Page 13 of Fever: Love In Scrubs

“ Y ou look handsome,” Jamari said from the door of my bedroom.

I was getting ready for my date with Wynter and putting on the final touches.

“Thank you, baby girl.”

“Are you excited?”

I chuckled. “Nah.”

“Soooo… do I get to meet her?”

I turned back to her. “If things progress.”

She wore a look on her face that I couldn’t quite read. I took a seat on the bed and motioned her to me.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Mama’s been calling me. I didn’t answer, though.” She pulled out her phone and showed it to me. “She finally texted me.”

Taking the phone, I zeroed in on the text message.

Mommy: Why would you go tell your father some shit like that, Jamari?

Now you have me looking like a slack ass parent.

You could have come and talk to me and I would have handled that.

But noooo. You had to involve your damn daddy, knowing how he feels about me.

Now you don’t wanna come over here? Like I made you feel unsafe?

Kevin isn’t the monster you made him seem like.

You seeing him, if you saw him at all, was an accident.

Now you have your daddy thinking I just have anybody around you.

I deserve some happiness too. Your daddy seems to think he can run me and he can’t.

Keep him out of this house and out of my damn business.

I sucked in a deep breath. This was the shit that had me ready to unleash my sister on Amandela’s ass. She just never knew when to stop. The fact that she was texting our daughter about this shit had me hot.

“I’ll handle this,” I said. “Thank you for not responding. If she sends you anything else, let me know.”

“Okay.”

“You got your stuff ready for your aunt’s?”

“I do.”

“Good. I’m picking you up tomorrow afternoon.”

“Okay. Daddy?”

“Yeah?”

“Promise me this lady your dating isn’t like Mom. That she actually likes kids and would want to be around me if you two work out.”

I pulled her to me and kissed her temple.

“Listen to me. You will always come first. I’d never bring anybody into your life that I didn’t feel would understand that and treat you right. You’re my baby, Jamari. Even when you’re married with kids of your own, daddy will always stand ten toes down behind you.”

“I know. I’m sorry I give you a hard time sometimes. I’m lucky to have you.”

“I’m lucky to have you, too.”

We shared an embrace until I heard the front door open and close. A few seconds later, I heard little footsteps pounding on the stairs.

“Uncle Jaxson! Mari!” Kacie yelled. “Where are you!”

“In here, Kacie,” I called back.

She ran into the room and dove on me. I pretended to fall back on the bed from the blow.

“Whoa there!” I said, laughing.

“I got you good,” she said, giggling.

“You did.”

I stood from the bed with her in my arms as my sister entered the room. She looked me over and smiled.

“You two go on down to the car,” she told Kacie and Jamari. “I’ll be right out.”

I placed Kacie on her feet and she grabbed Jamari’s hand.

“Bye, Uncle Jaxson! Love you.”

“I love you too, baby girl.”

Jamari kissed my cheek. “Love you, Daddy. Have fun.”

“I love you more.”

They left the room, leaving me and Asia alone.

“Well, don’t you look handsome.”

“I know.”

She rolled her eyes. “I hope you enjoy your date. Make sure you take pictures so I can see this mystery woman.”

“Actually, she might not be a mystery to you. Y’all are the same age, and she grew up here.”

“Really? Who is she?”

“Wynter Driscoll.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? Wow. I haven’t seen her in what? Fifteen years? How did that happen?”

“I did an autopsy on her father.”

“Wait, he died?”

“A couple months ago.”

“Damn. I’m sorry to hear that. School used to be hell for her. The kids were horrible to her because of her living situation with her dad. I always wished that I had made friends with her. She seemed like a nice girl.”

“Well, maybe you will get a chance to make friends with her soon.”

“Maybe. The way she’s had you smiling and shit, I can tell you like her. I haven’t seen you smile like that since before your divorce.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “I know. I guess back then I never thought I’d have to date again.”

“Me either. I still say you should have let me dog walk that bitch when you found out what she was doing. I could have worn a ski mask or something so she didn’t know it was me. Either way, she deserved to get touched.”

I shook my head. “She did, but I couldn’t do that. Now if I didn’t have Jamari, that would have been a different story.”

“Absolutely. If it wasn’t for my niece, nothing but the blood of Jesus would have kept me off her. Gon’ cheat on you? My brother? Fuck no.”

I laughed to myself. Asia had always been just as protective of me as I was of her. I had about a foot on her in height and at least fifty pounds in weight, but she was the big little sister. If I told her to jump Amandela right now, she wouldn’t hesitate.

Asia sighed. “Anyway. Go pick up your date. I want details when you come get Jamari.”

“I hear you, sis.”

She kissed my cheek and stood. “Oh, and good job upgrading from your trash ass baby mama. I don’t know Wynter, but anything is better than the bitch you had a baby with. I can’t believe you raw-dogged that hoe.”

“Just wait until I tell you the latest news. We’re gonna discuss it tomorrow.”

“Now, why would you tell me that at this very moment when you know I’m nosy?”

“My bad.”

She mushed my head. “Have a good night and you better come ready to spill the tea tomorrow. And take pictures!”

“I got you.”

She left my room and a few seconds later, I heard the front door close. I finished getting ready and shot Wynter a text that I was about to leave. She told me she would be ready. I smiled, hoping tonight would be everything I planned it to be.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Wynter.

