Page 31 of Rounds
I got that all the time. People around here didn’t know how to pronounce my creole infused last name. “Good morning. Thank you. It’s Boo-Tay.”
“I apologize, ma’am. Have a great day.”
“You also.”
Before I could get back to my desk with them, I saw Tremeka standing there with her hand on her hip. “Did you get back with him?” she asked, clearly irritated.
“Hell naw.”
She huffed. “I was about to be so mad at you. I thought the last bouquet was from him, too, since you still looked upset. You grinning like Cheshire cat today. So who in the fuck sending you a bouquet like this? It has to be expensive,” she asked in a lower tone.
“If I tell you, you have to keep it under wraps. If you don’t think you can, I can’t tell you. My mental isn’t quite prepared for possible backlash.”
Her eyebrows lifted, and her mouth opened. “Is that from Glover Israel?” she asked in a harsh whisper.
I wasn’t sure how she figured that shit out so quickly, but I nodded with a slight smile, then pulled the card from the stem. I opened it to read it, knowing she was looking over my shoulder.
Hey,baby. I just wanted to send you something beautiful to look at so you wouldn’t have to stare in the mirror all day. I mean, these flowers don’t compare, but they should do. See you later. ~Glover
“Oh my God.”
I looked up at her to see her hand to her chest and her eyebrows lifted and scrunched together. I slowly shook my head, but I couldn’t stop the smile from forming on my lips. I closed my eyes for a moment, thinking about how much Glover completed me. He was everything I’d been longing for. He was all the shit I was looking for in the wrong men. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, then opened my eyes to see Tremeka just staring at me.
“That note was so sweet. I would have never imagined he had that in him.”
“He’s so different from what people perceive him to be. He’s kind, tender, and caring. He’s all the things I needed after dealing with Jaunté’s cheating ass.”
“Damn. I’m happy for you, Laney. I hope he continues to be that for you. I would have never thought he could because of the things I heard and witnessed with my own eyes and ears. I’mglad you didn’t tell me when you gave in to him, because I surely would have tried my best to talk you out of it.”
“I know, and because of the mental state I’m climbing out of, I probably would have listened to you and missed out on something beautiful . . . someone perfect for me.”
She hugged me tightly, then pulled away and smiled. “Well, in other Glover Israel news, did you hear that he filed a grievance against a nurse in ER and got her fired?”
I frowned, then my mind went back to that night almost two weeks ago, when I worked the weekend. It had to be the bitch that pushed me out of the way. He said he would handle it, and I supposed he did. “I hadn’t heard, but I think I know who it was. She pushed me out of the way unnecessarily when a patient coded. He told me he would handle it.”
“Daaaaaamn!” she said, then immediately covered her mouth. I chuckled as she continued. “He is serious about you!”
I looked around to see if anyone was watching us, then said, “All the rumors you heard about me were true. I was sleeping in my fucking car, because Jaunté put me out. My move-in date at the apartment complex got pushed back a month. I couldn’t afford a hotel for a month, so I planned to only sleep there on the weekends. Glover saw me and insisted I move in with him. I’m living with him, Tremeka.”
I took a deep breath as her eyes widened all over again. The damn things should have fallen out of their sockets. After swallowing hard, I continued. “If things continue the way they are, I’m going to fall for him. He gave Jaunté the business last night at Happy Buddha. He gives me all the feels. I’m his, Tremeka, and I don’t know why I’m hesitant about telling anyone who wants to know. He’s shown me in such a short amount of time that he is way more than what lies on the surface. Fear is holding me captive. I’m glad I can recognize it, so I can give it its walking papers.”
She hugged me tightly again. I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent him a message.Thank you for the flowers, baby. Can you meet me for lunch at the hospital cafeteria?
When I looked back up at Tremeka, she said, “I’m proud of you, Laney. I wish you nothing but love and success, boo. I better get to work before people start complaining.”
She hugged me yet again and kissed my cheek. As she walked off, I felt a tear trickle down my cheek. I’d been holding us back unnecessarily. Fuck what everyone else thought. I knew what this was between Glover and me. My phone chimed and when I saw Glover’s message, I chuckled. There were several wide-eyed emojis.
For real? What time?
I slowly shook my head and texted back.12:30. See you then.
I knew his office closed at noon on Fridays, and he usually spent the rest of his day here at St. Ambrose. Glover was a workaholic, but I was noticing that whenever I needed him, he made time for me. It wasn’t often, but I called him during my lunch break one day this week, having a slight panic attack about some shit I heard about him. He assured me that it was nothing but rumors. They were saying he’d slept with some nurse in ICU.
We didn’t really talk about him sleeping around much. The only person that came up was the last woman before me and that she could possibly be a problem. Other than that, I had to let that other shit go. I was the only woman he was sleeping with now, although he hadn’t gotten it in a week. I felt bad about that shit too. He would definitely get all he could handle tonight. Had it not been for my stomach being upset last night, he would have gotten it then.
My phone chimed with another message from him as I sat here in a haze, thinking about how good of a man he was.I’m happy, baby. I can’t wait to show you affection publicly, claiming you as mine in front of the entire hospital.
I smiled slightly, then gathered my things to get my day started.
