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“You look…” Jas made a show of quickly giving me a onceover, “…like paradise, girl.”
I cleared my throat. “And you’re an asshole.”
“Can I buy you a drink, Jas?” Corinne asked thirstily.
Jas chuckled. “Nah. I’m good, but thanks.” He asked my friends, “Y’all good? Been a’ight out here?”
Why did he have to be so protective?
“Yeah.”
“Yes.”
“Better now that y’all are here,” Becky answered.
“Shi-Shi,” I heard singsonged. Juggy approached us. He wore a swim outfit with mid-thigh cut blue, paisley trunks, a matching button-up short-sleeve shirt, and water shoes. “We gotta wear these shits?” He kicked his foot in the air.
“I need your number?” Was the first thing I could get out while pulling out my phone and unlocking it. I handed it over for him to program it. “Both if you have more than one. And while you’re at it, add his ‘other’ cell to that.” Juggy took the phone, throwing Jas a cautious and, likely, questioning gaze. Jas’ chuckle told of how cool and relaxed he was against my abrasiveness. “Second, yes. You have to wear shoes for the excursions today. We’ll be in water, but may have to walk through rocky terrain.”
My eyes, unwilled, returned to candy. Even Jas’ teeth looked brighter in the sun. Island life looked amazing on him. So busy trying to catch up with my brain, I didn’t realize Jas was holding his phone until he held it still focused on me. He took a picture of me.Oh, my god!A satisfied grin spread on his face.
“Did you just take a picture of me?”
“I did.” His demeanor tranquil as the breeze.
“We need to go,” Corinne warned.
“Oh, this ya friend you flew out with, Shi-Shi?” Juggy asked, typing into my phone.
“Friends,” Shizu corrected him, pushing one finger into the air.
Juggy glanced up. “Oh!” His head pushed back. “Ling-ling, you with Shi-Shi? Oh, shit!”
“Don’t forget about me, Becky.” She raised her hand.
“Damn, Shi-Shi! A Becky, too?”
I shook my head and before I could speak, Becky clarified, “No, boy. My real name is Becky.”
Juggy’s droopy eyes lit again. “Oh, that’s what’s up, ma!”
“Sin!”
“Jas!” were shouted simultaneously from down by the beach.
That’s where I saw Tanya’s husband patting his pockets. The banana boats were out there waiting for us to board. I now saw Tanya, Chelsea, and several other cousins, including Man, Jas’ friend.
“Jas,” A beautiful full-figured woman with false lashes too long approached him, concern topping her expression. “they said we need bracelets to get on. It’s one eighty-five. We ain’t bring no money.” She pointed back to the group waiting at the water.
“Oh, we have their bracelets,” Shizu announced.
“Word?” Jas tapped his pockets. “One eighty-five for ten of us. Who do I pay it to?”
“Shi-Shi,” Becky answered as the girls filed out of the tent covering for the water.
I noticed when Jas’ expression descended. He stared me deeply in the eyes, communicating something I couldn’t readily identify, but felt keenly familiar with.
“Don’t worry about it, Sheema,” he muttered. “Shi-Shi’s got everything figured out.”
