Page 12 of Stat: Love In Scrubs

I glanced down at my phone once more, and Yara still hadn’t responded to my text.

I knew I had fucked up yesterday when I invited her out only to cancel.

For the first time in a long time, I forgot how much my career messed with dating.

Veronica understood, but she also knew what she had signed on for.

“Boy, if you don’t get off your ass and go show that woman you mean business.” My father said behind me.

I glanced over my shoulder to see him leaning against the doorframe of the living room. I had stopped by to discuss my schedule for the week with them. But I knew damn well I hadn’t mentioned anything was going on between Yara and me.

“How you know I’m not checking the stats for a game or something?” I asked.

He smirked and stood upright from his position against the wall. Then strolled over to the chair across from me, taking a seat.

“I was a young man before. We may not have had cellphones and shit, but we had a damn phone. Yo’ mama used to keep me on my toes, and by the way, you’re acting about this woman. I can imagine she is doing the same to you.”

I glanced back down at my phone.

“We’ve only been on one date. I wouldn’t classify that as enough time to have me on my toes. I just wanted to make sure she was okay. We had to make an ER run the night I took her out.”

I knew the excuse I gave sounded like bullshit because it was. I was beyond gone off a woman who was ignoring the hell out of me. I knew I messed up inviting her out, only to have to cancel. But I couldn’t control when emergencies would arise with my patients.

My dad’s deep chuckle caused me to look up from my phone.

“I don’t know who you trying to convince, but it can’t be me. You must be working on your damn self, all while waiting on a text back. You might as well skip the bullshit, son, and tell me what you did.”

I looked up at him again, and this time my face was turned up.

“How you figure I did something?” I asked.

“You asking a lot of dumb ass questions to be a doctor, son. But I’m going to let it slide for today.

If you hadn’t done anything, you wouldn’t be waiting by your phone; you would be typing or pulling up on that woman.

Yet here you are in my house, with your face practically glued to your hands. Now, what did you do?”

I released an exasperated breath, then stuffed my phone into my pocket.

“The next day after the date, I invited her to go to brunch. Kind of like a date re-do kind of thing. Pretty much our entire first date was spent in the damn ER around people who I see every day, anyway.” I paused.

Then continued. “On my way to pick her up, I got a call from the hospital about an emergency taking place with one of my patients. They needed me because I was the only one familiar with her case. Not to mention, my patient wasn’t allowing any of them to do a damn thing unless I was there.

I called and cancelled with Yara, then made my way to the hospital. ”

My father was shaking his head long before I finished the story.

“What? I ordered her food and flowers to be delivered in my place.” I offered.

My father leaned forward and looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

“Sometimes, I feel like we dropped you on your head too many times. Then, on the other hand, I figure we couldn’t have done too badly since you’re an upstanding man, father, and doctor. But moments like this make me question my damn self.” He said, then chuckled.

“Pops, man, be serious. What did I do wrong?” I asked.

He nodded and got serious.

“You didn’t fall through on your word. It’s as simple as that, son.

Your word is the one thing that counts the most when it comes to a woman.

I understand your job can throw wrenches in your plans, and you can’t control it.

But you can control the narrative you give her.

You should have created an expectation that things could change at a moment’s notice.

She should have known you were on-call. You just assumed she has dealt with a man like you before.

But you should never assume no shit like that, because we Wilder men are one-of-a-kind. ”

“Listen to me, good. For you, it was a situation you couldn’t control, and you felt you just dropped the ball, but to her, your word became nothing, and it meant nothing.

Once you lose a woman’s trust, you lose access to all of her.

This might not seem like a big deal, but this is why communication and creating realistic expectations are important.

Now you’re going to have to pull out all the stops to rebuild her faith in you.

But only if you’re truly interested in this woman. ”

I nodded, unable to refute anything he said. I could have painted a clearer picture for her. Although I’m sure she still wouldn’t have been cool with our date ending mid-date, who would?

I stood from the couch and then leaned down to dap him up before heading towards the front door.

“All the way, Son. Good luck, and I’ll tell your mama you will see her later. Oh, and call before you come back over here.”

