Page 27 of Rounds (Love In Scrubs)

“ W hy are we here? You aren’t going to the nursing facility?”

“Well, I figured you just wanted to go home and relax after I fucked up dinner.”

I closed my eyes. It wasn’t his fault Charleigh was full of shit.

While the fact remained that he had recent history with that woman, and there wouldn’t have been any bullshit had he not, what happened still wasn’t his fault.

Had she not been on bullshit, dinner may have been awkward or uncomfortable for the both of them, but shit wouldn’t have hit the fan the way it did.

It pissed me off that Denver basically sat there and called Glover a liar.

I was two steps from slapping the piss out of him.

The first step was slapping the piss out of his lying ass daughter.

Glover and I had been damn near inseparable, except for when he was at his office.

He called me almost every damn hour. The man didn’t have time to cheat.

I knew he called me all the time to relieve any doubt that may have entered my mind about his whereabouts.

The last place I wanted to be was anywhere without him. I turned in my seat and put my hand to his cheek, stroking it gently with my thumb. “I can’t let my future father-in-law down.”

A huge smile broke out on his face. “Okay.”

He backed out of the driveway and headed to the facility.

I grabbed his hand and caressed it between mine.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been so quiet. I’m just a little overwhelmed.

I’m not disappointed in you. I’m overwhelmed with the tenderness and care my parents showed me tonight.

We never had that sort of relationship. We didn’t show emotions like that.

While I always wanted that from them, my emotions were way too high.

I reverted back to what they taught me, although they were showing me something different tonight. ”

He nodded and kept driving. Finally, he said, “I’m so sorry, baby. I still feel like this shit is all my fault.”

“Glover, I feel like whether you had fucked her the day I moved into your home or a year ago, she still would have been on bullshit. Like you told me about Jaunté, that shit ain’t on you.

That’s on her ass. She better thank God my mama brought me to that kitchen to ‘talk’. I would have dog walked her ass.”

His eyebrows lifted.

“I may look mild and sweet, but I will fuck a ho up, especially if she’s threatening me or someone I care deeply about.

I don’t play those kinds of games. She almost fucked around and found out.

You haven’t seen this side of me, but you were so close to getting an introduction this evening.

Her dad is full of shit if he couldn’t tell she was a lying ass bitch. ”

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. I didn’t need to bring this hostility inside Mr. Israel’s room. He didn’t deserve that. Glover gripped my inner thigh, and that shit had my anger dissipating at rapid speeds.

“It’s getting hot down there. Has all the heat left your head yet?”

I opened my eyes and stared at him as he tried to restrain his smile. “Glover, are you saying that I’m hotheaded?”

He could no longer hold his laughter. I had to chuckle with him. “I mean, I’m just saying. You sounded like a whole ass thug a minute ago, talking about dog walking a bitch.”

I laughed more. “You make me sick, man.”

He laughed, and just like that, my anger was gone.

I was still slightly irritated, but I could hide that while talking to Mr. Israel.

I actually couldn’t wait to see him. He was such a sweet man.

He had to be where Glover had gotten his tenderness and charm from.

The way he cried and poured out his heart to me about Glover sacrificing his life to take care of him had stayed with me.

He loved his son so much. He was their only child, and their pride and joy.

I knew what that was like. Although I had an older sister, I felt like an only child since she lived in DC. We rarely talked.

When he turned in the parking lot and had parked, he turned to me and stroked my cheek. “Were you crying because you were hurt or angry?”

“The tears were from me being overwhelmed emotionally and from being angry and having to restrain myself. It felt like my head was going to explode if I didn’t release some form of emotion.”

“I hate seeing you cry. The last thing I want to do is lose you or even upset you to that point. You’re my everything, Delaney, and I’m falling for you, baby . . . so fast.”

I closed my eyes, surprised that he admitted that so soon. “Wow. I know with time I’ll be in love with you too. I don’t plan to be without you. How are we here so soon?”

“Because we were made for each other. Despite the turmoil you went through with your ex, our souls were ready for something real. We were craving it. I believe you were craving it even more than me because of your vulnerability to the situation you were in. Now let’s go in here and put this man out of his misery.

