Page 255 of Not My Type
I wake up to the gentle hum of my phone vibrating beside me. With a groggy push, I sit upright before swiping the screen. It’s Gavin.
“Top a the mawning,” he says and I laugh, clapping twice as the light flicks off. I climb out of bed.
“Watch chubby face gyal and watch rich life,” he beams, his face now illuminated.
“Morning Gavin.” I smile, opening the balcony door. I scan the surroundings, but there’s no sign of Nickoi. Weh him deh?
“Mi deh yah a try put some clothes together fi go a church with Mama,” Gavin says, setting the phone down on his dresser.
“You a go a church? Surprising,” I say still looking for Nickoi.
“Hey nuh talk enuh! ‘Cause you used to live with Mama and all now yuh nuh step in a church,” Gavin snaps, making me laugh. A true! Shame a killlll me!
“Mi just busy,” Is my excuse. “Mi fi go a church though go get some blessings.” Fi real enuh Zara... dem nearly kill yuh and a God pull through. Amen.
“Yes gyal!” Gavin agrees, his voice full of enthusiasm.
As I rummage through the bedrooms, the living room, the garage, the kitchen, and the bathrooms, Nickoi remains elusive. I continue my search as Gavin chats away on the phone. “Nosah then watch tour! Watch high ceiling, watch luxury, risky people can see we sex, house! Angleee, it look like any California glass house gyally.”
“A really tour enuh,” I laugh, ignoring the sex part. Mainly cause it’s true. I spot a door at the side. Him probably in deh so enuh.
“Yuh, call him?” he asks, diligently ironing his shirt.
“Him lef the phone on the bed,” I say, mounting the stairs. Him all have another phone, but mi nuh know that number.
“Mi see one room weh mi nuh check and mi neva see it open yet enuh.” I reply as I approach the door.
“What if him nuh di deh?” Gavin asks.
“Him wouldn’t lef the phone and no car nuh missing,” I say before I call his name checking if he’s inside.
“Nickoi,” I call out, but there’s no answer. I push the door open and find him peering at a painting, causing my smile to widen. Nickoi can paint!? Wow. It’s an unfinished piece of an alien smoking weed while clutching a bottle.
“I’m guessing... Hennessy?” is my way to get his attention. “Babe... what can’t you do? This is nice.”
“Yah,” he says admiring his work. How long him up a do this? Him even sleep?
“How long this take you?” I question.
“Couple hours,” he retorts and I hear Gavin on the phone. Mi not even did member seh him deh pon the phone.
“Den yuh nuh feel mi wah see it too?” he asks with a hint of attitude. I turn the camera towards the painting.
“That look like a professional dweet eeh?” Gavin compliments.
“Respect man,” Nickoi says then I hear a car horn. He gets up and walk out. “A Gutta that,” he tells me.
“Yes girl so how yuh never tell mi yuh man is a artist,” he teases and I chuckle heading back to my room.
“Me never know... him full a surprises,” I say placing the phone on my bed. I quickly gather my hair into a ponytail before picking up the phone again.
“Wah yah go do today though?”
“Cook and then ummm... sleep,” I say and he bursts out laughing.
“Yuh could a neva lazy so,” he says as he slips on his shoe.
“Anuh lazy. Nutt’n else nuh deh here fi mi do,” I counter, then suddenly I remember school.
