Page 14 of Crash: Love in Scrubs
Sametra Andrews was a challenge I was ready to take on. She could fight me all she wanted. Push back, test my limits, try to intimidate me with that Lieutenant Andrews bullshit. I was here for all of it. Because underneath all that armor, she was just a girl who wanted what every strong woman deserved, to be chosen, pursued, thought of, touched gently, chased a little, and loved on without having to ask for it.
I was exactly the type of man who could handle that.
Even if it meant putting my own heart at risk in the process. Because if she kept letting me in like this, she’d never get rid of me. And I was cool with that.
“Maj, I’ll be back later to get started,” I said, giving him a fist bump.
I headed for the door, but I could feel her following me. When I stopped at the elevator, she bumped right into my back.
“What?” I asked, turning to look down at her. Damn, she was short. I ran my tongue over my teeth, trying not to smile.
“Are you going to give me my coffee and breakfast?” she asked, eyeing the bag in my hand with that bashful look that was doing things to me.
“How you know this is for you?”
“Because you’ve been carrying it around like you’re waiting for the right moment to hand it to me.”
I handed her the bag, our fingers brushing when she took it. “Kolaches and coffee. The good kind. But you don’t eat breakfast food, so I maybe pass it on to Maj.”
“You didn’t have to. I appreciate this, and because of that, I’m going to eat it.”
“I wanted to.” I stepped closer. “Besides, can’t have my favorite patient passing out from hunger.”
“Your favorite patient huh? You are something else you know that? You about to have these nurses sending me hate mail.”
The elevator dinged, and I stepped inside. “Eat, LT. Doctor’s orders.”
The doors started to close, but I caught her smile just before they shut completely.
The rest of my shift was trash. Three more patients who weren’t her, paperwork that felt pointless, and an unnecessarily long staff meeting. Every time somebody said something, I was thinking about room 411. About the way she looked at me when our fingers touched. About that smile she tried to hide but couldn’t.
A few hours later, I headed back for Samaj’s session, silently praying she’d still be there. When I walked into his room and it was just him, I was disappointed as hell. But maybe some one-on-one time with the kid was what I needed. He was who I should’ve been focusing on anyway.
“Alright, Maj, let’s see what we’re working with,” I said, helping him shift to the edge of the bed. “Just small movements today. Your body’s been through hell.”
“You didn’t bring me breakfast,” he said with a sly smirk.
“Minding your mama’s business, huh?”
“A little. She didn’t want to leave. My granddad had to make her go home and shower. She’ll probably be back later, she don’t care about visiting hours.”
“Sounds about right. It’s just you two?”
“Yeah, she’s single, if that’s what you meant to ask,” he laughed as we worked through easy stretches.
“Good looking out,” I laughed back.
For the next thirty minutes, I watched him push through pain that would’ve had grown men crying. The same fire Sametra possessed was the fire he possessed.
“You did good today,” I told him as we finished. “Keep trusting yourself, and I think you’ll be fine. Plus, I kinda promised your moms.”
“Deal.”
“Aye tell her I’ll make sure the nurses don’t bother her about visiting hours. She can come and stay as she pleases.”
“She’ll appreciate that. She been texting me nonstop since she’s been home.”
I gave Samaj a pat on his good shoulder before heading out to end my day. In the elevator, I pulled out my phone, going against my better judgment. I was doing too much, but I didn’t care.