He’s called me twice and sent two text messages, trying to figure out what time we were coming. ”

I giggled. “Not too much on my father-in-law, now.”

He chuckled and got out to help me out of the SUV. I could see how happy my statement made him. Mr. Israel represented the type of father I wanted growing up. He was very hands on. Maybe that was because Glover was his son. I wondered if he would have been different if he’d had a daughter.

After opening my door, I slid out with his assistance.

He leaned over and kissed my lips. I could still see the torment in his eyes.

He was trying so hard to be perfect for me, simply because of what I’d gone through with Jaunté.

Truth was, some things were out of our control.

He was a single man living his best life.

He didn’t owe loyalty or allegiance to anyone.

According to his words to Denver, he was upfront about what he wanted.

Basically, he was saying that she was just a fuck, and she knew that.

Stopping him, I told him, “Despite what happened today, you are still perfect for me, baby. Let that go. Okay?”

He gave me a tight-lipped smile, then kissed my forehead. “Okay.”

“I do need to talk to my parents and explain my reaction to them trying to show love to me. I appreciate their efforts of change, and I want to embrace it. I want a closer relationship with them. Maybe we can have a do over with them. No significant others though. Denver owes you an apology.”

“I’m not worried about Denver. He clearly has on rose-colored lenses when it comes to his daughter. I can’t fault him for taking his daughter’s side. He doesn’t know me. Clearly, he doesn’t know her as well as he thinks he does either.”

We continued inside the nursing facility, and Glover signed us in.

Heading down the hallway, I felt light. It was like my soul was at peace, and I loved that feeling.

I was right where I was supposed to be. When we got to the room, Glover knocked and opened the door.

“I hope you got that bird chest covered, old man. Your daughter-in-law is here.”

I could hear Mr. Israel chuckle as I walked inside. He was sitting up in bed with a huge smile on his face. “Hey, Delaney. Your man better be glad I can’t get up and put him in a headlock.”

I giggled. “Hey, Mister Israel. How are you feeling?”

“I’m good. Actually, I’m happy. Seeing this makes me happy.”

Glover turned his head and looked out of the window like something was more amusing outside.

I could see him slowly shaking his head.

It bothered him when his dad spoke about him like this.

I grabbed his hand, and he looked at me and kissed my head, then led me to the small couch next to his dad’s bed.

Changing the direction of the conversation somewhat, I said, “I heard you had a cheeseburger and fries! You were that sure I would give this knucklehead a chance, huh?”

He laughed and clapped his hands as Glover rolled his eyes. “I was! No matter how hard he tries to be, I know who I raised. He’s spoiled and likes getting his way. Although he was trying to convince himself to move on, I knew he wouldn’t rest until he had you. He’s stubborn that way too.”

I laughed as Glover said, “A’ight, a’ight. That’s enough. Y’all talking about me like I’m not here to defend myself.”

“How do you defend the truth though?” Mr. Israel asked. “No lies were told, son.”

I laughed more. This was what my soul needed.

Mr. Israel was such a kind soul. “Well, I want to thank you for raising him right. He has been nothing short of amazing. He’s been perfect and everything I needed.

He even enlightened me on things I didn’t know I needed. You did your big one with this man.”

It was like I could see Mr. Israel’s chest inflate with air. He was so proud in this moment. He smiled at me. “I’m glad those talks and lessons weren’t done in vain. He was listening even when I didn’t think he was.”

“You did a great job, Dad. Now release that air in your chest.”

He chuckled. “I’m proud of you. That’s all.”

“Yeah, I know,” Glover said and squeezed his hand.

“So, when do y’all plan to start trying for me a grandbaby?”

Glover nearly choked on his own spit as my eyes widened. Then, I thought about our quickie at work. Surprising them both, I responded, “We’ve, technically, been trying already, without realizing it.”

Glover’s eyes widened, like he was in disbelief that I’d said anything. Mr. Israel started laughing and clapping again as I shrugged my shoulders. Glover knew he shot the club up in that closet. When we got home, he wore a condom, but still, it only took one time for something to happen.

“Yep. My grandbaby will be here before you know it. Glover is an Israel. Our soldiers march with gusto.”