Page 18 of Rounds (Love In Scrubs)

“ I ’m not gon’ be able to hook up with you tonight.”

“Aww! I was looking forward to it. You have to work?”

“Naw. I have to see about my dad, and a woman I’m interested in.”

The line was quiet for a moment. I refused to lie to her, because I had nothing to hide.

Charleigh wasn’t my woman. She was a fuck .

. . a good one. It would probably come back to bite me in the ass if I slept with her again anyway.

She’d tried to bluff me last time, and I’d wished her the best. After that exchange, I needed to stick to my decision of not seeing her again.

Delaney needed me and every bit of my attention.

“A woman?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought you didn’t want a relationship.”

I could hear the saltiness in her tone. “First of all, calm that shit down. I told you I didn’t want one with you, but if the right woman came around, I would be open to it.

Just because you weren’t the one, didn’t mean my one wasn’t out there somewhere.

I believe I found her. So, just like I’d told you in so many words last time, I’m done.

I should have stuck to that the other day when I agreed to meet you today.

So, let’s make this our final conversation. I wish you well, Charleigh.”

“Fine. Don’t call me when she’s not everything you thought she would be.”

“I won’t.”

I ended the call, then blocked her number as I turned in the driveway.

Delaney was right behind me. When she got out of her car, she looked around with a smile on her face.

My parents had a nice home. It wasn’t huge, but it was nice.

There was a great view of the mountains as well.

The house was practically right in the middle of them.

I made my way to her and said, “Why don’t you pull your car up closer to the door, so you can unload everything. Are you going back to work?”

“No, I’m not.”

I nodded and was about to walk away to go unlock the door when she said, “Glover. Thank you.”

I went back to her and pulled her in my arms and hugged her.

She looked like she needed that. That nigga wasn’t shit for putting her out, knowing she had nowhere to go, especially being that he was the one who fucked up.

Niggas didn’t like when someone else had the upper hand.

Delaney had that shit until he put her out.

I slowly shook my head as I thought about it.

When I released her, I went to the back door and unlocked it then disarmed the alarm system.

Going back outside, I saw Delaney backing her car in.

I stood there watching her, not believing she’d finally given in to me.

I knew we weren’t a couple, and I surely wouldn’t bring up the subject of that, but she was letting me be here for her. That was a step in the right direction.

After she put her car in park and popped the trunk, I went to it and immediately grabbed the suitcases out of it, setting them on the driveway. “Delaney, you get these since they roll. I’ll get the bags.”

She smiled at me, and that shit made my soul feel good. “Okay.”

I smiled back, then grabbed three of her garbage bags of clothes.

I was still somewhat in shock that she was actually here.

Had it not been for that pileup, I probably would have never seen her.

She seemed to be avoiding me. I was starting to give up on her.

When I sent the flowers, I didn’t even have the energy to write a detailed letter.

I just signed my name to it. She was still fighting me.

If she wouldn’t have fallen on the ground, she still probably wouldn’t be here.

She was determined to do things on her own, and I wasn’t sure what made her change her mind.

Once we got everything inside, I turned to her. “So umm . . . this is a three-bedroom house. I’ll show you the two bedrooms that are available. One is actually the master, because I sleep in my old bedroom. This is my parents’ home, but I’m sure Sir Talks-A-Lot told you that already.”

She laughed, then covered her mouth with her hand.

I playfully rolled my eyes and took her straight to the master bedroom.

This room would probably be best for her since it had a bathroom in it.

When we got to it, she looked inside, and said, “No need to show me the other one. I’m going to need this space with all my things.

The other room is most likely smaller than this one. ”

“Yeah.”

“I had my things spread out across two bedrooms. At least I’ll be able to fit everything in this one room. Thank you again.”

“Stop saying thank you. I do have a question though.”

She tensed up almost immediately, probably thinking I was going to ask about her ex. I didn’t give a fuck about him. That nigga didn’t deserve discussion time. “What made you change your mind?”

She relaxed slightly. “I felt like I was sinking already. It was like the fall let me know that if I didn’t get help, that was what was going to happen to me mentally.

