Page 72 of Not My Type (Not My Type #1)

Zara

I smile at Nickoi in the mirror when he walks into the bathroom, putting his arm around me. It’s a good thing I brushed my teeth cause look how close him deh to me.

“Good morning,” he rocks me a little and my breathing hitches with my nude body clad in a white towel.

He kisses my neck before he looks in the mirror at me.

“Tomorrow is your birthday. How yuh feel bout that?” I’m never excited about my birthdays. “Wah yuh usually do?”

“Nothing much sometimes mi just buy a cake but mi never really do too much fi mi birthday over the years. Like how mi have mommy here, you and Mama I’m gonna just go to a restaurant,” I retort.

He doesn’t say anything instead he runs his hand down my arms.

“Okay Mami.” My body shivers. If only he knew the effect weh him have on me.

“You a buy mi a gift?” I ask him because he doesn’t ask or say anything like he’s gonna buy me anything.

The foam runner nuh count?

He tilts his head, studying me, then lets go and leans against the bathroom counter, facing me. He takes my hand, pulling me in front of him, trapping me between his legs as his gaze locks onto mine. My eyes drift to his full lips and the sharp line of his neatly trimmed beard.

“Mi buy sup’m fi you yes... but wah yuh really want?” Nickoi asks. His teeth are dazzling; because of how white they are with the silver braces.

I look down. He’s wearing his black bank robber.

“Done scan mi?” he’s so cocky.

“Yes,” I laugh and he puts his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I feel his length prodding my belly. Whew.

We spent half an hour cuddling and messing around, pressed up against the vanity, until Nickoi’s phone rings. I glance at the time—7:30 AM. I pull away, tucking the edge of the towel back in as he slips a finger out and answers the call, his focus shifting instantly. Nickoi smiles as he walks out.

Once I’m done getting ready, I make sure to cover my neck with foundation—don’t need the same embarrassment from yesterday to repeat.

I whip up some saltfish fritters with vegetables and baked beans for myself since Nickoi’s already eating granola bars.

I eat by myself, watching him talk outside with his security.

When I’m finished, I head out to join them.

“Yuh ready?” Nickoi asks when he spots me.

“Good morning,” the security greets and I wave.

“Good morning,” I wave. After a while of waiting Nickoi finally says he’s ready and drops me off at school.

“School a dismiss early today, so don’t come later than 2PM,” my eyes on him.

He nods. “Ah... do the right enuh b and mek mi know if anything happen.” I know he’s referring to yesterday’s incident. Laad Jee. Why dem affi be such a hot head? Mi nuh know...

“Nickoi.. I’m gonna be alright, a you mi wah be safe,” I breathe and kiss his lips.

Pulling away I grab my bag and get out of the car. “Be careful,” my voice comes out soft. He looks at me with gleam in his eyes before he looks down. Then his eyes move back to me.

“Mi a go be careful Zara,” he promises then I walk away.

I got to the classes and they were good especially since Mark is currently on suspension. That him fi get..

I spent the rest of my time marking papers for the exam that was done yesterday with Mrs. Adams. When I’m done, I head out to the gate, waiting for Nickoi. He says he’s on his way.

“Zara, from dem time deh mi neva’ see yuh back,” Gary says. We’ve been talking for a while now, and he’s been telling me about his business—selling soup, how some days it sells like hot bread, and other times, it doesn’t move at all.

“A weh yuh did deh?” I ask and he sits beside me.

“Good while mi nuh see yuh fi real,” the security chimes in.

“Mi did deh a country enuh go look fi mi people dem,” he tells us.

“Okay,” I say and hear Skeng’s Gunman shift playing. I look over my shoulder and realize that it’s a familiar black Benz. I say my goodbyes to the men before I get in the car.

He turns down the music. “Afternoon boo,” I say, settling in.

“Kiss?” he pecks my lips. “And good afternoon,” he adds with a grin before driving off. Him seem extra happy.

“Ms. Sandra seh ‘mi miss mi granddaughter carry har come,” Nickoi says in a fake girl voice, mimicking Mama.

I laugh out. “A that she say?” he gives me a firm nod. “Same way she say it.”

Mama would a affi miss yuh enuh.

