Page 13 of Stat: Love In Scrubs

I opened the doors for her and then led her towards my car. I had all the makings for a picnic in the backseat. Once we got into the truck, I pulled out of the parking lot and then turned on the music.

“So where are we going?” she asked.

I glanced over briefly with a smile. Her impatience was peaking through again. It was cute.

“Woman, sit back and relax. I got you.”

She rolled her eyes with a smile, but leaned back against the seat.

It wasn’t long before I was pulling into the parking lot of Willow Helms Park.

It was the park closest to her school, but also the largest we had in Silverrun.

Once I parked, I grabbed the basket, blanket, and bag that held wine with glasses before opening her door.

Before we walked over through the grass, I stopped, causing her to follow suit with a lift of her brow.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing. But you’re wearing heels, and I don’t want them to get messed up. Hop on my back.”

Her eyes widened as she shook her head, then took a step away from me.

“Are you crazy? You aren’t that young, sir, to be putting a grown ass woman on your back. I can take these off and walk barefoot.”

She tried to reason. I stood silently, allowing her to get it all out.

I stooped down low in front of her and turned my back to her.

“Come on.”

She kissed her teeth behind me, causing me to smirk.

“If you hurt your back, I don’t want to hear nothing about it,” she mumbled, while climbing onto my back.

I stood upright once she was on my back, good before I started walking. Yara had her legs wrapped around me, tight as hell. I knew she thought I was going to drop her, but she weighed half of nothing. She had nothing to worry about.

I walked across the grass until I found a good place beneath a tree by the pond.

I laid out the blanket all while she was still on my back.

Once I finished, I turned around to allow her to slip from my back onto the blanket.

Yara immediately removed her heels, then took a seat.

I followed suit after placing the basket and the bag down beside her.

“You went and bought all of this today?” she asked, looking at all the things I pulled from the basket.

“Yeah, some of it. I knew I had some making up to do. Not to mention you’ve been ignoring my texts and calls. But I understand, I fucked up for sure. It’s taking some getting used to that there is someone who I want just as much, if not more, than my job. The shit is all new to me.”

I handed her a plate so she could put what she wanted on it. I had bought fresh-cut fruit, different sub sandwiches, various brands of chips, and two glasses, along with a bottle of wine. I had gotten different condiment packets and plastic silverware just in case.

“I get that. I can admit I was wrong for ignoring you. Communication is big for me. I understand that being a doctor is a demanding job. I just need realistic expectations. Tell me it’s a possibility that things might be disrupted. I have a question, though.”

“I can do that, and what’s up?” I asked, then took a bite of my sandwich.

“How did you and Esa’s mother work when it came to your job? If you don’t mind me asking.”

I placed my sandwich onto my plate, then gave her my undivided attention.

“We met in college, and she knew the mission early on. As you said earlier, her expectations of what it would be like to be with me were clear. But, I also tried to be considerate of the time that I gave to her. It’s one reason I understood how you felt.

It’s still something I’m learning because I haven’t done it in a while, but trust me. I want to see where this could go.”

“I appreciate you being honest with me. I’m willing to be patient.

I understand the concept of being devoted to something you've worked so hard for or are passionate about. I’m the same way with the academy.

Little Angels Academy was created to give these kids a fighting chance to be seen and understood.

To give them the tools I wish I had had as a child. ”

I nodded. I could see that in Esa, she had learned so much since being there. Yara had definitely put together something beyond special.

“How was it growing up for you? Did your father have help? I wouldn’t know what the hell I would have done if I didn’t have my parents. Granted, I would have figured it out. But their help was and still is needed today.”

She grabbed a napkin to wipe her hands, then tilted her head to the side as if she was thinking intently on the question.

“My dad is my best friend. I was lucky. In the beginning, it was just us. He had little help, but that’s how he came across Maria.

She is his wife now, but she came into my life when I really needed a mother.

There are some things that men just can’t help you with.

I always say my dad was a blessing. He was always so patient with me. ”

“I say all of that to say, no, my mother’s parents were gone, my father’s parents didn’t live here, but they came to visit when they could. I always wondered why he never went back to where he was from, but that’s his story to tell, not mine.”