When she’d opened her front door, I was floored by how beautiful she looked.

I’d given her a suggestion as far as attire for the evening earlier this week, and she’d executed it perfectly.

Tonight, she was dressed in a black dress that hugged her at the bust and waist and flared out at the bottom.

The hem stopped above her knees and the whole thing accentuated her round backside.

Her thick thighs were clad in mesh tights with intricate designs.

Now that her boot was gone, her feet were a pair of black pumps that put her eye level with me.

She’d straightened her hair and given it soft curls that framed her beautiful, make up free face.

I noticed that she’d gotten her nails and lashes done too.

Everything about her was stunning tonight.

“You’re staring,” she said, as she sat across from me at the dinner table.

We were at a steakhouse that served some of the best food in the city.

I’d requested a table in a private section away from the hustle and bustle of foot traffic.

Honestly, I just wanted to have her all to myself.

True, I had been staring at her, but I couldn’t help myself.

It had been a long time since I’d been this attracted to anybody.

“I’m sorry. You just… you look amazing. Is it making you uncomfortable?”

She blushed. “No. It’s flattering. I thought for a second I did too much. My cousin helped me pick this out, and it’s not really what I’d usually go for. She wanted me to go without the tights and show some thigh.”

I smirked. “I wouldn’t have been mad at that.”

“I bet you wouldn’t have, sir.”

I chuckled. “For real. You look great. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Thank you. This place is nice. Is it new?”

“It’s a few years old. They’ve been working hard to build downtown up over the years and bring new jobs into the city.”

“In other words, they’ve gentrified it.”

“Exactly. I will say some additions have been nicer than others, like the restaurants. It’s nice to have a bigger selection if I don’t wanna cook.”

“Are you a good cook?”

“Not to toot my own horn, but I’m a great cook. You should let me cook for you sometimes.”

“Are you just trying to get me to your house?”

“I’m trying to have you in my space whenever and however I can.”

She blushed. “I’d be okay with that. Be forewarned, if my aunt and my cousin are ever in town, they are going to make it their mission to meet you.”

“They sound like my mama. Jamari put me on blast at the family dinner the other night. She told those people I had a girlfriend.”

Wynter giggled. “No she did not.”

“She did. You see what I mean? She loves being in my business.”

“I mean, I get it. I take it you haven’t dated much since your divorce.”

“Not really. I’ve entertained women, but it was never anything serious.”

“Ahhhh,” she rested her chin on her palm. “I can read between the lines. Tell me Dr. Pierre… are you having many Grey’s Anatomy moments at St. Ambrose?”

I laughed. “Hell no. I stay in the basement most of the time. It’s usually me and my assistant.”

“Nothing ever happened there?”

“With my assistant? Nah. I look at Raq like I look at my sister. There’s no chemistry between us other than we make a great team. Our body parts have never met. Like I told you before, I’m unattached.”

“Good to know.” She smiled as she took a sip of her wine. “I like hanging out with you,” she admitted. “It’s peaceful, fun, and carefree. No pressure.”

“I like hanging out with you too.” I reached across the table for her hand. “If tonight goes well and you’re interested, I’d like to see you exclusively. Not rushing to put a title on anything, but I’d like to keep dating you.”

Her smile widened and her cheeks deepened in a rosy color. “I think I’d like that.”

I leaned across the table and beckoned her to me. She met me halfway and connected our lips. Damn, I loved kissing her. Her lips were so soft and juicy that I could kiss her for hours and never grow tired of it.

Settled back in our seats, conversation resumed until our meal was brought out. We took turns sampling from each other’s plate… cutesy shit. The whole time, we were laughing and talking like we’d known each other our whole lives. It was easy. Uncomplicated. Simple.

At one point during the night, we’d migrated to the same side of the table.

She leaned comfortably into me as we spoke and ate our shared dessert of Oreo cheesecake.

Wynter cupped my chin and held her fork to my mouth to feed me a bite.

Just as I went to take it, she tipped the fork a little, getting the whipped cream all over my lips.

She giggled. “That’s for making me think that pedal boat was going to tip over.”

I chuckled. “See, I told you. You hold grudges.”

I picked up a napkin to wipe my mouth, but she stopped me.

“I’ve got it.”

Palming my face, she swiped her tongue over my lips before sucking the whip cream off. That shit had my dick bricking in my pants. It had been too long since I had some nasty shit like that done to me. I didn’t know where this bravery came from, but I wasn’t mad at it.

“Damn,” I said, when she pulled back. “Do we need to stop by a grocery store and grab a can of whipped cream?”

She broke into light laughter.

“I’m for real,” I said. “You can’t be kissing me like that, woman. You want to start a problem and I’m trying to be respectful.” I playfully shook my head. “See, my mama always warned me about the innocent looking ones.”

She rolled her eyes as she dug back into our dessert. “Like I told you, I’m not that innocent. You make me comfortable enough to let my guard down. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like that.”

“You don’t need your guard up with me. I know that’s easier said than done, but on some real shit, I’m genuine in everything I say and do. You can trust yourself with me.”

She smiled and nodded. “I believe you.”

I was nothing if not sincere. She’d never have to worry about me switching up on her. With me, what you see is exactly what you get. You could always believe the person I told you I was, was the same as the person I showed you I was to be.