Page 61 of Crash: Love in Scrubs
And as sleep began to pull me under, wrapped in the safety of his arms, I knew without a doubt that this was just the beginning of our story. The beginning of letting myself be loved the way I deserved. The beginning of building something with a man who saw my worth even when I forgot it myself.
This was what love was supposed to feel like. And I had no plans on letting it go.
TWO WEEKS LATER
Rhythmic knocks on my office door pulled me from the charts and patient files I was going over. I had a light day today, well, more like an admin day. I tried to take one, once a week. When I looked up to see a massive edible arrangement and what looked like a gourmet lunch bag, I had to do a double take.
“Dr. Holloway?” The delivery guy checked his clipboard. “Got a special delivery from a Ms. Holloway.”
I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face as I signed for it. Chocolate-covered strawberries, pineapple daisies, and melon arranged like flowers, my woman knew exactly what would make me smile.
The card was tucked between the fruit, written in her neat handwriting:
Thank you for believing in me. Today’s the big day! - Your future, Dr. Holloway
I smiled so damn hard, I blushed. I bit the inside of my jaw to calm down. I sat back down and reclined in my chair. Today was her first day back in school, and she was nervous as hell about it. We’d talked about it over breakfast this morning, her worrying about being older than the other students, about whether she belonged there, about balancing everything with Samaj’s continued recovery, which was also going great. He was out of his cast and slowly strengthening that leg. I was proud of him.
I’d kissed her forehead and told her she was exactly where she was supposed to be. Now she was out there proving it.
The lunch bag held all my favorites from Sheena’s, mac and cheese, fried chicken, green beans, and cornbread that I could eat with every meal.
“Somebody’s got it bad,” Moniece’s voice came from my doorway, but I didn’t look up from the arrangement. She’d been on some hating shit lately, and I was trying to be cool about it, but her snide remarks and attempts at getting in my business had run their course.
“Don’t you have patients to tend to?” I asked, making eye contact with her. “Mo, you’re never getting the dick again. Let’s just settle this shit now. Move on and mind your business.”
“Just saying, never seen you this happy. She must be special.”
She was.Is. More special than Moniece or anyone else would ever understand. Sametra had this way of making everything brighter, making everything make sense. Even the most stressful days at work felt manageable once I got to see her. She even sent me to work with lunch. Dinner would be waiting in the microwave; she made time for me. She checked on me. Tookcare of me. Sametra was a good woman, and I was glad I’d found her. I also couldn’t wait for my mama to meet her, which I hoped would be soon. And the pussy was so fucking good, I’d been fighting the urge to ask her to move in. I was tryna be in the pussy anytime I could.
My phone buzzed with a text.
LT: Hope you like the surprise. Heading into my first class now. Nervous but excited.
Me: I love it. And I love you. You got this, baby.
LT: I love you, too. See you tonight?
Me: Wouldn’t miss it.
“Was there something else? And again, let’s be clear, if it ain’t about work, keep it in the group chat or your diary.”
Moneice stormed off, and I was glad she was out of my damn face. It had never been serious, so I was confused as hell with her antics. But I refused to have my moment ruined. I brought my mind back to what mattered. Sametra.
I leaned back in my chair again, looking at the arrangement. I couldn’t believe I had someone who’d take the time to thank me on their day.
I shook my head.
Two weeks of being official, and it felt like we’d been together forever. She’d started leaving little things at my place, a hair tie on my nightstand, a bonnet, her favorite coffee creamer in my fridge, and a few T-shirts in my drawer. I’d done the same at hers, and it felt natural. Right. We kept it respectful, not throwing it in Samaj’s face. I didn’t want him to be uncomfortable, but he seemed cool. We’d play the game whileSametra cooked or cleaned. I actually liked being at her place more than mine. Her house had soul, laughter bouncing off the walls, and warm meals that required me to go harder in the gym the day after. Mine only felt the same when she brought her warmth into my space.
As much as I was enjoying our time together and where we were, there was a shadow hanging over everything. Two weeks of silence from him, but I wasn’t naive enough to think he’d just disappeared. Men like him didn’t give up that easily, especially when they were desperate. I’d been thinking more and more about going to HR to see what the ethics protocols looked like.
I needed to get ahead of whatever he might try to pull. Better to control the narrative than let him hold it over our heads.
Rex had hit me back within 48 hours like he promised with the basics. Ashe owed fifty grand to some serious players in Atlanta, gambling debts, the kind that came with consequences. But Rex wanted to dig deeper, saying something felt off about the whole setup.
I grew up around desperation, and it made you do some wild shit for your next meal, hit, or whatever your struggle might be. I especially didn’t like how he was playing with Samaj’s feelings and emotions. He was a good kid, a damn good kid that Ashe had missed out on tremendously. He was funny, he loved his mama, and although they’d hit a rough patch, he knew she loved him, and he loved her back. I saw it every time I was around them.
“Fuck that nigga,” I muttered.
