Page 26 of Fever: Love In Scrubs

“Nobody that truly loves you would ever make you feel like you had to keep their secrets to be worthy of that love. You don’t have to accept horrible treatment from anybody, baby.

Especially not your mother. I love you, Jamari.

My job is to love, provide, and protect you.

I can’t do that if I don’t know when you need me. No more secrets. Promise me that.”

“I promise.”

We ate with minimal conversation. I could tell she was in her head and there was nothing I could do about it. I had to follow the court orders. Me asking for supervised visitation was me being lenient. Did I want to take Jamari away? No. But I had to protect my child.

Once we finished eating, we headed for home so Jamari could do her homework.

I promised her we’d watch that movie she was talking about last night, so that lifted her spirits a little.

We had a whole night planned with ice cream and junk food.

When I pulled into the driveway of my home, I noticed something on the porch.

We got out and headed to the front door where I realized the package was a floral arrangement.

Picking it up, the card read for Jamari.

“For me?” she asked, plucking it from my hand. She opened the card and read it aloud.

Jamari,

I know you had a rough start this morning, but I hope these make you smile as much as you make me smile. Remember, you are special, beautifully and wonderfully made and anybody would be lucky to have you in their life.

Love, Wynter

Jamari looked up at me with tears in her eyes. “Daddy… this is so sweet.”

“It is.” I pulled out my phone and went to Wynter’s contact. “Call her to say thank you.”

She was giddy as I unlocked the door to let us in.

After putting her things down, she bounced into the kitchen as the phone rang, while I headed upstairs to change out of my court clothes and into something comfortable for this movie night.

When I came back downstairs, I could hear Wynter and Jamari still on the phone.

“I wish I didn’t have to do this, Ms. Wynter,” she said softly.

“I know, baby. I pray that she gets it together so she can be what you need. All You and your father can do is comply with the court order. The rest is up to her. Just know that if it doesn’t work out, none of this is your fault.

Your feelings matter and your voice is important.

Don’t ever let anybody take that from you. Nobody.”

“Yes ma’am. Ms. Wynter?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Hypothetically speaking… if you married my dad and became my stepmom, you’d still want me around, right?”

“Of course I would, baby.”

“Even if you two had other kids?”

“Jamari… hypothetically speaking… if your father and I were ever to take that route, I’d love and treat you like my daughter because you would be mine.

I know how it is to feel like the person who’s supposed to love you doesn’t.

I’d never do that to you. Even though your father and I are just dating right now, I accept you not just because you are a part of him, but because you are a great kid. You deserve to be loved.”

I could hear my baby sniffling. I knew no matter how many times I told her that, it wouldn’t hit the same as coming from someone who chose to love her. I let them have their conversation while I flipped through the channels, looking for something to watch until my baby finished her homework.

About five minutes later, she came around the corner with the phone, handing it to me.

“Ms. Wynter wants to talk to you,” she said softly. “I’m going to do my homework, now.”

“Okay, baby.” I took the phone and she kissed my cheek before heading upstairs. “Hey, love.”

“Hey, you. How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, baby. Just tired. Thank you for the flowers for Jamari. That really made her day.”

“It was nothing. I gotta make sure my girl keeps a smile on her pretty face.”

“That’s what I love about you. You have a heart of gold.”

“I try.”

She propped the phone up and I could tell she was in her kitchen.

“You had a good day at work?” I asked, slouching on the couch.

“I did.”

She turned to grab something from the fridge and I couldn’t help but grin at the way her ass was eating those shorts. When she caught me, she shook her head.

“Don’t be on here being fresh, Dr. Pierre,” she said, opening her bottle of water.

“I mean, you put it out there. I’m just appreciating the view.”

She rolled her eyes. “You know your little friend from the morgue had lunch with me today.”

“Raq?”

“Yep. She’s a sweet girl.”

“She’s nosy as hell. She told me she was going to make friends with you. Said her sister is a nurse in PEDS and told her how we were making googly eyes at each other.”

She giggled. “Let me find out I really do need to ignore you at work.”

“I will embarrass us both. How are you gonna ignore me when I’ve been inside you like that, baby?”

She blushed. “I can’t.”

“Exactly.”

We stared at each other for a moment, both of us smiling.

“I miss you,” she said, bashfully.

“I miss you too. It’s crazy how attached I feel to your ass.”

“I know right? You’ve spoiled me with attention and affection. I’m not used to that.”

“Physical touch and quality time are my love languages and I love sharing both of those with you, Wynter. You’ve quickly become my best friend with your goofy ass.”

She laughed. “I’m only goofy because you create a space for me to just be myself.

The person I am when I’m alone. The girl that dances around her bedroom in her underwear or recites movies word for word because I’ve watched them so many times.

I’ve spent half my life feeling alone and that feeling came back when I moved back here. I don’t feel alone with you.”

She sniffled and swiped a tear from her eye.

“You don’t ever have to feel alone again, baby.”

She smiled faintly. “I know. I feel it. God broke the mold with you, Jaxson Pierre.”

I wanted so badly to say I love you in that moment, but that would be crazy. Still, as crazy as it felt, if felt just as natural. I was anxiously awaiting the day I could utter those words and mean it with my entire fucking chest.