I was raised to be able to take care of myself.

When I became a teenager, I knew how to cook my own meals and clean an entire house.

My mama taught me to be self-sufficient at a young age.

I even knew how to pay the bills by the time I was sixteen.

My dad taught me how to take care of my car.

I know how to change out a flat and change my own oil. I don’t do it, but I know how.”

Damn. Her parents really did a number on her, making it seem like she couldn’t depend on anyone. I supposed I got the point, but Delaney took that shit overboard.

“So, when I met Jaunté, I decided to give love a try. For the first time, I trusted someone. I gave up my apartment and moved in with him. That was the biggest mistake of my life. Because of that trauma, I reverted back to my teaching. Had they not pushed the move-in date back, I would have been just fine on my own. I’d made reservations for a hotel for the weekends until my move in date. I canceled them on my way here.”

“I’m glad you’re choosing to trust me, Delaney.”

“Well, I mean, I had raw sex with you. I supposed that was a level of trust as well. Just because you’re a doctor doesn’t mean your dick ain’t dirty.”

I frowned slightly as she laughed and fell into me, hugging me tightly. “Well, I can assure you that my dick is clean. He’s my greatest asset. I gotta make sure that nigga always in tip top shape.”

She pulled away from me and bit her bottom lip.

I slowly shook my head and went back to the front room to bring her things in the master bedroom.

She seemed so happy now. It was like a weight had lifted off her chest. She already looked happier.

As I dragged her things to the room, I couldn’t help but think that if the events of today wouldn’t have happened, I would be deep in Charleigh’s pussy, regretting every moment.

I felt like she was going to be a problem if I didn’t take precautions.

She’d let her feelings get involved and that was why she was acting a fool about me breaking things off with her.

We were supposed to be fucking . . . That was it.

I couldn’t allow her to fuck shit up between Delaney and me.

While we weren’t a couple, I knew we would be if things continued to go well.

I felt like her ex was going to be a problem, too, if she had to block him.

He had to have been blowing her line up. We were both dealing with psychopaths.

Once I had gotten all her things into the room, she started unpacking and organizing her things.

As I watched her, she stared up at me and smiled again.

Those thick ass lips were calling me. I needed to feel her kiss, if nothing else.

I licked my lips, and she stood from her seat on the floor.

It was like she knew what I wanted. When she got to me, she slid her arms around me, and I lowered my face to hers.

I kissed her slowly then eased my tongue to hers.

The soft moan she emitted only caused me to slide my hands to her ass. I stooped and picked her up. She wrapped her thick legs around me as I heard her scrubs ripping. I pulled away from her and bit my lip trying to restrain my smile.

“Go ahead and laugh. I fucked them up earlier when I fell, so it don’t even matter.”

I chuckled, then captured her lips once again.

“It feels good having you here, baby. Damn. I just hope you’re comfortable.

I’m gonna have to tell my dad that you’re here.

” I rolled my eyes as I lowered her to her feet.

“We made a little wager about you talking to me again. He said when you came around, I would owe him a cheeseburger. I told him that I was done begging you to be in your life.”

I slowly shook my head as she smiled. “I take it you don’t let him indulge in fast food.”

“Not at all. He was complaining about the bland ass spaghetti they’d served him.”

“I’m flattered that I was a topic of discussion.”

“You’ve been ruling my thoughts. I was zoning out and sucking the fuck out of a cream-filled donut like it was you.”

Her eyebrows hiked up, and she laughed loudly. When she saw I wasn’t laughing, she asked, “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious. It was one of those lemon cream donuts with the white powder on the outside. When I realized what I was doing, I felt like a weak ass nigga. Girl, you were all I could think about. How ‘the stick and move’ nigga get sprung?”

She wrapped her arms around me. “Well, let’s just take this relationship slow. You already know I won’t be involved with anyone else, but I don’t want to be rushed into anything.”

It was my turn to back up. “I wasn’t going to bring up a relationship at all. Since you did, it lets me know that it’s on your mind. Thank you for giving me a chance to prove that I’m the one your heart and soul need.”

