—I mean back at Nickoi’s house we both fall asleep on the sofa, we didn’t even change our clothes. I raise up, looking around and notice that it’s dark outside before I look back at him. He’s still sleeping.

“Go to your room,” I say softly and he sits up.

He shakes his head. “Nuh wah sleep no more. Mi a go deal wid some things.”

“Really? Before yuh reach yuh tell me say yuh tired and yuh drop asleep the moment wi sit down in the sofa so how yuh nuh wah sleep no more?” I cross my arms.

“Mi have some calls fi mek,” he retorts. Oh, so now him have some calls fi mek?

“Well mi a go bathe and sleep but yuh nah come in deh this time cause mi have school tomorrow,” I mutter and hear him chuckle.

He pulls out his phone and dials a friend just as I climb the first two stairs.

I pause, ears tuning in when I hear his voice — sounds like he’s talking to his uncle.

Nuh listen to mi, mi just a’ assume yer.

When I’m done being nosy, I realize my assumptions were spot on — he’s definitely on the phone with Uncle Wayne. Lawd Gad mi fass. Glad yuh know!

I shower and slip into a light pink romper, my small feet practically drowning in his oversized loafer slides.

When I get to the kitchen to grab something to eat, he’s still sprawled out on the sofa, rocking his legs and dragging his vape while he talks to his uncle.

I take glances at him as I slurp my cup soup.

My focus is barely on shopping because of Nickoi.

When I realize that he isn’t going to get off that call anytime soon I wash my plate, set it to dry and head back to the room.

I lie down, trying to sleep and the fact say him outside and nuh in the bed wid mi just doh sit right wid me. Mi really attached to him.

I climb out of bed. “Stink?” I call, looking down from the bannister at him.

He’s still on the phone with his Uncle. He doesn’t seem to hear me.

Wah dem a talk bout so long? Mek mi lef him alone.

I get back in the bed, trying to sleep again —but can I?

Of course not. I hiss, flipping over. My mind drifts to random stuff until it lands on Nickoi.

As usual, I start blushing. Thinking about our relationship so far– I’ve never felt like this about my exes, no matter how much I claimed I loved them.

None of that even comes close to this. My breath hitches when he walks into the room, and I swear it’s like I summoned him.

“Nah sleep?” it’s low but still fills the room.

“Mi cya sleep,” I mumble into the pillow, my voice muffled.

Next thing I know, the bed dips and his arms wrap around me. I melt into him without even thinking—like my body just knows where it belongs.

Tell yuh how him loving enuh, my subconscious says.

We lock eyes, and it’s like the whole room goes still. My heart’s beating too fast, and when it gets too much, I’m the one who looks away first. Mi cya take it.

“Why yuh cya sleep?” he rubs my arm slowly. I shrug, my eyes dropping to his lips — because that stare? Yeah, I can’t handle it.

“Mi nuh know,” maybe cause yuh never in the bed wid me, I wanted to say. Nah seh that thou.

“Just breathe,” he says quietly and I inhale and exhale slowly. He kisses my forehead and hugs me tight. He smells so good. Damn..

“Breathe with your mind,” he says softly, and I do. His fingers trace slow circles on my arm, and before I know it, sleep pulls me under.

When I wake up, Nickoi’s not here. I push myself up from the bed, eyes scanning the room — but there’s no sign of him.

After my morning routine, I walk out just in time to notice the balcony door slightly open.

He’s probably out there. I step onto the balcony, and the cool morning breeze kisses my cheek.

My eyes drift to the side, and there he is — lounging in a balcony chair, Jahshii’s song playing low, a glass of Hennessy in his hand. Man a wul a vibe.

“Morning,” he says, taking another sip of his Hennessy, his eyes never leaving the horizon.

“So early stink?” I ask, purposely bothering him. He shoots me a look, letting me know I’ve definitely succeeded in getting on his nerves.