“Okay,” I turn my gaze to the window.

“Hair a guh do over?” Nickoi asks. I look at him.

“Um... this still look good enuh,” he looks at me with a weird expression when I say that.

“Nickoi I know it’s my birthday tomorrow and nuff people would a prefer everything fresh but it kinda unnecessary when the hair still look good,” I continue with my point. Mi know mi a mek sense.

“Stop chat shit a mi head b,” he hiss.

Right stop chat shit a the man ears lady.

I can’t help laughing. Him just say that funny. “Okay sir I’ll do it over... how yuh wah mi dweet?” I ask him.

Bet him a go say he nuh kno— “Do it wavy,” I start smiling hard when he says that.

Nah lie him surprise me. “Mi swear yuh would a say yuh nuh know,” I laugh. He chuckles.

“Why yuh want i–” I ask him and realize that his neck is much worst than mine with hickeys. It distracts me.

Wah mi did a say again? Why him want mi do it so? “Oh yea, why yuh want it wavy?” I repeat, staring at his face, biting back a grin.

He catches me in the rearview mirror, his goofy smile hitting me straight in the chest, and my face burns. Damn, he notices everything. He laughs, and I can’t help but look away, smiling like a fool.

“Zara look pan me nuh,” I look at him, avoiding his stare.

Jesus. He looks at the road shaking his head with a smile. “Mami it funny how yuh fraid fi look in a mi eye right now and yuh d’even shy in the bed,” he smiles as he slows down in the traffic.

He looks at me and I focus on his dimples instead, then his braces. His mouth is moving and I only catch a part of what he’s saying. Wild.

“Wah you say?” I ask, because mi never hear nothing but wild.

Cas yah gaze.

“Mi a say why yuh shy now and yuh nuh shy when yuh in bed?” He questions.

“Mi nuh know,” I smile. Bwoy you just a smile dung eh place.

“Talk to me nuh mon and stop gwaan so,” Nickoi presses. Ahh bwoy.

“I’m talking to you,” I say, looking at him and he drives off.

“Yuh wah me repeat?” he asks.

“No... I’m not shy right now,” I say slowly.

“B yuh see the hickey dem pon mi neck and yuh start blush then yuh cya’ look in a man eye like yah get flashbacks and it mek yuh awkward,” Nickoi says as though he’s reading me. Him right enuh cas a same way mi feel. Poor you...

“Mi did just find it hard fi look at you,” I smile.

“Shame o’ me?” his eyes softens and I quickly shake my head no.

How she fi shame a you?

“No Nickoi,” I sigh.

“So wah then?”

“Yuh right enuh... I’m shy and like fi know say mi do all of that make mi a wonder if a really me and then yuh next to me and it’s replaying in my head,” I admit. Jesus dem word deh just cringey to me.

“So how the flashbacks mek yuh feel?” he isn’t making this better.

“Laad Gad,” I sigh. “Yuh question dem sound easy but them hard fi answer enuh.”

“Eeeh?” he presses, this feels no different from a hot seat.

“It make me feel different and yes mi know you probably think mi fool or sup’m,” I say and feel his hand on mine.

“Neva’ that... you’re just a good girl weh have a dark side and mi like that.

Shit, mi love that,” he smirks. “And mi know say a the heat of the moment mek yuh nuh feel shy yuh zimi? Mi did just wah hear yuh say it but mi see say yuh find it hard,” I breathe and stay silent. He pulls over, eyes on me.

God help yuh today.

“ How yuh silent so?” Nickoi questions and I shrug. “B c’mon now,” he says.

“Doh tell me yuh feel bad.”

Mi kinda feel shame to be honest.

“I don’t... mi just don’t know why mi affi be so shy,” I whine. Zara stop..

“Zara bill off a the foolishness cas we personality mek we unique so if yuh shy that’s just you and mi like yuh that way so nuh gwaan like yuh wish yuh did stay like yuh cousin.”

It’s the reassurance for me.

“And mi nah bash har either cas the world still need people like her. Imagine say a just chill people in a the world, weh take everything serious. Where would we get entertainment? The whole world wouldn’t depressed and bored?” his eyes are set on me.

