Page 72 of Not My Type
Didn’t I just say I was at the nail tech? “Out with a friend,” I sigh.
Gavin turns to the TV, pretending to be glued to the screen. I guess he’s ‘minding his business’. Aunty Marcia walks out of the kitchen with a cup in hand.
“You should a call though,” she says and I nod. The way how everyone is acting I can tell I was the topic of discussion.
Mi say! Topic of the round table talk.
“Yeah,” I say walking to my room. I close the door behind me and finally power the phone on. 43 missed calls. Mommy really call this much?
I shake my head, placing the phone on my dresser. It starts ringing almost immediately, and I gasp when I realize it’s my mom. Just answer.
I press the green button before I put the phone to my ear. “Zara.. ” she speaks slowly.
“Yes mommy?” I answer, sitting on my bed. Calm down Zara.
“ Nuh tell me seh yuh been a ignore mi calls,” she says more like a question. I don’t respond.
“Why you a stress out your grandmother?” she questions and I feel guilty.
Sigh. “I really didn’t want to cause any stress on Mama,” I say in a remorseful tone.
“Everybody a say that the guy you’re talking to is a badman and mi know that’s not your type. So if the bwoy a force yuh mek mi know enuh!” She’s upset.
Who gave her that idea? Must Gavin. Him same one, him alone know Nickoi.
“Mommy he’s not forcing me,” I say and it’s her turn to be quiet. I just fidget with my fingers until I hear her again.
“What happened?” she questions.
“Mommy I know that you’re disappointed in me.” I start.
“No baby I’m not disappointed. It’s just that everything weh mi a hear is so surprising,” she admits.
“Okay,” I gulp.
“Mi know yuh expect mi fi lash out and trust me I was going to... But after calling you so long and not even ring the phone nah ring, mi start fret and a seh a really run we run weh mi pitney just because of boyfriend,” she explains. I smile.
“Mi really just wah know what get yuh fi like this bad bwoy so! It a puzzle mi mind and mi a ask Kace weh him think and him a seh it must be something, so tell me.” I smile at that.
She’s actually hearing me out. Can you imagine? Yes, God love yuh.
“He has this dark side that intrigues me mommy... It’s like in his eyes there’s no emotion. Then there are times—well sometimes around me, his eyes seem so different, like he’s alive. His dad died when he was young and it scarred him,” I relate.
“He’s just a nice guy and that’s why I fall for him,” I add, pouring my all out to my mother. Give me a piece of tissue.
I want to laugh at my thought but I ignore it. My mom’s line is silent. “Mommy yuh listening?” I ask into the phone. She makes a choked sound, making me worried.
“You okay?” I inquire.
“Yes Zara mi just get emotional,” Is she crying?
“You crying mommy?” I ask with a smile.
“No,” she laughs. She’s lying.
“Zara I totally understand that and I see why you fell for him too. I just want you to know that men like this use sex to distract themselves from their life and if he has money whole heap a woman a guh run him down, so be careful with stuff like that,” she tells me.
I nod, remembering the earring that I found in the car. Zara tek yuh mind off a that.
