The Island Goddess.

xxvi.

Emerald finally reached home. It was 6am in morning. She spent the entire day and night with Lance. She couldn't believe it but it didn't amaze her. Emerald reached her bed and collapsed as she fluttered her eyes shut.

Moments later she was woken up with a call. Nathan. She answered it, her voice low and sluggish.

"Hey babe. Wahgwan?" He said.

"Mi alright Nathan.."

"Yuh didn't answer my text yesterday. Yuh good?" He asked. It wasn't like her to not get back, he was worried and wanted to make sure she was okay.

"Mi fine Nathan. RJust tired." She yawned. "Call yuh back later?"

"Of course. Yuh wan fi see me today?" He asked.

Emerald closed her eyes and sighed. She was still so high from last night's encounter with Lance. It felt as though he would suck that good energy away.

"Nah babe, got work." She said.

They said their goodbyes and Emerald hung up.

Immediately she got a text.

Lance Brown: Thank you for last night, that was quite a welcome. ;)

She stared at her phone then groaned as she fell back into her pillow.

"These men ah drive me mad." She said to herself. Emerald sighed to herself, realising the trouble that had just crept into her life. She wasn't ready to think about it, instead she went back to sleep.

..

In the kitchen Melissa was busy whipping up lunch for her and her bestfriend. When Emerald finally on got downstairs, she yawned. She had showered, freshened up but she still looked exhausted.

"Morning..." Emerald said as she immediately yawned after.

"Morning?! Gyal it's past one!" Melissa exclaimed as she brought their lunch to the main table.

Melissa looked at her friend and shook her head. She had never seen Emerald like this, she knew who was responsible.

Emerald had a huge smile plastered on her face, she was gleaming. Melissa hadn't seen this glow in a long while. "Why yuh stare at me suh?"

"Emerald yuh look drunk! Drunk in love!" Melissa said as she laughed with her friend.

"What time yuh get home today."

Emerald was almost too embarrassed to say. "6am.." she almost whispered as she took bites into her food.

Melissa widened her eyes. "Fuck..man lance got yuh deep.. Yuh deep bad mi gyal." Melissa was shocked but her bestfriend looked so happy. It made her excited she just couldn't contain it. She was also on the edge; wondering what this new chapter for them would lead to.

Emerald just nodded, she wasn't going to fight it. She was mad over this man. There was no one who captured her attention enough to have her at the beach for over 10 hours.

"Wake up today... call from Nathan. Text message from Lance. Same time mi fren.." She said as she stared over at Melissa.

Melissa put her hands on her head then clapped her hands. "See wuh yuh do! How are yuh getting this sorted, eh? Who wins yuh?" She said and she rested her chin on her palm. This was the most drama she'd seen in a long while. She hated to say but she was tuned right in, her bestfriend's love life was so complicated.

Emerald sighed then closed her eyes. "Mi nuh know.. mi feelings all over the place. Mi definitely still love Lance. And that's a big problem."

Emerald called Nathan later during the day. She decided she didn't want him worrying. She looked in the mirror as she got ready to go to his place; he was cooking her dinner tonight.

Emerald drove to Nathans and moments later she was at his doorstep. When she made her way into his place the smell of all her favourite dishes filled her senses.

"Babe!" She yelled out looking around for him.

She walked to the kitchen and there he was, getting the cuisine to the table.

"Sup sweetheart." He smiled as he leaned to kiss her then finish placing the food down. He sat in front of her as he motioned to the food. She thanked him and began eating.

She thought about how spoiled she was. Waking up to her best-friend making her food and now her boyfriend made her dinner? Everyone just seemed to treasure Emerald.

"tastes amazing.." She said as she smiled faintly.

"How's work?" He asked her as she ate and watched her.

"Alright.." She said, as she took a sip of her wine.

Nathan smiled and he nodded.

Emerald's phone began to ring. And of course it was Lance brown. Just fucking great. She declined and turned off her phone.

Nathan stared at her and rose a brow. "Yuh right? Who ah call at this time?" He questioned.

He was always around Emerald, she rarely got calls at this hour.

Emerald shrugged it off and told yet another lie. Nathan wasn't questioning it. Small talk was exchanged during dinner before they cleared their plates.

Emerald had a bit too much wine and she was giggling, slightly clumsy. Nathan picked her up and took her to his bedroom.

"Yuh too tipsy fi drive home. Stay de night." She agreed and Nathan laid her on the king sized bed.

Nathan lay beside her as he began kissing her soft lips. He traced his hand over her face, down to her cheek, neck and then...

"Emerald." He said sternly.

"Mmm?"

"What's that?" He said as he gestured to her neck. Fresh love bites and hickies plastered all on her neck.

He grazed his finger over them and Emerald hissed a little as her heart became thumping loudly.

Fuck.

What was her excuse? She had to think of something and quick.

"It's.."

"They fucking hickies. Nuh lie now tell mi di truth. I wasn't wid yuh yesterday so they not from me."

"Melissa. Me and Melissa got real drunk."

"What!" Nathan exclaimed in disbelief. "Damn..." He chuckled.

"Mi really turn yuh into a freak, huh?"

She just nodded in agreement.

'Phew, That was close.' She thought to herself.