I stopped and glanced over my shoulder.

“Y’all going somewhere?” I asked.

“You can say that,” he responded with a smirk.

I stood still for a moment, then shook my head as his meaning became clear. I turned to leave, not entertaining the shit. I had more things to think about than my parents doing grown folks’ shit.

I went home and got cleaned up. I made a few calls before pulling up to Little Angels Academy. I walked up to the speaker beside the door, then clicked it to notify the front desk. It was the only way to make it through the door.

I waited briefly before someone finally spoke through the call box.

“Hi, Welcome to Little Angel’s Academy — Oh, Mr. Wilder, is that you? I’ll buzz you through.”

I smiled as the door clicked. I reached for the handle, pulling it back and walking into the front office.

“Are you here to see Esabella? She has been doing so good today.” The woman who I heard through the call box said.

“No, actually, is Yara—I mean Ms. Sinclair in?” I asked.

The woman smiled, then lifted her right brow.

“She absolutely is. I don’t think she is expecting any company, but I can check to see if it’s okay?—”

She said, lifting her phone to call back.

“No, need for that. I wanted to pop back and surprise her. That cool?” I asked.

“I don’t know about that. She doesn’t like?—”

“Surprises.” I completed her sentence.

I nodded and stepped away from the counter to wait for Yara’s response. I hoped she allowed me to come back. I didn’t have high hopes since she was ignoring my text messages.

“Mr. Wilder, she said for you to come on back.”

I nodded, then pointed in the direction of her office for confirmation, to which she agreed I was going the right way.

I walked down the long hallway until I came up to the office with her nameplate on it. I knocked a couple of times, then waited for her response.

“Come in.” She announced.

I strolled inside, then closed the door behind me. She was looking beyond beautiful. Today, her hair was in a high ponytail with loose curls and two curls hanging in front of her face. The cream two-piece suit she was wearing with the white floral shirt beneath it had my dick hardening.

“You look beautiful.”

She gave me a tight smile before looking back down at the stack of papers in front of her.

“Thank you, but I’m sure you didn’t come all this way to tell me I looked good. How can I help you, Mr. Wilder?” she asked.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I rubbed my chin, then brushed my hand over my jaw.

“We back to that?” I asked.

“Back to what?” she asked, no longer looking through her stack of papers.

I nodded, then walked around her desk. I reached out and turned her by her hips to face me. I cupped her chin, tilting her head back. I leaned in a breath away from her lips.

Her eyes fluttered closed, letting me know she wanted this as much as I did. She just liked to play the tough girl act, which only turned me on more. I moved a little closer and stopped.

“I understand why you aren’t feeling me right now. I dropped the ball, but clearly, you feel this the same way I do. Let me make it up to you. If you’re cool with giving me another chance, all you have to do is say the word.” I whispered against her lips.

She peeled her eyes open, and they searched mine for an answer I was sure she already knew.

She just needed reassurance that I could be trusted to do what I said I would do.

Inwardly, I was kicking myself because everything my dad mentioned earlier was right.

I guess I needed to take his advice more often.

“Fine,” she whispered.

I cupped my ear and held my same position.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you. I need to make sure I have your consent to treat you how you deserve.”

She smiled, then looked away from me briefly before returning her attention to me.

“I said, Yes.”

Before I could say another word, she wrapped her hands around my neck and then stood on the tips of her toes, closing the distance between us. The feel of her lips against mine almost made me want to groan aloud. But I held it in.

I pulled back and smiled. “You hungry?” I asked.

“I can eat,” she responded.

She released her hold on me, then walked over to pick up her purse, and then turned to face me.

I stepped back around the desk, then held it open for her to walk ahead of me.

The moment we stepped from the back, all eyes were on us.

I knew the moment we stepped outside, we would also be the talk of the office.

Yara spoke with the ladies at the front desk, letting them know she would be out for lunch, but if an emergency arose, to call her cell.

I couldn’t help but stand back and admire the woman in front of me.

It took everything in me not to run my tongue across my lips at the sight.

When she glanced over my shoulder as if to say let’s go, all I could do was follow.