I laugh softly, the weight of my doubts easing just a little.

I lean over on his arm that’s resting on the armrest, slipping my hand through the space so I can feel closer to him.

“Thanks,” I whisper, my eyes fixed on his dimples.

He meets my gaze, steady and warm, and just like that, the noise in my head fades.

“Yah man,” he says before he starts driving again.

“So you a wear makeup?” he rasps.

“Yes mi a go call Sash makeup artist,” I tell him and he doesn’t look interested. “Dem say she bad,” I add, hoping that it’ll raise his interest. Still nuttn...

“Mi a go get somebody,” he says firmly. “A guh get a professional, a yuh face that enuh b... the fuss thing people see.”

I laugh. “And yuh nuh wah see no duppy.” Mi know the woman would a dweet good cas mi see she do Sash face before.

“No... and you could a wear yuh face natural enuh cas yuh pretty,” he’s making me blush.

“I am huh?” I like when he randomly compliments me even when I hear him say it before.

“Very... nah lie a it catch me first then yuh personality,” he huskily says. Periodd..

“So wah yah say you nuh wah no ugly girlfriend?” I ask with a laugh and he shakes his head no.

“No sah,” he laughs and I laugh too.

When we reach the house my mother and grandma give me a bear hug. “Laad Jesus watch mi baby!” Mama pinches my cheek. All har mind think mi a baby enuh..

I spot Henry sitting on the veranda and he looks down at his banger phone. Crawsis. I ignore him and walk in. “Call Clova cas yuh hair affi do from today,” Nickoi isn’t letting up.

“Okay baby... so where you going?” I walk over to him. Since mi live with him it feels so painful, like part o’ mi missing.

I know... you attached to him.

“Gonna deal with some business,” he hands me a’ LV bag with cash inside.

“Thank you baby,” I smile as he approaches his car.

“Mi say mi fret fi you enuh but him still treat yuh good man,” Mama starts. Why she a fret... Nickoi nuh treat mi bad.

I spend the whole evening talking with Mama and Mommy until Sash and Gavin join us. After a while, Clova shows up to do my hair, and by 8 PM, she’s styling it.

“The man say him wah yuh hair natural girl so mi a give yuh some tape ins just fi extra length… and style yuh real hair, it done have volume. And no baby hair, a that the man say,” she tells me, making me laugh.

And she did just that. Now it falls just below my ass with a center part and soft, bouncy beach waves. Perfect.

“I love ittt..” I pout, now reaching for my purse.

“Tomorrow a yuh birthday girl so keep yuh money, the Don did wah pay but how mi fi charge mi baby pan har strong?” Clova fluffs my hair.

“Awww,” Gavin coos. Sash and my mother are inside the room putting my stuff together that they’re hiding from me. Bout a surprise.

When Clova leaves everyone is sleepy. Mama and Mommy are inside the room talking, so Sash joins Gavin and I in my bedroom.

“Look at you bout you a big woman,” Gavin beams.

“All hickey deh pon goody neck and har cleavage... mi can see say you and Prezi a sex dung the place,” Sash observes and I laugh out. Even though I’m a little embarrassed because she a show me up.

“A true?” she wiggles her brows.

“Lef har nuh miss,” Gavin snaps at her. Thanks Gavin.

“Skin all a glow,” Sash says and I ignore her looking at Gavin as he helps me remove the fingernails. Wendy sent these custom press ons, they’re almond shaped with 3d flowers.

“Dem look like acrylic eeeh?” Gavin muses as I get the first one on.

“Yea… she make dem custom,” I say and we all work together , while doing an impromptu karaoke session.

Once we got them done, I take a few pictures and send them to Nickoi.

He looks at it as soon as I sent it. Eva deh pan him phone.

He sends two heart eyes emojis and I smile.

Mi feel so happy. As I should it’s almost my birthday!

Gavin and Sash climb onto the bed with me, and we settle in to watch Good Girls last episode.

Why Rio remind mi o’ mi man? I blush and we toss banana chips, Pringles, ruffles and Doritos in a bowl, munching as we get into the series.

Before I even realize it, I fall asleep on Gavin, and Sash is stretched out at the bottom of the bed, cozy and quiet .