Page 176 of Not My Type
“Oh, they fix it already.”
“Yah.”
“Mi love it enuh, all wen mi did see it the first time mi did shock cause a mi dream car,” I say excitedly.
“Ahh. Mi did see yuh a pree the Jaguar, a the Benz yuh prefer?” he asks.
“I always like Jaguars because they’re not common in Jamaica but a the c63 was always mi dream car. Especially fi see it in person, but a c63 is really the one mi love,” I beam.
“Oh, mi love it too mon but a wah Bentley mi want, wen mi go back a foreign though. Mi o’ just ship it.” he says. “Mi want a black one... wah color car yuh love?” Nickoi asks and I smile. Mi know a black him love.
“Black was expected babe but mi love white car,” I tell him as he drives. He doesn’t say anything. I realize that he has something on his mind that he wants to say. Mi can see it pon him face. “What’s up?” I ask, and he glance at me before he looks back at the road.
“So like how yuh deh yah with me as in mi house for a while... wah yuh think about living with me?” he asks surprising me. I don’t like the idea but I love to be around him. So... I don’t know.
“Um…” I start.
“Yuh can say no enuh,” he’s already annoyed. I glare at him.
“Mek mi think nuh.” I hiss.
“Ah,” he turns up the hill, heading to Beverly Hills.
Zara nuh up yasso dem seh Bro Gad live? My subconscious ask. I laugh.
Mi subconscious a sup’m else enuh. Wah mi a go say to Nickoi now fi answer his question? Mi nuh know.
I sigh. “So... don’t get me wrong I love your company and everything but the whole living in your house thing doesn’t sit right with me because um... mi nuh wah
anything happen and like um,” I struggle and he interrupts me.
“Zara stop go round cawna and be clear with me.” Mi a try..
I don’t know what to say now that he’s getting worked up. “Living with you sounds good but there’s just some— Nickoi wah mi a say is when girl go live with man a that time dem get pregnant,” I finally say. Plus mi nuh want when nuh’n happ’m him run mi out cause people change after a while.
Oh shut up... a Nickoi this enuh stop talk like a pessimist, Zara, my subconscious scolds. I sigh.
“You on pills so wah you a talk bout?” his eyes low. I don’t like his tone. I shrug.
“Can we stop?” I ask looking through the window, I feel the attitude coming.
“Stop what?” he asks. I don’t want to hear you Nickoi. Chro.
“This conversation,” I simply say. He chuckles dryly and the car starts moving faster.
“Why females nuh know how fi have a conversation?” He asks and I look at him. The fact him use ‘females’ tell me say him upset.
“I know how to have a conversation but you a get angry and mi nuh in a the foolishness with yuh,” I say with an attitude. He glances at me with an innocent expression.
“Me? You nuh see mi a be calm? Just meds the two a we and tell me which one a raise them voice?” he asks and I sigh. A me.
“Ok, fine a me,” I say with a guilty laugh and he turns in as the gate opens automatically.
We get in the house, and suddenly, there’s this weird vibe. Nickoi’s giving me the silent treatment, but not in the obvious way. He’s just... off. I watch him grab his scissors and start cutting up his weed, his face like it’s carved out of stone. Like, nothing fazes him.
“Nickoi?” I say and he looks at me with a smile. A fake smile.
“Yes Zara?” he sounds off too.