“I can see understand that. I don’t know what I would have done without my people. Veronica’s parents’ hearts were broken after she passed, and they couldn’t deal with seeing Esa. I do my part and send them pictures of her growth.” I shared.

“That’s not uncommon. I’ve heard this same sentiment from other parents at the Academy. Death and how we deal with it is unique to each person. I hope they come around before it’s too late,” she responded after a few moments of silence.

“I agree. When they realize Esa has all the best parts of Veronica and me, they will realize they missed out on all this time for nothing.”

I hadn’t thought about Ron and Marissa in such a long time. Maybe it was time for me to call and check in. It was the least I could do for Veronica.

We moved on from the conversation and finished our food. Then talked a little more before it was time to take her back to school. We sat in the truck for a moment before she turned to face me and leaned across the armrest to kiss me.

“I’m going to assume I made it back into your good graces.”

Yara shrugged. “Maybe, hopefully, you can stay there.”

I laughed, then shook my head as I hopped out of the truck to open her door. I wrapped my hand around her neck lightly and leaned down to kiss her once more before she turned to walk back to the school, but stopped. Then turned to face me with a smile but continued towards the entrance.

Damn .

TOP GOLF DATE NIGHT

I got Yara to agree to a date redo, but she had to promise to be careful. I was not trying to spend another night in the damn ER. If I brought her ass back, they were going to think I was going upside her head.

According to Yara, the reason the bowling alley incident happened was due to her being nervous. I guess it wasn’t supposed to be a usual occurrence, but we would see when we made it to Top Golf.

“What do you have us listening to?” she questioned.

She was clearly comfortable in my truck now, because she leaned forward and disconnected my phone.

I lifted a brow and chuckled. If she wanted to hear something else, that was fine with me.

I continued to drive, glancing over at her periodically as she scrolled through her phone to find the perfect song.

“If you look long enough, you not going to be listening to a damn thing. We aren’t that far from Top Golf, baby.” I informed her.

“I’m aware, but you can’t rush greatness.”

“Greatness?” I asked with a lift of my brow.

“I have immaculate taste. You will see!”

She gripped her chest dramatically before focusing back on her phone. This woman was silly. I continued focusing on the road when a beat came through the speakers. I bobbed my head, already knowing what it was without having to say a word. “I Like It” by DeBarge crooned throughout the truck.

I turned to her and sang the hook of the song with her while she swayed to the beat and sang every word.

“I’ll give you that one,” I told her.

“Facts are just that. I told you I had it,” she bragged.

I shook my head as we pulled into the parking lot of Top Golf. Surprisingly, I found a parking spot in the front, so we didn’t have to walk far to get into the building. Once we picked our section and I paid, they took us to our bay.

It was semi-private, featuring a couch and a high-top table, screens to display the scores, golf clubs, and space to swing. Our bay was up on the second level, overlooking the massive turf lit up with glowing targets.

Yara stepped in first and went straight for the clubs. Then looked over her shoulder in my direction with a flirty smile.

“You sure you want this smoke, Doc?”

I chuckled and gripped my chin. I couldn’t get over the way she looked in the pleated skirt and the V-neck white shirt that was tucked into the skirt. She was even wearing tube socks with little white shoes. I guess I needed to tell her more often what I have planned for us to do.

“Positive,” I said.

I walked in behind her as she took a practice swing, almost knocking my head off my shoulders. I caught the length of the club before it hit me. I lifted a brow in her direction.

“My bad,” she apologized with wide eyes and a nervous giggle.

I shook my head and stood beside her. Then pointed over my shoulder behind us.

“Do I need to wait back there until you’re done?” I asked.

She gripped her hips and bit her lower lip.

“No, but next time, tell me when you’re moving.” She complained.

This woman was crazy as hell and messing around with her. I might need to reserve a hospital bed for one of us.

“I hear you, Boss Lady. You mind if I go around you and take a seat over there?” I pointed towards the couch.

She waved her hand in front of her. “You may.”

I chuckled and walked around her to pick up the menus they placed on the table. I scanned it, looking for wings and a drink.

“You interested in wings?” I asked.