Page 9 of Fever: Love In Scrubs

W hile I kept reminding Wynter that she needed to relax and stay off her feet, she insisted that she wanted to enjoy her time out of the house.

I obliged her by suggesting we go to a park not too far from the chicken spot.

We parked and I helped her out of the car once again.

I noticed that she was limping a little more than she’d previously been.

“See,” I said, shaking my head. “You’re being hard headed, now look at you.”

She playfully shoved my shoulder. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? It’s a little walk to where the pedal boats are.”

“Pedal boats? Is that why you brought me here?”

I grinned. In the middle of the park was a big lake. There was a spot where you could rent a pedal boat and sail around.

“It’s peaceful and I think you’ll enjoy it.”

“Um, can you swim? ‘Cause I can’t and I can’t swallow all that water.”

I chuckled. “Damn, you sounded like my grandmother just now. Yes, I can swim, woman.”

“Is the boat sturdy? I’m not trying to tip over.”

“Yes, Wynter. Trust me. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

She gave me a side eye. “Fine.”

“Good.” I turned my back to her. “Hop on.”

“Hop on what?”

“Stop playing and jump on my back. Let’s give your foot a break.”

“I’m not about to jump on your back, Jaxson. You must be crazy. You can’t carry me. Again, I’m not a small?—”

“I bench three fifty, love. I’m sure I can carry you.” I tapped my back. “Come on.”

She hesitated for a long time before nodding. I stooped a little lower so she could wrap her arms around my neck. In one swift motion, I locked my arms around her thighs and lifted her into my back.

“Put me down!” she squealed.

“Calm your nerves, woman. I got you.”

I adjusted her to a comfortable position and started walking toward the docks. She held on to me for dear life.

“If anything, you’re gonna choke me to death. Loosen your grip.”

She did as I said, and I could breathe a little easier.

Effortlessly, I carried her to the docks where I paid the vendor for the boat ride.

Once Wynter was settled in, I climbed in myself and pedalled away.

The park was minimally occupied. There were a few people walking their dogs or running around.

Two other boats were on the lake as well.

“This is nice,” Wynter commented. “When did they start doing this?”

“A few years ago.”

“You know, we could have picked an activity where I could be useful.”

“You just sit there and look pretty. You don’t need to be useful.”

“Something tells me that you are a smooth talker, Dr. Pierre. You talk these women around here out of their panties on the regular, don’t you?”

I chuckled. “I’m offended. I look like a dog to you?”

“Looks can be deceiving.”

“Right, because you look innocent, but I get the feeling you aren’t. Tell me, when’s the last time you did something that would make me look at you sideways.”

She bit her lip, contemplating her answer.

“You’re taking too long,” I said.

“I’m not out here being a menace to society, sir.”

“And I’m not out here dropping my pants to every woman with a vagina.”

She playfully shoved me. I decided to mess with her and shifted my weight to the side, causing the boat to tip a little and her to scream and grab ahold of me.

“You should have seen your face,” I said, laughing.

She tried not to laugh herself as she smacked my arm. “That is not funny! You’re childish as hell for that.”

I raised my hands in surrender. “I apologize. I like to play around sometimes.”

“Just don’t kill me in the process.”

“I got you.”

I pedalled the boat around a little longer before coming to a quiet spot on the lake. Wynter relaxed into her seat as she looked around.

“This is so peaceful,” she commented.

“It is. I bring my daughter out here for picnics every now and then. At least, I did until she started thinking picnics with daddy were lame. Now she just wants to spend my money. That’s the only time she doesn’t complain about spending time with me. I guess I have to take what I can get.”

“Did you like spending time with your parents at her age?”

“Hell yeah. My dad is my best friend. He’s always been the cool dad. Moms is pretty cool too. Now, did they remind me that they aren’t one of my little friends all the time? Yes. Mom still tells me that and I have to remind her of that every time she wants to hang out.”

“Y’all seem like a close-knit family.”

“We are. You pretty close with your aunt and cousin?”

“I am. They’ll be here this weekend to check on me since they now know I broke my ass on those stairs. It’s crazy because I never fell in all the years that house was cluttered.”

“That is a lil’ wild. Accidents happen, though. So, have you found a job here yet?”

“No. Right now, I’ll be taking my clients remotely. Once a week, I’ll go into the office until I find something permanent here. I’ve been looking though. It might not be in the same setting, but as long as it’s the same field, I’m okay with that.”

“Check the hospital’s website. They are always hiring for something.”

She smirked. “Why? So I can see you at work too?”

“I mean, who knows. I might be the highlight of your day.”

“Didn’t you say you’re usually in the morgue? I don’t think I would have any clients down there and I definitely don’t want to spend my days with the dead. No thank you.”

“We could have lunch sometime. I mean, I would be your best friend at the hospital since you don’t know anybody else.”

She giggled. “Look at you trying to be my bestie. You have to tell me all the hospital gossip.”

“Maaannn, it’s alot.”

“So it is like Grey’s Anatomy.”

“Maybe just a little.”

We shared a laugh.

“I’ll check it out. I know I don’t want to commute forever, and I’ll go stark crazy working from home for too long.”

“If you need me to put in a good word for you, I got you.”

“I appreciate that. You might make a good friend after all. You know, aside from you trying to kill me.”

“Wow! We’re still on that. You hold grudges, I see.”

She grinned at me. I really liked her energy, and I could tell she was becoming comfortable with me. We spent about an hour on the boat, laughing, talking, and getting to know each other. When we finally got off, she didn’t put up a fight this time to let me carry her back to our cars.

