Page 13 of This: Blake & Emon

Chapter 7

Two Weeks Later

Blake, Paige, and her best friend Taylor had made Burn Central their Thursday ritual. Between clinical rotations and endless study sessions, Blake had promised herself she’d make time for more self-care this semester. Sure, nursing school consumed most of her life, but scrolling mindlessly through TikTok recipes and binging “Harlem” wasn’t doing anything for her energy levels. Plus, if she was being honest with herself, a certain someone had her wanting to show up as her best self lately.

Emon Dowlen had crashed into her life, quite literally, and now she found herself thinking about him at the most random moments. Like now, stretched out on her purple yoga mat, still catching her breath from Maurice’s session.

She checked her phone to see if she had a message from him, and she did.

Emon:Hope Maurice didn’t kill you too bad today, baby.

The man had a way of occupying her thoughts, whether she was studying drug calculations or doing burpees. Not to mention, he was so attentive. His surprise visits, thoughtful texts, and that destructive smile of his had her both intrigued and fighting to maintain her composure.

“Earth to Blake.” Paige’s voice cut through her thoughts as she rolled over on her mat. “Girl, you got that smile on your face again.”

“Don’t play with me. I’ve smiled before him. You dragging it.”

“Not like this. Every time I talk to you, it’s ‘Emon brought me lunch’ or ‘Emon left flowers at my door.’”

It was giving hater, but Blake continued to listen and smile because the pressure had been applied and it wasn’t her fault Paige was still worried about her boyfriend in jail and Taylor was married to her high school sweetheart two days after graduating high school. Neither of them were in her shoes.

Taylor’s head snapped up from her phone. “Who is Emon, and why am I just now hearing about him?”

“Because you’ve been in Denver for weeks.” Blake laughed, pulling her hair into a messy bun on top of her head. “And he’s not my man... yet. We’re just hanging out.”

“Just hanging out?” Paige scoffed. “Girl, he brought you that bougie couch you wanted and took you to brunch, brought you lunch, answers your text, and made it clear he’s plotting on you heavy.”

Blake couldn’t help but tilt her shoulder in aand sotype of way.

“That sounds like you got yourself a man to me. Who and how?”

“He got shot and accidentally came to my house on some back alley doctor-ish,” she whispered, not wanting any of the listening, judging ears to hear her and be in her business.

“And tell her what else,” Paige said, taking a sip of her water.

“And I patched him up and didn’t call the police. He’s been coming by kicking it for like a little while now. It’s not anything serious, yet.”

“Yet. She wants that man bad and I don’t blame her.”

“Meanwhile,” Taylor started, her voice taking on that gossipy tone Blake knew too well, “Dr. Cameron been watching you like a hawk during your rotations. I saw him looking all kinds of interested when you were presenting your patient cases. You don’t need a criminal as a boyfriend.”

The judgment call was coming from inside the house, and it was Taylor. It was partly why she hadn’t already told her. It wasn’t like they hadn’t talked. They were always in the group chat on bullshit. Blake didn’t need anybody judging her or trying to sway her mind, so she had kept her mouth shut besides Paige.

“Here comes Judge Judy,” Paige joked while stifling a laugh. “Don’t nobody want a man that looks interested and ain’t making no moves.”

“No big facts. You can judge all you want, but Emon’s making it hard for the next. It’s like I’m always on his mind. Plus, you don’t know anything about him,” she gushed.

“I’m just saying, what if something else happens, and you get caught in the crossfire? I watchFirst 48.” Again, they had to stifle a laugh. Taylor was such a damn square, and it was cute, but they just didn’t mesh on certain things at times. Because life was meant to be lived. Blake kinda hated that her friend didn’t get to experience college life single or grow into her own person.

“I lowkey don’t even care. It’s not like it’s not something I’m familiar with.”

“Just saying, though, your dad probably rolling over in his grave right now.”

“You know what?” Blake stood up abruptly, stuffing her yoga mat in her bag. “I think I’m done for today.”

“Blake, wait—” Taylor started, realizing too late she’d crossed a line.

“Nah, you don’t get to bring my daddy into this. You don’t know what he would’ve wanted. I almost knocked you upsidethe head for saying that.” Her voice was steady, but her hands shook as she gathered her things. “And for the record? My father taught me to trust my own judgment, not everybody else’s opinions. The fuck you thought?”

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