Page 15 of Stat: Love In Scrubs

TWO WEEKS LATER…

I pulled into my father’s driveway and parked my car behind him, since Maria’s car was gone. My phone buzzed with a text from Doc, causing me to smirk. This man was out of control. He needed to be worried about his patients. Not texting me videos he had been watching.

Doc: You still going by your pops?

Me: I just made it. So, focus on your patients.

Doc: Stop acting like you don’t enjoy hearing from me.

Me: Eye roll emoji… please.

Doc: You need me to pop up on you to find out?

Me: I wish you would lol

A knock against my window almost made me jump out of my skin. I placed my hand against my chest, then looked out the window at my dad.

“Girl, bring yo’ butt in this house,” he said, then walked back towards the house.

I locked my phone, then slipped it back into my pocket before getting out of my car to follow him inside.

I locked the side door behind me, then followed the blaring TV that led to his man cave.

The moment I made it inside, my dad was sitting in his recliner with his feet kicked up and a beer in hand.

I walked around his bar in the room to grab myself a beer as well from the fridge beneath the counter.

Then sat in the matching recliner beside him.

This was a Sinclair tradition, one that Maria hadn’t gotten hooked on, no matter how long she had been around.

She was always more girly than I was, but if it weren’t for her, I probably would have never learned how to walk in heels.

“I’m going to assume by the way you’ve been glued to your phone, you’re still talking to the man from your date.”

My dad mentioned moments later. I couldn’t help but smile as I fought the urge to ignore my phone vibrating against my thigh. I tapped the back of the phone, then glanced in his direction.

“What makes you say that? A girl can’t relax in her car for a minute before coming in the house. You know, they say once you pass thirty, you need a little extra time in your car before you go inside. I’m just exercising my over thirty rights.”

My dad chuckled and shook his head.

“Yara, you could have been a professional bullshitter. If you weren’t so good at being a principal of your academy, I’d say you missed your calling.”

We shared a laugh before I finally spoke up.

“Haha, very funny. I’m just stating facts.”

“No, you’re trying to get around the question, which gives me my answer. It explains why you’ve been slacking on The Cleat Code.”

I groaned aloud, thinking about the few practices I missed for our kickball team.

“Now, Dad, I haven’t missed that many practices.”

The lie was even clearer to my ears. I couldn’t allow him to believe he had me pegged.

He leaned forward in his chair, then reached for the remote and turned down the volume on the TV before giving me his undivided attention.

“I’m your dad. I know when something new is happening in your life. So when do I get to meet him? You might as well bring him with you to our game that you’ve been missing practices for.”

I drank some of my beer before looking in his direction.

“Do I have to?” I groaned.

My dad turned to face me with a lift of a brow.

“He must not be the one. If that’s the case, you need to cut it off and stop wasting your time if you don’t want me to meet him. I would say I am a good judge of character. Wouldn’t you?” he asked.

I placed my drink into the cup holder. Then crossed my arms against my chest with a sigh.

“I didn’t say you weren’t, and I also didn’t say he wasn’t a good man. I just want to slowly bring him into all of this. Not to mention, it takes time to truly get to know someone. You remember how long it took you to introduce me to Maria?”

He waved me off and then picked up the remote to turn up the volume on the TV.

“Nah, don’t rush to change the subject now, old man. You took more than a year to tell me you were dating.”

“It’s different when you’re a parent. You can’t just bring anyone into your child’s life.”

I leaned back in my seat, thinking over what he said. I could definitely agree. It was different with Doc because I had, in a sense, gotten to know Esa before I knew him.

“I hear you and make some sense. I’ll see what I can do about setting up a meeting.”

“Mhm, watch the game.”

I smiled and followed suit. I was just glad that I had gotten him to back down on it, at least for the moment.

We watched a few different games before Maria finally came in and brought dinner along with her.

I hadn’t realized how long it had been since I visited with them or had dinner.

It was much needed, and I made a mental note to make more time.

On my ride home, I called Doc, knowing he should have been heading to his parents around this time. I waited only a moment before his deep tone clearly came through.

“Damn, you missed me already?” he asked.

I couldn’t help the smile that came across my face.

“Your arrogance is going to get you into something you can’t get out of one day.”

