Page 92 of Crash: Love in Scrubs
“Absolutely not. I’m thinking a Nissan Rogue or a Toyota Camry. Those are good, safe cars.”
“Ma, that just made me so depressed.”
I waved him off because driving was already dangerous enough, we didn’t need unnecessary speed adding to the equation. I smiled because the adrenaline rush was hereditary.
“You gotta forgive him, Ma. Especially for the baby. I wish he was my dad for real, but she’ll be lucky to have him.”
“She?”
“Yeah, she. I agree with you. Baby H is a girl.” I looped my arm through his and snuggled against him as we walked. That’s when I heard someone clearing their throat behind us. I ignored it and let go of Samaj, who kept walking toward the video games. If it wasn’t directed, it wasn’t respected. But someone was working hard to get my attention.
“Excuse me.” The voice came from behind me, finally deciding on not being a creep.
I turned around and came face to face with a beautiful woman, light skin, perfect makeup, the kind of woman who clearly spent time and money on her appearance. I looked her over, trying to place her face, but couldn’t.
“Do we know each other?”
“I work at St. Ambrose. Moniece. I heard you mention a baby. Congratulations.” The tone in her voice suggested she wasanything but happy about it. I smiled, unsure of what else I was supposed to say.
“Thank you,” I said, starting to walk away.
“Is it Dr. Holloway’s?” she called after me.
Now this hoe had my full attention. I turned around slowly.
“Why didn’t you start with that, Moniece? I was already getting bad vibes, but that confirmed it. You better be mentioning my man’s name for a good reason. How can I help you?”
“He was mine until you came around.”
“Oh, you’re jealous,” I laughed and smiled. “That’s cute and personal. Again, how can I help you?”
“I just wanted to let you know you are a homewrecker. We had our time. And what a time it was,” she giggled, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. This was so sad. She was too pretty of a woman to be confronting women about a man that never belonged to them.
“Clearly not better than mine,” I said, placing my hand on my belly. “Let me help you understand something, there needs to be a home to wreck. And I’ve been all in his home and sheets, no signs of you anywhere. Pipe down and stand the fuck up.”
“You won’t be smiling when they officially fire him. He wouldn’t even give me the time of day anymore because of you. Now he’ll lose his career, and you’ll follow shortly after.”
“Oh, it’s a psychic, everybody,” I announced, clapping in her face.
She was looking around because I was getting loud. Fuck some keeping it cute. “Don’t get embarrassed now. You want some attention with your pathetic ass.”
“I see women like you all the time. You come to the hospital searching for the most successful man, entice them, sleep with them, and then divorce them, taking their money. You won’tunderstand his schedule or the stress of being his woman. I do, and he’ll see that.”
“Is that so?” I said with a sweet smile, ready to really take it there, but it was clear the mall was open, but no one was shopping. “It’s clear you are delusional, and I really feel bad for you. But let’s be clear you couldn’t fuck with me on my worst day. Don’t speak on or mention my man’s name again, or you’ll be walking around with three fucking feet. Enjoy your day, beloved. Bless up. Be great and stay away from me and my family.”
I turned and walked away, my heart pounding with a mixture of anger and protectiveness. So this was the bitter ex-colleague Malik had mentioned. The one who’d been part of the reports against us. Well, now I had a face to go with the pettiness. She was lucky I didn’t drag her ass through Wal-Mart.
I made my way back to where Samaj was looking at video games and looped my arm through his again. I wasn’t even going to give that shit back there a second thought. She had better heed my warning, or she’d regret it. In fact, I was just going to keep doing exactly what I was doing. Make the haters even madder.
“You know what? He can get you a car. Nothing too crazy, though,” I said, pointing at him. “And you will help out, especially when the baby comes.”
“Yes ma’am! I promise,” Samaj said, practically bouncing with excitement as he pulled out his phone. “Can I call him now?”
“Go ahead. Tell him his baby mama said it’s fine.”
“Malik? Guess what Ma just said...”
While Samaj talked to Malik with the biggest grin on his face, I checked us out at the register using the card Malik had given me. The irony wasn't lost on me—here I was, using his money after our fight. I laughed thinking about Moniece'spathetic attempt to shake me. She really thought she could tell me something about my own man, like I didn't have full access to him and his life while she was on the outside looking in.
