Winner Takes All (The Game Book 4) by Melody Anne

Author:Melody Anne [Anne, Melody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falling Star Publications
Published: 2024-09-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Nikki

The sun dips low over the horizon, casting a glow across the ocean as Victor and I weave our way through the bustling Jamaican market. This is why I want to travel the world. We get locked into our own little bubbles and forget to realize how different places add so much perspective to our lives.

The market is alive with colors, sounds, and the smells of freshly ground spices, ripe mangoes, roasted peanuts, and the heady scent of fresh herbs. We aren’t moving too quickly, because I want to see it all. Victor, who’s clearly been here before, navigates the area like he’s lived here his entire life. He’s good at bartering with the vendors, joking with them in a mix of Patois and English which makes everyone laugh. I love that he’s the one I’m with on this trip.

He grins at me after his latest purchase, holding up a bag of scotch bonnet peppers. “Think you can handle these, Nik?”

I’m not so sure about eating them, but I refuse to show weakness. “I can handle some heat. A few peppers aren’t enough to scare me.” They are, but he doesn’t have to know this.

He gives me a knowing look. “We’ll see.” He tosses the peppers into our bag that’s already brimming with vibrant fruits and veggies, and a few mysterious spices I can’t wait to try out.

We’re gathering ingredients for a special dinner at Kofi’s mother’s house — Mama Lorna, as everyone here calls her. I’ve been told she’s the queen of jerk chicken, and I’m truly excited to learn from her.

We mosey on before we make our way out of the market. I dance along the streets filled with excitement. “I’m truly falling in love with the Bahamas,” I tell him.

He gives me a teasing grin. “I was hoping you might be falling for me.”

I give him a playful nudge. “Maybe I’m falling for both.”

He laughs as his eyes light up. This man makes me feel wanted. “As fun as the streets are, we better hurry and get back to Mama Lorna’s before she cooks without us.”

We make our way through town, then down another road to a small house nestled in a grove of palm trees where the scent of charcoal smoke and spices fills the air. Mama Lorna is already outside, tending to a grill that looks older than I am. She turns to us and smiles, her face lit up.

“Victor, my boy, so good to see you,” she calls out as she waves us over. He envelopes her in a gentle hug. She then turns to me. “I love that you’ve brought me a beautiful woman to visit with.”

“You know there’s nothing I won’t do for you,” Victor says. “This is Nikki, and I might have her convinced to move here.” Mama Lorna chuckles at this.

“We don’t want your dad coming down here and hunting us all for taking his boy. As much as you’re welcome, you better stick to visiting. Family is essential to our souls,” she tells him.

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