“Call mi anything else but mi nah feel dah name deh babes,” he tells me and I laugh. “Lef dat to the yankee dem.”

Laad Jesus mi cya manage, my subconscious laughs.

“Why? The name cute,” I reason and he hiss.

“To you... mi nuh like it,” he glares ahead.

“Okay, but why Hennessy so early?”I ask again since he didn’t answer my question.

“Cause a mi tea,” he chuckles, and notice my blank stare, then he speaks again. “Mi just a wul a vibe Mami.”

“Mi need yuh fi stay alive, please take care a yuhself. Mi need yuh. Anyways, mi a go get ready fi school,” I walk inside leaving the weight of my words to settle on him.

After I’m done getting dressed for school, I head to the kitchen and make waffles for myself and a tuna salad avocado bowl for Nickoi.

Mi could hardly figure out what to make for him since him nuh eat egg and dem thing deh.

I give him his breakfast, and we eat together.

After breakfast, he drives me to school.

School is good today; I’m getting used to it.

“Great job, Ms. Williams,” Mrs. Adams says while rushing out. “Mi affi run, mi have an important meeting.”

“Careful down the stairs,” I smile before I open my phone. I grab my bag and leave the room, checking my WhatsApp and see a voice note from Sash The beach!? Sigh... mi forget bout it enuh.

I press it. ‘Yuh see youu... how yuh stay so bad gyal? Mi never tell yuh say me, you and Gavin a go a beach Sunday? Yuh not even send a message and tell mi dawgggg. Nothing? Anyways we enjoy wi self... would a love fi do it again,’ the voice note ends. Mi never member a thing bout it, honestly.

I quickly text Sash back, letting her know I was busy but happy to hear they enjoyed themselves.

“Miss Williams?” Jordane calls, surprising me. Even though I’ve been teaching him for a while and he hasn’t been saying anything to me I know that he knows about me and Nickoi’s relationship. Just the way how him look pon mi.

“Hi Jordane,” I smile.

“Just did wah know if you could a help mi with the essay,” why is he always blushing?

“Okay... when though because Friday would be out,” I say since I’m gonna be outsideeee!

“Wi could a do it Wednesday cause mi nah come a school tomorrow mi have some things fi dealid,” he tells me. Big man dis enuh.

“Okay. Wednesday can work,” I confirm.

“Alright miss,” he walks off. Always respectful, all when him kno’ mi business.

When I reach the gate I smile at the security. “Bye,” I spot Nickoi’s car parking at his usual spot.

“Good evening,” I greet as I climb in the car.

“Evening baby,” he replies before he looks back at his phone, driving off.

“Mi a fawud now but mi a drop off mi ooman first,” he says on the phone.

“Yuh nah carry Jordane?” I ask, curiously.

“Jordane ooman a guh come pick him up,” he tells me.

Jordane have woman weh a pick him up? What a thing. That mean a big woman him have. “Yah,” he tells the person on the phone before he hangs up.

“So I’m going to drop you off at the house cas mi a go finish mi arm tattoo,” he shares. I glance at his arm..

“It look done,” I observe and he shakes his head.

“It nuh done man,” he simply says, focusing on the road, and I start thinking.

I’ve always wanted a tattoo, so why not get one? Something small, of course. I glance back at him, then quickly look away. I don’t know why, but I’m scared to say it. I look at him again, wondering if he’ll agree. Honestly, I just wanna follow him around, like, I can’t help it.

“Zara, what’s up?” Nickoi asks, I guess he realized that I wanted to ask him something.

“I want a tattoo,” I say and he looks at me astonished.

“You?” he laughs.

“Yes, mi want sup’m small,” I watch as his laughter dances through the air.

“Okay, like what?” he inquires, curiosity piqued.

I shrug, contemplating. “Um... my name or something I cherish,” I tell him, a smile creeping onto my lips.

“Okay... so mi nuh fi drop yuh off then?” he asks, and I shake my head no.

