Page 171 of Not My Type
I feel so good knowing that he’s finally coming around as Anna says. She said he was grieving for a while but he seems okay now. Which is good. As they keep having fun, I sit back on a plastic chair, snapping pictures, grinning like a fool. My eyes shift to Nickoi, and suddenly, butterflies swarm in my stomach. I really love this man.
51. ROSES
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.
I check the time and realize that it’s 9:30 PM then I tap his arms gently. “Yes?” he says, sleepily.
“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.
