Page 21 of Stat: Love In Scrubs
I stared down at the screen for a moment, then locked the screen. I accepted his apology, but I wasn’t sure if this kind oflife would work for me. Instead of harping on that, I pulled out a chair and ate.
A COUPLE HOURS LATER…
I had my prescription filled for my wrist and had put away the rest of the food from earlier. Before Darby finally made it over with food in hand and wearing pajamas. She knew this was a stay inside and chill kind of day. For the first time, my friend read the room perfectly. She brought over Chinese food with egg rolls in tow, and her chosen movie for tonight was Sparkle, classic, original sparkle.
“So are we going to talk about why you needed a full day?” she asked suddenly.
I continued staring at the screen before finally looking in her direction to respond.
“I can’t just want to spend a full day with my best friend?” I told her.
She tilted her head to the side and turned up her lip.
“Girl, please, and when are we going to stop pretending that your wrists aren’t fucked up. I’ve been waiting for you to provide the details on that yourself, but you’re taking too damn long. Spill it, hoe.”
I rolled my eyes and slumped back against my couch cushions.
“I fell,” I mumbled.
Darby cupped her ear and leaned in closer to me. “What? I didn’t hear you.”
“Bitch, you heard me. I fell, damn it. We went bowling, and I went to take my turn, then went sliding down the lane.”
Darby burst into laughter, and tears were coming down her cheeks. It was so damn contagious, I couldn’t help but laugh along with her. It wasn’t funny in the moment because it hurt like hell. But I could see the joke in it now.
She was now gripping her chest, trying to catch her breath.
“You know, you can make a damn scene. What did Mr. Doctor do? I just know he jumped into action with your dramatic ass all laid out on the lane.”
I held my finger up, “Let me make this clear, this shit hurts. I wish I could have put on a show and been able to hop back up. I went through a lot last night in the ER?—”
Darby held up her hand, stopping me. “Wait, the ER? All jokes aside, you alright?”
She cleared her throat and looked a little more serious this time.
“Yeah, it’s cool as long as I take those peels when I start to feel out of sorts. But it’s cool. Doc was very attentive, but I feel like that’s the man’s job. Didn’t he take a pledge to help folks in need or something to be a doctor?”
Darby rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh, give that man his credit. He made sure you were okay because clearly I am still talking and looking at you today.”
“He did. But, I don’t think it’s going to work.”
“Why not?” she followed up quickly.
“I don’t think I can deal with the schedule of a doctor. It’s clear when you’re dating them, you’re a second thought, and their patients come first. Not to mention, he has a child, so not only will I come second to his job, but I’ll end up number three to her. I would have preferred it if she were number one, not thejob. But it’s clear that she takes a backseat role to his profession as well.”
Darby crossed her arms and leaned back with a smirk.
“Why are you smiling like that?” I asked, instantly annoyed.
“You must really like him. You put a lot of thought into this, more than you would if this man didn’t have your nose wide open. It sounds to me like you’re trying to convince yourself this isn’t a good idea, and you want me to agree with you. Well, I hate to break it to you, boo, I’m not helping you. You won’t be able to blame me when you walk away from your future husband because of fear.”
“Fear? What do I have to be afraid of? This is the first date I’ve ever been on with this man for you to be throwing around the future husband thing.”
Darby uncrossed her legs and then turned to face me.
“I know you, Yara, and when you start to feel like something is happening to you that feels uncontrollable, you step back to avoid feeling at all. Well, I’m not going to encourage you. And where did you get the whole career thing from?”
I kissed my teeth and looked back at the TV screen before glancing back in her direction.