“Yuh know what, I want to change my clothes first,” I say. He nods and pulls off.

Once we’re home, I quickly swap into something more comfortable, the excitement bubbling inside me. I meet Nickoi in the car, and he drives us to the tattoo shop. When we get there, the buzzing of the machine hits my ears, and for a split second, doubt creeps in.

“This sick enuh, Wayne!” a woman exclaims, and I glance at the man behind the needle. Is he a relative of Nickoi? He doesn’t seem old—perhaps in his late 30s, I muse, while Nickoi scrolls through his phone on the sofa beside me, oblivious to the familial connection.

“Yeah man!” Wayne laughs, capturing the moment with a photo.

“When mi done, mi a go wear bikini fi show off mi tattoo,” the woman exclaims, bubbling with enthusiasm.

He chuckles warmly. “Nickoi, how it gwaan since yuh dweet?” Wayne asks, turning his gaze to Nickoi.

“It Gov’ enuh, mi just feel like a time fi yuh finish it,” a hint of readiness in his voice.

Wayne’s eyes meet mine. “Hi beautiful, bright eyes,” he smirks, a playful glimmer in his expression.

“Uncle, none a that—a mi ooman dat,” Nickoi interjects, a teasing edge to his tone, prompting a chuckle from Wayne.

I feel a blush creep onto my cheeks. “Bwoy yuh nuh ramp enuh,” Wayne chuckles, extending his hand for a handshake, which I gladly accept.

“I’m Wayne... your boyfriend’s favorite uncle, ask him,” he declares, drawing a laugh from me. Nickoi shakes his head with a smile, clearly amused.

“She want a tattoo,” he states before turning to me.

“Weh yuh want it?” I shrug, uncertainty clouding my thoughts.

“I’m not sure yet,” I say. After a moment, I think I want it between my breasts, but the idea makes me hesitate. “I’d like it between my breasts...” I trail off. He studies me for a moment.

“Uncle Wayne naah do that; mi aguh make him ooman do it, fawud,” he says, standing from his seat, my hand in his.

“She decide what she want yet?” Wayne asks.

“Yah, but yuh naah dweet,” his voice sharp, a grin spreading across his face.

“Arite bad bwoy,” Wayne grins. Nickoi pushes the back door open, revealing a woman adorned with piercings over her face; two on her eyebrows, two gracing her nose, and as soon as she smiles I see glistening gems peeking from her tongue. My goodness man.

“Wah gwaan Nickoi?”

“Deh yah enuh. Fawud fi finish mi tattoo and mi ooman want one between her breasts,” he tells her.

She looks at me with a smile. “Hi hun, I’m Stacy.”

“Hi,” I smile stretching to her a picture of my desired design.

“Alright,” she smiles. After a brief moment, she finally revs up the machine again.

“Tattoos are cute but the sound a this just chro,” I laugh and Stacy joins me.

“Nuh focus on the sound baby,” she assures. “It nah guh that bad.”

She starts tattooing my skin, and the needle sinks in. A sharp sting shoots through me, and I can’t help but scream. The ink digs deeper with each pass, leaving a burning trail under my skin.

“No... mi nuh bother wah yuh dweet,” I cry, nervously.

“Zara stop make daddy disappointed,” Nickoi jokes. He’s at the door watching.

“Chro... alright,” I blush as she keeps working, the sting getting worse with each line.

I flinch but Nickoi sits next to me, wrapping his arms around me. His touch calms me, easing the pain as she continues. It still hurts, but with him close, I feel braver. Awwww.

“Yah G enuh,” he smiles. “Cya fraid a tattoo Mami.”

“It hotttt,” I whine.

They laugh. “A she asks fi tattoo enuh,” Nickoi says to Stacy.

“Yuh ever hear say style come wid pain?” She teases and I nod pitifully. Nickoi looks at me with a goofy smile .