14/Danielle
On the way into work on Friday, I spotted Ron driving a brand-new Honda Accord.
He pulled up beside me at the red light, looked my way, bobbed his head in acknowledgment, and before I managed to roll the window down, he pulled off.
I couldn’t believe that shit. Not a hello.
Nothing. Why was he ignoring me? Two weeks.
It had been two weeks since he had come to my house and fucked me, and not one phone call.
I climbed off the elevator and moved down the hall to Labor and Delivery mad and frustrated because it wasn’t until I watched him peel away from the light and leave my ass in the dusk that realization hit me.
Ron didn’t love me. He couldn’t, because he had done nothing short of using me.
And it was time to face the honest truth: what Ron and I had ended long before I showed up on his doorstep begging him to come home.
I was moving down the hall ready to plow anyone in my way when I looked down at the end of the corridor.
I almost tripped when I spotted a brotha who was so fine he made you want to slap yo mama.
I tried not to stare. He was wearing a white hospital coat, which meant he worked here.
Damn, he could be a medical student or even a new resident.
I knew fine when I saw it, and it was definitely him.
The closer I got, the more I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.
He looked up from the woman he was talking to and our eyes met long enough for me to gasp. It was the guy I had met at Athena’s.
Chance.
I looked into his big hazel eyes. He smiled, then licked his thick lips and I was sure I came in my panties.
Bitch, snap out of it! He’s had your number for the last two weeks and ain’t called you once.
He was definitely the last thing I needed, regardless of how wet he made my panties. I dropped my head and moved down the hall to L&D, clocked in, and went to listen to the overnight nursing report.
It wasn’t until noon that I had an opportunity to sit down at the nurses’ station and check my emails.
While I waited for the computer to boot up, I checked my cell phone.
I frowned. Four missed calls, and they were all from Mama.
She had been blowing my phone up all morning, and the last thing I needed was to talk to her about Portia.
I logged in and noticed a message from someone I didn’t know. I clicked on it and opened the email.
Sexy, I saw you looking at me. Tell me a little more about yourself.
Heart pounding heavily with anticipation, I looked both ways before I raised my hands to the keys, typed a short paragraph, and hit Send. I couldn’t believe it. He was feeling me. I was tempted to ask him why he hadn’t called me, but maybe he didn’t remember me from the other night.
My phone in my pocket vibrated. I looked down and felt a stir of guilt. It was Calvin.
“Hey.”
“Whassup, baby? How’s your day?”
“Could be better. I didn’t get much sleep last night.” Last night I camped out near Nita’s house hoping to catch Ron coming or going but never did. Around midnight I finally gave up and headed home. Maybe he moved in with that girl.
Why do you care? He don’t love you anymore.
“Do you feel up to a movie tonight?”
Might as well. Ron was no longer a part of my life. Besides, it’s Friday night. “Sure, baby. What time?”
“How about I pick you up at seven? That should give us plenty of time to eat and catch a nine-thirty show.”
I hung up and started to feel excited about my evening with Calvin.
Why in the world did I even think I wanted Ron when Calvin was everything I need in a man?
Stable, and financially secure. He’s been with the university police department for the last fifteen years.
Has a big house. A nice ride. And money in the bank.
Calvin had more than Ron and the dozens of Rons before him.
So why is it I crave excitement and drama?
The phone at the desk rang and I picked it up.
“Hey, whassup?”
I almost dropped the phone. Without him even giving his name, I already knew it was Chance. “I’m fine. How about you?”
“I’m good. I saw you looking at me.”
“You did?” Damn, I knew I had made it too obvious.
“Yep, ’cause I was looking at you, too.”
Well, at least I wasn’t the only one.
“How long you been working here?” he asked.
“Too long.” I suddenly remembered something and asked with straight attitude, “How come you never called me?”
“I lost my phone.”
“Yeah, right,” I replied and snorted rudely.
“Serious. I wouldn’t do you like that.”
“Uh-huh.” I wasn’t totally convinced, but I’d let him slide for now.
“So, what is it you like about me?”
Talk about stuck on himself. “Who said I liked anything about you?”
“I could tell,” he replied with confidence. “So, tell me.” I was cheesing so hard I’m sure it was obviously heard in my voice. “I think you’re kinda cute.”
“Kinda?” he asked, sounding offended.
“Yeah, kinda.” He had to laugh and I joined in.
“You married?”
“Nope.”
“Kids?”
I was tempted to say no. “Yep. One who lives with her grandmother.”
“I don’t have any kids.”
“You married?” It was my turn to interrogate.
“Not anymore. I was in the National Guard. While I was deployed for eighteen months, my wife cheated on me.”
“What?”
“Yep. And when I got back I moved into my own place.”
“So, what do you do?”
“I’m a venipuncture technician. I draw blood.”
“I know what a venipuncture tech is. How long you been doing that?”
“For a while. I was a medic in the military and just retired last summer.”
“That’s whassup.” Hallelujah, a man with a career. “What brought you here?”
“I got sick of St. Louis and wanted something slower paced.”
Nothing wrong with that.
“Can I tell you something?” he asked.
“What?”
“You’ve got a fat ass.”
I should have been offended but I wasn’t. “You go from sounding educated to sounding all ghetto and shit.”
“Yo, baby girl, I got to play the part at work. I have a degree in biology so I do have an edjumication.”
I had to laugh at that.
“But you do have a fat booty.”
I was still laughing. “Oh, so you noticed?”
“Yep, and I liked everything I saw. You’re sexy as hell.”
“Thanks.”
“I’d really like to take some time to get to know you. How about dinner tonight?”
“That would be—” I stopped short and groaned inwardly. I had already made plans with Calvin for the evening.
“Come on. I know you want to say yes.”
“What gives you that idea?”
“Because you’re feeling me and I’m feeling you.”
He was right. I did want to say, hell yeah. Talking to him had brightened what had started out as a miserable day. And before I knew it, I heard myself saying, “Okay.”
“Good. How about you give me your number again and I’ll call you this evening. You’re not going to stand me up, right?”
“No. I’m not. Just don’t lose your phone this time.” I gave him my number and hung up with a big smile on my face.
Damn, now I have to find a way to cancel my evening with Calvin.