“Doubt it. It’s cool you don’t want to keep it real. I missed you and that’s crazy as hell to think about.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“You’re the first woman since my late wife, who I can’t seem to get off my mind, and I can’t wait to see. It’s cool, and the shit got my chest a little tight at the thought.”

Doc’s honesty was refreshing. I didn’t wonder where we stood or where we were going. He made everything plain and upfront.

“I get that. Which brings me to my next question.”

“You’re full of questions tonight, huh?”

I giggled like a schoolgirl, then cleared my throat, not wanting him to fully see the effect he had on me.

“Are you free this weekend?” I asked quickly.

“Yeah, I’m actually not on call. I promised to do something with Esa this weekend. What did you have in mind?”

I smiled. I loved how he didn’t play behind his time with Esa. I had seen and been around my fair share of men who would drop their kids quickly to be around a woman.

“Great, because Esa’s invited too. I’m part of this kickball team called The Cleat Code. I know it’s corny?—”

“Nah, I didn’t say that you did. That’s dope as hell. I’ve never met a woman who’s on a kickball team.” He interrupted.

I tucked in my lips before replying.

“It’s something my dad and I do together. It’s a big thing, and we have a game this weekend. Anyway, we want you to come, and I mean we. My dad wants to know who the man is that’s been taking up all my time.”

Doc chuckled before responding.

“I’m cool with that. All I need is the time, the place, and the date.”

We talked until he made it to his parents’ place, and I promised to send over the details as soon as I made it home. I just hoped and prayed everything went well this weekend.

The Cleat Code Kickball Game

I dragged the back of my hand across my forehead.

We had to have the game at the peak of sunlight hours.

It was hot as hell, and if the sweat spilling from my temple was anything to go by, the hair plastered against my forehead would do the trick.

Doc was running a little late. He texted me earlier, letting me know he was still coming, but had to change Esa’s outfit because she had spilled her breakfast all over it.

I appreciated that he didn’t let me sit here thinking he wasn’t coming or had flaked out on me. We were in the first half of the game still and going against one of my dad’s rivals, so he was in rare form.

“Timeout!” my dad said, then waved us over.

A few of us jogged over to the dugout to hear his new game plan.

As soon as he spoke, Doc and Esa came into view.

He had on a white shirt with the St. Ambrose Logo in the center, with the sleeves cut off , a pair of khaki shorts, and sneakers.

Doc’s beard had to be freshly lined up, and this time he had a gold hoop earring in, making him look even sexier.

Esa was in a cute sundress with black shorts that peeked from the bottom.

She waved with excitement in my direction at the sight of me.

“Yara, did you hear me?” My dad asked.

I gripped my hips, then turned to face him, who was now red in the face because of the sun beaming down directly on this baseball field. I told him earlier to grab his baseball cap, but listening wasn’t his forte.

“I need to grab my bottle of water from Maria. I’ll be right back.”

“Hurry, I don’t need Gerald running his mouth.” He said, talking about his rival across the field.

I held in my laugh because that would only send my dad on a tangent I wasn’t in the mood to hear.

I rushed from the opening of the dugout, then made a beeline for Doc and Esa.

The moment I was in Esa’s sight, she rushed over to me, wrapping her little arms around my leg.

I leaned down as much as I could to hug her back.

“I’m glad to see you, too! You ready to watch a good game and get candy on your dad?” I asked, glancing up at Doc, whose brow was now lifted in my direction.

“You take too many balls to the head out there. This child had her fair share of sweets before we got here. The best she can get is a bottle of water or Gatorade.”

“Speaking of. I told my dad I was coming over here to get water. Follow me, Maria is already in a good seat, and I think she saved y’all a spot.” I told him as I held my hand out for his.

His larger one engulfed mine, giving me a flutter in my stomach. We finally made it over to Maria, whose eyes widened at the sight of Doc. Then she looked in my direction and smiled. I couldn’t help but laugh because she was silly.

“Maria, this is Doc—I mean Desmond, and this little cutie right here is Esabella, but she prefers to be called Esa. Doc and Esa, this is my mom, Maria.”

Esa’s eyes widened as she looked between Maria and I. I’m sure she was trying to figure out what features we shared. Doc reached over and shook her hand with a smile. Before Esa could ask me the questions I could see formulating in her mind, my dad was shouting my name.

“Yara! Let’s go!”