Page 22 of Rounds (Love In Scrubs)

I washed my hands when I went in and washed my hands on my way out, being sure to use the paper towel I dried my hands with to grab the door handle.

As I made my way back to our table, I could see a man standing there in plain clothes.

I frowned hard, because I wasn’t about to play with no nigga when it came to my woman.

When I got closer, I heard him say, “That nigga can’t have shit on me, Laney. Tell me you don’t miss me.”

I nodded repeatedly. I would finally be able to get at this nigga.

Delaney said something in response, but she was talking in an extremely low voice.

When I stood beside him, she looked like she wanted to crawl under the table.

Just from our talks, I knew she didn’t like causing or making a scene if it was avoidable.

I felt like this nigga knew that, too, and that was why he had the balls to approach her in a public place.

He knew she wouldn’t go off on his ass like she would have privately.

Refusing to embarrass her, I maintained a low voice when I said, “I have plenty on you. I know how to treat a woman. I know how to cherish her and have her cumming back-to-back. Delaney doesn’t deserve the shit you put her through.

Your best bet is to move around and let a real man handle this beautiful woman.

Don’t let my status fool you. You approach her again, she just gon’ have to be embarrassed, because I’m gon’ fuck you up. She’s mine now. Respect that shit.”

He frowned, and his lip twitched, but that nigga got the fuck on.

I looked over at Delaney to see her staring up at me.

She didn’t look angry, so that was a plus.

When I sat, I reached across the table for her hands, and she put them in mine.

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you, baby. I just don’t want that nigga harassing you. ”

“I’m not embarrassed, Glover. Thank you for protecting me, although physically, he’s harmless.”

“Well, your mind and heart need protecting just as much as your body does, baby. I’m gonna do that every time.”

She nodded and smiled at me. “Hopefully, he’ll leave me the hell alone now.”

“Yeah, for his sake, I hope so.”

She gave me a half smile. “I ordered your food.”

“Thank you, baby,” I said, then took a sip of water. “Delaney, honestly, I feel like he’s not gonna stop until I put my hands on him. I need you to prepare yourself for that if that time comes. I know I’m a doctor, but I can be an entire nigga at times.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. “Unfortunately, I feel like he won’t give up even after this either. Is there anyone in your past that could potentially give us problems?”

I was about to say no, but my mind went to Charleigh.

It would be way better to warn Delaney of her and nothing happen, than to not warn her and the ho show up like a fucking tsunami.

“There’s one who I ended trysts with not long before meeting you.

She wanted more and tried to bluff me into thinking she was moving on.

When I told her I wished her the best, she got in her feelings.

She called the same day you were moving in, asking for me to fall through.

Actually, I thought I would be falling through, because I was giving up on ever getting your attention. ”

She cleared her throat and nodded. “I suppose it’s a good thing I conceded.”

“It is. I feel like if I would have gone there that night, I really wouldn’t be able to get rid of her ass.”

“Has she called again since last week?”

“I don’t know, because I blocked her ass. I still wanted to be honest with you just in case. I don’t need anything popping up, making you doubt my loyalty and devotion to you. I’m yours, Delaney . . . only yours. You are the only woman that can stake claim to me, baby.”

She nodded and smiled. The waiter brought our entrées, and we enjoyed the rest of our dinner.

My mind was still on that nigga and his fucking audacity.

I didn’t want to show Delaney just how angry I was, but if that muthafucka tried that shit again, she would meet a side of me she has never heard a thing about.

If I would go to war for my patients, she had to know I would fuck some shit up for her.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

I looked up at her. “What’s that?”

“You called my superior Friday last week?”

“Yeah. You weren’t yourself. I needed her to check on you, because you were too hostile with me.

I would have only further irritated you, no matter what I would have said.

I didn’t call her to report you. I was worried about you.

The nurses couldn’t believe that old ass man had requested someone else.

His grouchy ass irritates me. You should have stuck him again anyway. ”

She smirked. “Thank you, Glover. I thought you’d reported me for something.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No, but I thought you’d reported me for the way I spoke to you.”

“Naw. I can handle the shit I dish out.”

She chuckled. “That’s good to know.”

I frowned, and she laughed a little louder. “A’ight, woman. Don’t be tryna push my buttons intentionally.” Changing the subject, I said, “I can’t wait to meet your mom.”

She smiled. “I wasn’t going to tell you, but you’ve already met her.”

I lifted my eyebrows slightly. “She must be a patient of mine. Is her last name Boutté?”

“Yes. Her name is Maxine Boutté.”

“That sounds familiar. Is she new?”

“Yes. She’s only seen you once. She’s healthy, so you’ll probably only see her once a year.”

“Okay. I’m more than sure I’ll recognize her face. I’m better at faces than names initially. What should I know about her?”

“Hell if I know. Just from our phone conversation, I can tell she’s changed. So, I’ll be getting to know the new, and hopefully improved, version of her with you.”

My brows furrowed, but I nodded like I understood.

I didn’t understand, since there was no toxicity or beef between them.

She said she didn’t have a close relationship with her parents, but there was no real reason why.

It was just the way it was. I supposed I would just have to see what Sunday brought our way.