Page 25 of This: Blake & Emon

“Nah, show me around before we eat. I wanna see where my man lay his head.”

“The same place I wish you would lay yours. Move in with me, baby.” Emon had planned to ask her when they sat down to eat, but the closer he got to her, the more his favorite smell had him entranced. He wanted Blake to help him fill this damn house. Granted, he’d stay at her place often, but he had a househe wanted her and only her to make a home, and sooner rather than later.

“Emontez, are you serious? Shouldn’t I like... meet your mom or something before that?”

“What she gotta do with this?” he asked, not understanding. He loved his mama, but his mama didn’t run shit in his life. He valued her opinion, but ultimately, he was his own man. He always had been. ViceAnne couldn’t tell Emon much because she never had to. He’d matured a lot faster than a lot of people his age. “Listen, I don’t need anybody to tell me what I already know. You good for me.” Blake’s bottom lip trembled as she looked into Emon’s eyes. He was sincere. “Look at me,” he said softly, tilting her chin up. “I might be moving fast, but when I know something, I know it, and I know you belong here with me. I also know you can take care of yourself like the independent baddie you are, but you can chill a little more and study for school without worrying about rent and shit.”

Blake’s eyes welled up, but she blinked back the tears. This was her first time even being in his space, and here he was, offering her everything. Not to mention this was her final year. She was tired of going hard.

“You ain’t even shown me around yet,” she said softly. “I might hate your decorating.”

“Then we’ll change that shit. Hell, hire somebody,” he replied without missing a beat. “I want you to make this feel like home. Your home. Our home. You can knock that damn wall down if you want to. I don’t care.”

“Emon—”

“Ok ok, let me show you around first,” he said, turning down the heat on the stove. “Then we can talk about everything else over dinner. No pressure. No rush. Just want you to know where my head and heart at.”

She looked at him, really taking him in. He was beyond handsome. Like hit-the-lottery, thank-you-Jesus handsome. Maybe that was really why she helped him that day, even before she knew his heart was just as beautiful. The minute their eyes had met, something in her spirit knew he’d be impossible to forget. The way he held her gaze now, that knowing smile playing on his lips, told her he’d felt it too.

“Can I think about it? Not because I don’t want to, but because this feels big. Good big, but still big.”

“Take all the time you need, love.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. He meant that. There was no pressure. He just wanted her to know that she was welcome here and anywhere else he was welcomed. His home was hers. He wanted her to know he was ready for whatever. “But I am going to take you to meet my mama. She gon’ love you like I do,” he let slip. Blake didn’t say anything, and he didn’t need her to. It was how he felt, and that wasn’t based on how she felt. They had time for that. He didn’t mind being at this intersection alone. She’d catch up.

Chapter 13

It was only Wednesday and clinicals had been whooping Blake’s ass. She really needed to sleep her whole weekend, but she knew she couldn’t. She was meeting Emon’s mother at a family barbecue. She was excited but couldn’t focus too much as she made her rounds and passed out her affirmation snacks to the patients in her ward. She loved this and couldn’t believe she was going to be graduating soon and be done with school. She’d be able to take a break or dive headfirst into her career. She wasn’t sure which she’d choose.

Months ago, she would have said she’d dive headfirst into her career, but not today if she was asked. Blake had been in school nonstop, it felt like, and financially, she didn’t have to work, but she loved to serve and wanted to save. To hell with the money was how she felt. Now that Emon was in the picture, she was thinking about a small break so they could spend more time together. She liked being his woman. Cooking for him, oiling his beard, and washing his clothes if he had a busy week. She liked sitting with him, doing nothing. She enjoyed him being on the other side of her study flash cards.

I love him.

That realization had just set in. She’d never been in a position where she had to consider a man before and wasn’t surehow this worked. She thought she could probably run it by him the next time they saw each other. He was always so wise and patient thathe’d give her a perspective that she was comfortable hearing.

It was strange to her, the difference in how people acted when hearing his name and who she knew. Emon told her about his life before. He didn’t hide it from her. He was a hellion, doing what he wanted when he wanted. He made some waves, got into some bad habits, pissed some people off, but changed his ways the minute his circumstances allowed. He deserved a second chance, but she also loved that he didn’t care if he got one or not. He wasn’t trying to impress anyone to begin with. The truth was that a lot of people didn’t like that he was his own man. He didn’t need other people to make him feel like he was a big dog. He just was, and those that knew, knew. Those that didn’t would find out if it came to that.

“Ms. Rose, you ready for your affirmation of the day?” Blake asked, entering room 412. The elderly woman was sitting up in bed, already smiling at the sound of Blake’s voice. Even though Blake’s ED rotation started next week, she’d specifically requested to keep her Wednesday mornings with Ms. Rose. Some patients just touched her heart differently.

“Child, you know I’ve been waiting. What you got for me today?” Ms. Rose adjusted her headscarf, the one her granddaughter had brought her last week.

Blake pulled out a carefully decorated card from her pocket. She’d stayed up late making these, even with Emon telling her to come to bed, but her patients’ smiles made it worth it.

“Today’s affirmation is ‘I am stronger than any challenge ahead of me.’” Blake perched on the edge of the bed, taking Ms. Rose’s hand. “Just like how you’re stronger than this.”

“Mm-hmm, that’s right.” Ms. Rose squeezed her hand. “Lord, I’m gonna miss you when you leave. These other nurses don’t take time like you do. They don’t love it like you do.”

“Don’t you worry about that. I already told charge nurse that Wednesdays are my Ms. Rose days. I might be gone, but I’m not letting go of my favorite patient.”

“Speaking of care, how’s that man of yours? The one who been bringing ya lunch and stuff every week?”

“Nosey.” Blake smiled and joked, thinking of the orange roses that would probably be waiting at the nurses’ station. “He’s good. Taking me to meet his mama this weekend.”

“Ohh next come the ring and then the baby!”

“Now, Ms. Rose, don’t do too much.” Blake winked.

“I ain’t, but listen, he better treat you right. Not many nurses would make these cards at midnight just to make an old lady smile.”

“I have no complaints at all so far. He’s good, just good hearted. He runs that community market Be Fed. You heard of it?”

---