Page 32 of Stat: Love In Scrubs
One: it was the best damn kick I’d ever made in my life.
Two: it was headed straight for Doc’s chest.
“Wait!” I shouted, but it was too late.
He turned to run for second andBoom;the ball nailed him dead in the stomach, full impact, like I’d lined him up on purpose. His whole body folded and dropped to the ground.
Gasps erupted around the field.
“Oh, my God!” I yelped, already sprinting.
My dad was jogging from center field, half-concerned, half-laughing. “Damn, girl! He’s supposed to be your man! Yet, you’re out here knockin’ him on his ass like it’s dodgeball!”
“He’s not my—ugh! Stop!” I dropped to my knees next to Doc, who was flat on his back, eyes squeezed shut, and a big-ass grin creeping across his face.
“You good?” I asked, lightly patting his chest.
He wheezed. “I’m thinking you’re going to need to wear a warning label, baby. Damn.”
“I swear I didn’t mean to!” I said, trying not to laugh even as tears stung my eyes from holding it in. “I was aiming for right field!”
He opened one eye. “You missed by a whole grown ass man. In a minute, I’m going to think that was a little payback from the time I had to cancel our date.”
My dad leaned over us, hands on his knees, grinning widely. “Son, you sure you still wanna talk to my daughter? Next time, she might knock out a tooth.”
Doc chuckled from the ground. “At this rate, she gon’ take more than a tooth, more like my whole ribcage.”
I nudged my dad’s leg. “Don’t listen to him. He’s fine.”
“I’m not fine,” Doc said, groaning as he sat up. “I’m injured. I think I need mouth-to-mouth.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”
“You’re lucky I like violence,” he shot back, wincing a little as I helped him up.
Maria was back on the bench with Esa, shaking her head but laughing. Esa clapped when he stood, like he’d just won a WWE match.
He turned toward her and waved like he was still dazed. “I’m okay, baby…”
“You’renotokay,” I muttered under my breath, still holding his arm.
But the truth was, neither was I. Because this man just got laid out byme, made jokes about it, and somehow still made myheart skip like I was the one catching a damn ball to the chest.I was definitely in unknown territory.
Mickey’s Pizzeria—AfterGame Celebration
After the small situation on the field with Doc, he got back up and continued playing. Throughout the game, I kept checking in on him because I felt so damn bad. I don’t know why I became so damn clumsy when he was around. I think he made me nervous, and that was just the effect of it.
By the end, we beat Gerald’s team by five points. To say my dad was over the moon was an understatement. Not to mention, my dad was practically tied to Doc’s hip. At some point, they walked off alone and talked. I don’t know what they said, but it made my dad come over to me and kiss my temple.
Esa and I had been playing arcade games before Doc finally joined us. It was crazy how natural this all felt. It didn’t feel like we were playing a part but like I was right where I was supposed to be.
We’d had enough of the games and went back to the table to eat more pizza. Maria and my dad were talking to each other.
“Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom,” Esa said.
“I’ll take her. If it’s okay with you,” Maria offered, but looked in Doc’s direction to wait for his response.
“That’s fine. Thank you,” he told her.
