The Choppa Effect

Fifty-One

After Nate buys food for me, I have a few of the fries on the journey to my house.

"I had a lot of fun, Jade." Nate says.

I offer him a smile. "Me too."

When he pulls into my driveway, I see Tego's car parked and him leaning against it.

"I had fun." I smile at Nate but he looks confused.

"Yeah. Me too." He says but he sounds off.

"What's wrong?" I hesitate to ask.

He shakes his head and sighs before answering. "That's your ex?"

I've barely spoken about Tego to Nate but he knows a little bit.

I nod but he just sighs once more.

"I'm sorry to do this but bredda yuh deh play wid mi feelings." He glades at me.

"Excuse me?"

"It's me or him." He firmly says.

I look outside the window and glance back at Nate who still has a hard glare on me.

"You're crazy." I chuckle lightly.

"Mi nah joke."

My car door opens and Tego scans the car before greeting us with a smile. "Hi."

"Jade." Nate says firmly.

I touch Nate's hand and try to meet his eyes but he just removes his hand.

"Sorry." I mumble.

I wait to see if he'll say anything but he sits down quietly with his hands on the wheel.

I sigh before leaving the car and walk with Tego to his car and we go to a restaurant and bar by the beach.

When we sit down and order our first round of drinks, Tego ckears his throat.

"Who was that?"

I sip my drink before answering him.

"He's not my boyfriend." I told him.

He takes a deep breath. "Neva dat mi ask yuh. Who dat?"

I take another sip and look away.

Tego takes a drink as well then clears his throat.

"You and him fuck?"

His question causes me to choke a little on my drink.

"What?"

He glares at me. "Jade-"

"No."

He nods slowly. "Okay."

"You and dah girl deh fuck?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "She's my cousin."

I narrow my eyes at him.

He takes a breath then rolls his eyes. "Girl, if yuh nuh wah believe me then wah mi go do? She's my cousin you can ask her cause if a did mi ooman, mi wouldn't wah cause problem."

He flicks out his phone and quickly browses the contact list.

Angel.

He presses the call button and she answers after a few rings.

"Hello?" I hear her say.

Tego looks at me then hands me the phone.

I pause then I hear her voice again. "Yo?"

I end the call and give him back his phone.

"That's fine. Mi nah talk to her. Yuh nuh have nun fi prove." I tell him.