Page 57 of Fever: Love In Scrubs
She grabbed my hand. “We’re gonna be besties.”
We shared a moment before she pulled her hands away and stood. “I have to go to the bathroom. Daddy, I want the cheeseburger basket.”
“I got you.”
She walked away from the table, leaving us alone.
Jaxson turned to me. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being kind to her today. Interacting with her. Making an effort to get to know her. She’s been real down about her mama. I know she has my mom and sister, but they are family. I can tell you being so open with her makes her feel good.”
I grabbed his hand. “She’s a part of you so why wouldn’t I be welcoming? I like you, Jaxson. I have to like the parts that come with you too.”
He leaned in and kissed my lips. It quickly migrated into an intense lip lock that didn’t end until the server came over to grab our orders. I giggled to myself, thinking that this was becoming a thing. We placed our orders and chatted a little while we waited for Jamari to come back.
A frantic,“Leave me alone!”caused both our heads to turn when we realized it was Jamari’s voice. Jaxson was up out of his seat and headed across the restaurant with me on his heels. When we rounded the corner, I saw Jamari glaring at a woman who favored her. That’s when I realized it must have been her mother.
“Little girl, who are you hollering at?” the woman asked, grabbing her arm.
“Don’t touch me, Amandela!” Jamari yelled, snatching away from her.
“Don’t get beside yourself, Jamari Emile. I’m your mother.”
“What the hell is going on?” Jaxson asked, pulling Jamari to him.
“She came into the bathroom while I was washing my hands. I told her to leave me alone.”
Her mother kissed her teeth. “Girl, I don’t have to leave you alone. I birthed you.”
“You haven’t spoken to me in two weeks!” Jamari yelled. “Even when I’m around, you don’t want me around. Keep that same energy.”
Her mother raised a hand to her. “Lil’ girl?—”
Jaxson grabbed her arm the same time that I pulled Jamari away. “I know like hell you ain’t about to hit my daughter.”
“Get the fuck off me.”
A manager came over to see what the fuss was about.
“I’m gonna have to ask you all to leave. I can’t have you disturbing other guests.”
Jaxson glared at his ex-wife before grabbing my hand and Jamari’s and leading us out the side door. She was right behind us, following us through the parking lot.
“Fuck you, Jaxson!” she screamed as we walked away.
“Keep walking,” he said to me and his daughter.
“Wait a minute!” Amandela ran over and stopped in front of us. “Who the fuck is this bitch?”
I frowned. I wasn’t a confrontational person, but I’d long since stopped taking disrespect.
“Watch your mouth, Dela,” Jaxson warned her, trying to walk around. She jumped back in his face.
“You wanna get on my case about my man, but you have this fat bitch around my child.”
“I said watch your mouth. And you damn right I’m on your ass about your pedophile ass boyfriend.”