“Just don’t hurt me, Glover. Please. I don’t think I can go through that again so soon.”

“I promise. My only intentions are to cherish and protect you and eventually, love you. You’re my one, and I can feel that shit plain as day.” I kissed her lips. “I’m going to leave you to your business. I have to go back to my office for an appointment then I have to go check on the old man.”

“Okay.”

“Call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

I left her standing in the room, wishing I didn’t have to be an adult and handle my responsibilities like one. Delaney was mine now, and I refused to ever let go.

My dad’s eyes were wide when I handed him the cheeseburger from Sonic. He licked his lips and quickly opened the bag like he thought I was playing a cruel joke on him.

“Glover! There are fries in this bag too! She gave you a chance!”

“Dad, she more than gave me a chance. So, she was just breaking up with her ex, and she was supposed to move into her apartment this week. He put her out Sunday, and the apartment complex moved her move-in date to next month. She was staying in her car. When I saw all the shit in her car, I was livid. I told her to come stay with me. She denied me of course, but when she walked away, she tripped and hit the cement pretty hard.”

“Let me guess. You doctored her up, and she changed her mind.”

I chuckled. “I doctored her up, and she changed her mind because she said that fall symbolized what would be next for her mentally. She was stressed to the max and felt that if she kept trying to do everything herself, she would fall mentally.”

“Hmm. I’m glad she was able to see that. So since she moved in temporarily, not only do I get a burger, but I get French fries too. We ought to make another wager.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not making another bet with you, because you don’t need this junk food.”

Disregarding what I said, he said, “I believe she will end up staying permanently. If she does, I want some chocolate chip cookies from McDonalds.”

I rolled my eyes. “Bet.”

“No, we have to shake on it. When it’s time for her to move out, she won’t leave.”

I hesitantly leaned over and shook his outstretched hand. “If she moves out and comes back, that doesn’t count,” I added. “Don’t even try to think of loopholes. There are none.”

He chuckled, then stuffed fries in his mouth. When his eyes rolled and he moaned, I slowly shook my head. “Okay, now you’re doing too much. I don’t need to see you making love to the food.”

He looked at me with a smirk on his lips. “I didn’t moan during sex. I grabbed necks and growled.”

My eyes were wide as hell. I know he ain’t talking about what he used to do to my mama. He laughed hard. “Maaaaaaan . . .”

He laughed as I tried to get the visual out of my mental. My lip curled up in disgust as I watched him take a bite of his burger. When he swallowed his food, he said, “It’s in your DNA. I was a beast . . . a savage. Your mama could testify to that.”

“Man, change the subject. I do not need to hear about your sex life with my mama. God bless her soul. I’m glad she’s not here to verify your claims, because then, I would be looking at her in disgust too.”

He gave me a tight smile. “Well, I wish she was here to verify it. I would much rather see your look of disgust than to be without her.”

I nodded repeatedly. “You’re right. I would much rather that too. I miss her.”

He continued eating his food in silence for a couple of minutes. “This burger is so good. Either it’s really good, or it’s been so damn long since I had one, any burger would taste good.”

I chuckled as I watched him devour the rest of his food. “You see how fast you ate that? I don’t wanna hear nothing about you having heartburn or indigestion later.”

He rolled his eyes and chuckled. “And if I do, you gon’ have them people give me something. It’s partially your fault since you brought it. It ain’t like I can get it myself.”

“For all I know, you could be calling Uber Eats or Door Dash and eating what you want all the time.”

He chuckled. “I don’t know how to use that fancy stuff. I’ll have to pay one of the nurses to do it for me.”

I slowly shook my head. “Let me find out. Don’t have nobody losing their job just because they got you fast food. You want that on your conscience?”

He waved me off dismissively then belched.

“See, that’s all that grease already getting to you.”

“Go home and see about your woman instead of worrying about me and what I got going on.”

I slowly shook my head and smiled. He was an entire mess when he was feeling okay, so I was grateful for that. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I sent a text to Delaney. I’m about to head home. Do you need anything?

I could surely get used to sending those types of messages. Hopefully, nothing happened to prevent that.