Page 74 of Not My Type (Not My Type #1)

Sash brought out my makeup bag so that she could get my foundation. When she starts, Sash and Gavin talks about random stuff until Candy starts engaging in the conversation. While they are talking I call Nickoi on FaceTime and realize that he’s with Junior.

“Nickoi?” I call out, and there he is, camera resting on his shoe.

“Yuh good?” he inquires, he’s doing something. He sounds a little distant. Zara give him likkle space nuh. “Yah do sup’m?” I ask and he doesn’t reply.

“Nickoi?” I call again and he finally puts the camera on his face.

“Yeah mi a do sup’m... gwaan do you makeup and thing mon,” he says, walking.

“See the next cord deh!” Junior says.

“Alright mi a go call yuh later,” I say before I hang up.

“Mi neva know seh you know her,” I hear Sash saying to Candy, her voice full of surprise.

I keep scrolling through my Instagram, tuning out their conversation until she finally finishes. “Nuh bother look pon it yet enuh,” Gavin says.

Mommy and Mama walk out and they start hyping me up. “This look damn good!” my mother says. I smile.

“Look real good fi true worst like how she done did pretty,” Candy beams. “Close yuh eye deh baby,” I flap them down and she sprays the setting spray over my face.

“Any man would a worship you to how yuh dolly out,” Sash says with a smile.

Gavin laughs. “Come gyal a time fi you put on the dress.”

“Candy yuh gwaan with yuhself with da beat yah... anytime me find a man and mi wah dolly out a you mi a call,” Sash says and we laugh.

I smile at Candy. “Thanks Candy a how much fi do it?” She smiles.

“Yuh know seh Nickoi pay mi already.” Eeeh? And him give me so much money?

Jesus if spoiled was a person, my subconscious says.

It’s 3:30 and everyone in the house is running up and down, trying to get ready. “A 3 o’ clock mi plan fi lef enuh and look pon the time now!” I argue.

“Stop the noise, Ms. Birthday Girl,” my mother says, rolling her eyes with a smile.

She’s in a peach cold-shoulder top, fitted denim jeans, and gold slides. But it’s the 30-inch jet-black wig flowing down her back that really steals the show. My mother? A whole problem. “Jesus mommy,” I smile, looking at her and she laughs.

“Hello miss it’s all about you today so nuh worry bout wah mi inna,” she tells me. Tell har again!

“So mi still cya go in the room?” I ask, standing there in my black tights and bra, fed up.

All now, them still nuh wah mi see the dress. By the time everybody finally step out, dressed and moving like dem going pon red carpet, it’s 4:30. “Unuh just know how fi late,” I kiss my teeth.

“Stop work up yourself, Miss Pretty,” Gavin teases, and I smile.

He’s wearing a green plaid shirt, denim jeans, and crisp white Air Forces. Sash steps out in a green silk dress hugging her mid-thigh, brown Bridget slides, and her sleeked-back frontal smooth like glass. Her makeup’s flawless, white purse in hand. Nah lie! Everybody look good.

“Unuh look nice eeeeh?!” I gush, grinning. Mama walks out next, twinning with my mother in the same peach top, but she pairs hers with a knee-length denim skirt and black sandals.

“Mama a you that?” I push my head back, lips parted.

“A me yes,” she smiles then my mother calls me at the door.

“It’s your time now fi get dressed,” she says surprising me and I get up walking to the room.

Gavin and Sash walk in behind me. When my eyes spot the dress, my smile grows. It’s a black corset mini dress, with pearl straps and a sweetheart cut! “Stop playingggg... this cute eeeh?!” They laugh at my reaction.

“Yes!” Mommy claps. “Grown look we going for mi baby. Put on the black stockings first,” she lifts it, making me excited. I sit on the bed and pull it over my legs. She hands me the dress.

“You a talk bout everybody look nice, but a you a guh be the talk a the town,” Gavin grins, and as Mommy holds it, I step into the bottom, pulling it up on my body.

My mother comes behind me, gently pulling up the zipper. Sash bends down to slip my feet into the pearl bow stilettos, my white pedi’ is the cherry on top. Gavin places my jewelry on me, adding the final touches.

“Nahhh lie! Mi loveeeee how Candy give har the pink waterline fi pop with the black look! This nyammmm!” Gavin shines the selfie light as Sash snaps a picture.

Mama and mommy stand at the side, admiring me. My smile grows when I see the pictures. This cya be me. Damn. I look so cute, I just wanna see my man!

“When this post pon Instagram, dem dead!” Gavin does a little dancey-dance making us laugh. I pick up the bow shaped purse.

“A when Nickoi see har at the restaurant him nah go believe cas the way how him act wid yuh this morning gyal, is exactly how me always dream a man look pan mi daughta,” her eyes glossy.

“Yuh look sweet mi baby,” Mommy’s eyes never leave me.

