Peeling Back the Top Layer 🇯🇲

5| Second chance

Gillian goes out of her way to grind on random men the whole time we're at the club. She keeps me and Marsha on our toes trying to prevent her from doing anything regrettable but we are also feeling the effects of the alcohol. We call it a night and take her home after she kisses a man, starts stripping off her clothes, and offers him a lap dance in her drunken state.

Honestly, wi neva know seh she have it inna har fi gwaan so. And Marsha couldn't resist the urge to capture her behavior on camera, no doubt to use against her later on.

Back at home, I quickly shower to remove the stickiness from the night's events then get into bed. Had it not been for that I would have passed out straight away when I got into the house. As soon as I switch off the light and go to pull the covers over me, my phone lights up with a new message.

Weird! Marsha tell mi she gone bed already and mi sure Gillian pass out so a who coulda so bright  fi a message me at 4:30 am?

I reluctantly unlock the phone and check to see a message from Steven saying, "I miss you. Can we try again?" Regret floods in instantly. That message could have stayed unread till tomorrow. "Talk later," I reply and toss the phone to the side, burying my face deep into my pillow for some much-needed sleep.

******

Of course mi ignore Steven di whole weekend! Him probably did drunk when him text me.

But at the same time, I am considering his question. He wasn't the worst boyfriend after all. The problem was the lack of attention and lackluster sex. Towards the end, I barely ever felt satisfied, especially when his dick would go limp in the middle of intercourse.

In my mind, we just weren't compatible but he blamed it on being stressed from having to work and study at the same time. Steven was pursuing his law degree back then and has since passed the bar. He started practicing nearly a year ago.

I reverse into my usual parking spot at work and then send a message to the girls letting them know he reached out to me. They already know we ran into each other at the restaurant.

Me: I don't know what to do. I still feel a lil sumn for him but mi nuh sure.

Gillian: 🤔🤔 Hear him out. Things could be different now

Marsha: Nuff more fish inna di sea. Throw out yuh net again 😉

Me: 🙄 yuh mean nuff more frog Marsha? More a dem out deh dan prince.

Me: Up till now mi cyaa find one weh can have a decent conversation without bringing up sex and mi not getting any younger.

Gillian: 😂😂😂 you will find your prince Kelsie and it might just be Steven.

Gillian: Marsha probably find fi har already and dash him back. She prefer di frog dem 😂😂

Marsha: Avoid mi nuh Gillian! No prince nuh deh a Jamaica... Di whole lot a dem a frog. Only difference is dat some a dem a bullfrog and some a tree frog.

Marsha: Girl! Mek Steven move and gweh wid him dead hood!

Me: 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ yuh really did affi memba dat? Yuh know wah, mi gone do di ppl dem work. Later we talk.

I'm running late this morning — one hour and 15 minutes to be exact due to a three-vehicle smashup on the quickest route from home to the office. Motorists had to detour and it caused major congestion on all the minor roads in the area.

The two-lane roadway was virtually converted into a four-lane parking lot, with unruly motorists, including myself, taking to the soft-shoulder and filter lanes, seeking to escape the standstill. But no amount of weaving and maneuvering helped. It wasn't until the wrecked vehicles were removed from the scene that traffic started flowing freely.

I walk hurriedly through the office, saying "good morning" to everyone I encounter. My face brightens, and so does my mood, when I see a bouquet of fresh flowers in a vase on my desk.

"A strapping young man drop dem off about 10 minutes ago," comes Miss Jay's voice from behind me. I turn to see her smiling. "Him leave one envelope too. Mi put it under yuh keyboard."

"Thank you Miss Jay," I mutter, my eyes focused on the flowers perched on the center of my desk. She takes my absentminded response as her cue to give me a moment alone, giving me some privacy to open the small envelope containing a handwritten note from Steven.

"I meant it when I said I miss you. Please give us another try or at least have a conversation with me about the possibilities of rekindling our relationship. I promise things will be different this time," it says. I snap a photo of both the bouquet and note then send it in the group chat before rushing off to my meeting.

Gillian: 😍😍😍 Awwww di man a mek yuh know seh is not joke thing

Marsha: Nice gesture but run di bwoy 👎 ⚰️ 🍆

Me: 🙄 not nice Marsha

Mondays are usually slow and after our planning meeting, it's left up to the writers to prepare their articles for the week. By the time we wrap up and leave the meeting room, I am famished. Skipping breakfast was such a horrible choice.

"Going on the road to get some lunch. Want anything?" I ask Miss Jay on my way out.

"Mi good. Mi goin on di road wid mi son go take care a some business before mi do dat thing weh we talk bout."

"Alright, later we talk then." She's putting some final things in place before she leaves the island. I am really gonna miss her. I'm getting into my vehicle when a male voice stops me in my tracks.

"Hi beautiful. Nice seeing you again," he says, causing me to turn around so quickly I felt my neck pop. The man sitting behind the steering wheel of the high-end sedan parked face-in next to my SUV is the same gorgeous fellow who spilled drinks all over my clothing on Friday night. Weh him a do yah?!

"Hi," I greet him, alarmed by his presence, but trying to remain polite. Just then Miss Jay exits the office building and walks toward us with a huge grin plastered on her face. "Mi see yuh meet mi son," she says. "Mi did waa introduce yuh to him Friday but yuh fly outta di office so fast."

My eyes widen at her revelation. Dis a di same man weh mi did think a gunman! Talk about judging a book by its cover.

"Kelsie this is Chaunard Riley, mi one boy. Chaunard, now you can put a face to di name," she introduces us. "Mi always a talk bout yuh," she says to me with a wink before getting into the car.

"Chaunard? Isn't that a surname?" I ask.

"Yea but it's my first name," he flashes his pearly whites. His eyes linger on me a little, triggering a squirm internally.

"Nice to meet you Chaunard. Mi hope a good things she tell yuh enuh," I blush.

"Don't worry, mi nuh listen to har half a di time," he jokes, earning himself a slap on the back of his head from Miss Jay.

I laugh at their playfulness, or maybe I'm trying to hide the jitters. "Well you two take care. See you later Miss Jay."

"Bye Kelsie," says Chaunard, while Miss Jay simply waves.

As I get into my car and drive out of the parking lot behind him, I remind myself that it really is a small world. And look how mi did think Miss Jay find young boy when is di lady pickney. Mi would a never guess seh a so har son stay good though.