“I needed this today,” she said, as I placed her on her feet. “Thank you for keeping me company.”

“The pleasure was all mine. Maybe we can do this again sometime.”

“Maybe. I guess you should take my number since I have yours.”

She held out her hand for my phone and I gave it to her. After programming her number, she handed it back with a smile.

“You gave me a number that works, right?” I jested.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dr. Pierre.”

“Alright now. Don’t have me out here looking crazy.”

“I promise, I won’t.”

We stared at each other for a moment, both of us with grins on our faces. She was the first to speak.

“I better get going. That food and this sun has me beat. I need a good nap.”

“Let me know when you make it home.”

“I will.”

I wanted to hug her but decided not to overstep. Instead, I grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles.

“Have a good day, Ms. Driscoll.”

“You too.”

I opened her door and waited until she was securely inside to close it. Standing back, I watched as she backed out and drove out of the parking lot.

Today was a good day.

After leaving Wynter, I headed to pick up Jamari from school. We hadn’t had a little daddy daughter day in a while, so I figured I’d pick her up a little early. When she walked out to get in the car, she had an unreadable expression on her face. Settled in her seat, she looked at me.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“Why would something be wrong?”

“You got me out early. Something has to be wrong. Is it Granny or Grandpa? Aunt Asia? Mom?”

“No, baby. Everybody is fine. I just wanted to spend some time with you.”

She blew a breath of relief. “Daddy, you scared me. Can you give me a heads up next time? A text or something?”

“You aren’t supposed to have your phone out in class, Jamari.”

“I know, but if I say it’s you, I’ll get a pass.”

I rolled my eyes. “What am I gonna do with you? Did you have a good day?”

She shrugged. “It was okay. I’m not mad about leaving early. Oooo, can we go shopping?”

“You always want to spend my money.”

“I mean, isn’t that why you came to get me? So you could spend some money on me?”

I chuckled as I pulled off from the curb. “Yeah, man.”

She grinned as she connected her phone to the car and put on some music. The sounds of some new aged rap music filled the speakers. She started bopping and rapping along to the lyrics. When she hit the dance moves, I had to laugh.

“You and these TikTok dances.”

“Daddy, don’t be a hater.”

“I’m not hating. Your generation is on there dancing to our music and killing these dances, not in a good way either.”

She scoffed. “Do your knees even work anymore? I never see you dance.”

“Oh, you want daddy to school you?”

“Please! I could out dance you any day. You’re old.”

“First of all, I’m thirty-five. That’s not old.”

“Then Mama is old and you’re middle-aged.”

I playfully mushed her. “Whatever, lil’ girl.”

“Why are you in such a good mood? I thought you’d be at the house relaxing on your day off.”

“I can’t have a good day?”

She gave me a small smile. “Daddy, the only people you smile at like this are me, Granny, Kacie, and Aunt Asia. It’s a woman, isn’t it?”

I laughed. “Wow.”

“It’s okay to date, you know. Obviously, you and mom aren’t getting back together.” She reached out and grabbed my hand. “I want you to be happy.”

I kissed her hand. “I am happy, baby. I’ve got you. Nothing makes me happier than being your father, even when you’re being a brat.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I understand that you’re growing up and you’re going through a lot of changes. Just… don’t grow up too fast, okay? Be my little girl a little while longer. I miss the days of you playing dress up and having tea parties with your Barbie dolls.”

She giggled. “I’m too old for that now, Daddy.”

“I know. I know. I worked a lot when you were younger, Jamari. I feel like I missed a few things at times, and I don’t wanna miss anything else.”

She leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You’re a great father. I complain, but I know how lucky I am to have you.”

“Thank you, baby.”

“Sooo… why are you in such a good mood?”

“Again, I can’t be in a good mood?”

“Yeah, but I feel like something happened.” She gasped. “And you never answered my question. Is it a woman?”

I laughed. “Why does it have to be that?”

“Because you have that same goofy look on your face that Auntie Asia has around Uncle Johnathan.”

I chuckled. My sister was head over heels in love with her husband and she did get this goofy look when he was around.

“I did meet someone,” I confirmed. “I don’t know if it will go anywhere, but I’m interested.”

Jamari smiled. “I hope it does. You deserve someone and I’m open to a stepmama. I just hope she can handle mama.”

“You let me worry about your mama.”

“I really hate when you guys fight, Daddy. It makes things awkward for me. I’ve heard her trash talking you to her friends because you won’t take her back and I don’t like that. I know you aren’t perfect, but she broke up our family.”

I reeled in my anger. Jamari might catch us arguing, but I never spoke ill of her mother in front of her.

My daughter was old enough to understand why we were no longer together, so I told her the truth when she asked.

It seemed the more I learned about my ex-wife after our divorce, the more I wish I’d never approached her at all.

It was sad that all the good years we had together were now overshadowed by her bullshit.

“I hate for you to see us fight and I apologize for that, Mari. I promise, from here on out, you won’t have to see it. I’ll do everything I can to protect you from that.”

“Thank you.” She sighed heavily. “So, tell me about this woman.”

A smile slowly spread across my face as I began telling her about Wynter.

I knew more than I did in the beginning, but there was still so much more to learn.

She told me earlier that she was leaving to go home after the house was cleaned out.

With her bedroom being the last one, I was sure that meant her departure would be soon.

Luckily, we’d exchanged numbers, so I could still contact her.

She didn’t know it yet, but I had plans to actively pursue her.

I hoped she was ready for that because once I locked in on something, I didn’t give up so easily.