Every second she looks at me, it’s like she forgets everything else.

She doesn’t even care how she looks anymore.

She leans in and pecks my cheek, a soft kiss that makes me blush.

I spritz on Gucci Flora, then Yara—Yara for Zara. It’s a little ritual.

We leave shortly after. Gavin is driving uncle’s car with Sash and my mother is driving her rental with me and Mama. Mommy stops at the stop sign and turns in the opposite direction. “Mommy a Kingston we a go enuh,” I remind her.

“Yeah mi know... I’m gonna pick up something from a friend,” I narrow my eyes. Mi nuh know of mommy having no friend over Portmore but I guess she has a friend that I don’t know about.

She turns in Caribbean Estates and I remember the first time I came here with Nickoi. I bite my lip at the thought, then mommy stops at a big house and gets out. “Mi just a go pick up sup’m... come on,” her eyes on me.

“Mommy the time a get late and we nuh reach Kingston yet,” I complain. Jesus a wah time wi go reach? She aguh make the people dem cancel the reservations? Mama sighs in the back. “We will make it there princess.”

Mommy’s eyes on me. “Zara come, she wah meet yuh too,” I sigh and get out. Mama gets out too and we walk over to the house. It’s already getting dark. As soon as mommy opens the door a crowd shouts.

“SURPRISEEEEEEE!”

When did… she do this?

My smile spreads wider as I take in the sight of my family and friends gathered here for my birthday.

I look around, and it’s clear that my mother put in a lot of work to make this party a success.

The decorations, the atmosphere, everything’s perfect.

I spot Nickoi’s friends, and my eyes quickly find him soon after, standing in the crowd.

I stare, he’s staring too. He’s so fineee!

Dressed in a black blazer, tightly fitted jeans and suede Desert Clarks.

Ouu! If sexy was a person! My man my man my man!

“Ayeeee! How yuh manage dem look deh?” Sash blushes. Then Nickoi starts approaching me. My heart starts beating faster, I gulp, Sash gets nervous and walks away. At least she know fi give you guys space.

“Happy birthday Mami,” he hands me a huge bouquet made of $100 USD notes with pink sparkles. I tilt my head towards it.

“Awww... thank you,” I stare up at him through my lashes.

He scans me and I do the same before we both start smiling at each other. “Jah Jah…” he bites his lip. “No word, just thoughts.”

“You look good, yuh look gangster as always,” I say, my voice soft.

I place my hand on his chest, feeling the steady beat beneath my fingers.

His hand falls on my ass, the dress so short it only makes things worse.

He sinks his face into my neck, and I hug him, my eyes screwed shut as I try to savor the moment.

His hand finds mine, intertwining our fingers before he pulls away, walking me over to his friends.

“Up pon yuh strong,” Gutta bumps his fist in mine. I return his smile.

I finally take a moment to look at the decorations, and it’s really cute. This is so sweet. The effort’s obvious in every detail. After I’m done snapping pictures of the place, I head back inside.

“Zara,” Mommy calls, her voice warm. I walk over to her, feeling a smile tug at my lips.

“You did the decorations?” I ask and she smiles.

“Me, Nickoi and the event planner,” she counts on her fingers, surprising me when I hear Nickoi.

Nickoi have sup’m fi do with this? “Nickoi?” my lips part.

“Nickoi said I should keep my money and he paid for everything,” I gasp.

“Awww, I love him... ” I fight my tears, then I hug her. “And I love you even more mommy. I appreciate it and I feel the love,” I smile sweetly and Mama joins us.

“How you feeling so far mi baby?” Mama asks.

“Mi can’t find the words Mama,” I feel so happy. She chuckles.

“Come mek wi dance,” mommy says holding our hands and I laugh.

After a while of dancing and talking with almost everyone at the party I notice that Nickoi is missing. I ignore it and walk over to Sash who is dying from laughter.

“A wah do har?” I ask Gavin.

“She did just drop, a it the mad gyal a laugh bout,” Gavin taps my side discretely before he looks at the door. I follow his stare. Nickoi walks in with Gutta.

“A him a the man weh name Gutta?” Gavin ask and I nod.

“Yes a wah?” I raise a brow.

“Yuh chat too much!” Sash laughs and Gavin step back.

“Miss a who you a tell seh chat too much? Do, nuh mek nobody hear yuh seh that again because you make it a duty fi swallow a piece of chicken batty everyday,” Gavin snaps and I burst into a fit of laughter.

“Yes mi did a seh the gyal love off Gutta,” Gavin tells me, but before I can say anything Nickoi walks over to me.

“Mi a borrow har,” his voice deep. Gavin laughs, holding up his hand.

“She’s all yours,” he chuckles and I pinch him and walk behind my man.

“What’s up?” I ask as he lead me to the front.

“Dem a guh present the gifts to you and thing,” Nickoi says, his voice smooth but commanding.