Chapter 6 | Brooklyn
Brooklyn
In fourteen hours, I’d treated two friends who stabbed one another after a fight over a football game.
Dozens of people with food poisoning, or who just ate too damn much.
A heart attack and a stroke. Broken nose.
False labor. A broken leg. A bad allergic reaction.
A bad episode of vertigo. I’m sure I had at least three more patients that, for the life of me, I couldn’t recall why they needed a doctor.
My patients all meshed together in my head, consumed by thoughts of Carter, taking up most of my brain space.
I had to stop myself from grinning inappropriately before I seemed insensitive.
Being with him made my days brighter and my nights sexier.
Today, though insanely busy, had been a good day.
A day in the ER without deaths was always a good day.
And knowing Carter would be picking me up for dinner and crafting Christmas baskets after he left his animal clinic, makes today a damn good day.
“Thank you. I love working here too.” I smiled, though my stomach churned.
A month ago, I’d planned to sign the paperwork for another year.
Three weeks ago, I met Carter. Now, I didn’t know if I wanted to spend another year in the ER as a resident when I could apply for a job and have a less hectic schedule.
A schedule that would allow more time with Carter.
A schedule that might make getting married and having a baby more feasible. “I’ll let you know soon.”
“Do that.” She squeezed my shoulder on her way to visit patients.
I slunk down in a chair beside Denise. “I don’t know what to tell her.”
Denise twirled in her seat to face me. “It’s like that already with you and Carter? I see that skip in your step and that goofy smile. Just assumed it was good sex.”
“It’s more than that.”
Her smile widened. “Told you it was fate.”
“I don’t know about all that.” I arched a brow.
“I don’t want to make a quick decision about my career because I’m caught up with him, and I don’t want to recommit to another year when he could be my person.
As much as I like it here, I’m always working, and neither of us is getting younger.
At least, he’s been flexible with my schedule, finding time to spend with me even if it’s just to fall asleep together. ”
She patted my knee. “Perfect segue for me to say we need you to work Christmas.”
“Denise,” I groaned. “I finally have Christmas off after I negotiated with two other residents, and now you want me to work? I have plans.” Carter wanted to bring Christmas in together as we did for Thanksgiving, and meet his children and his mother.
“I know. You might be the best doctor in the E.R., but you’re still a resident. Since Dr. Boswell wants off, you have to work. You’re still off for New Year’s Eve, which for a couple is more romantic than Christmas.” She shrugged.
I bent forward and covered my face with my hands. “Not for me. I love Christmas, and who’s to say Dr. Boswell won’t change her mind and make me work on New Year’s Eve? That’s probably why she was being super complimentary to me.”
Denise typed something on the keyboard. “No, she was speaking the truth. It’s your fault that you have been such an overachiever that she thought you wouldn’t mind working Christmas since you were off on Thanksgiving.
People used to you stepping in without argument, and now that you have a man, it could bite you in the ass. ”
“Which is why I really do have to reconsider a fourth year here.” I sat back up and stretched my neck from side to side. “Being with Carter has made me realize that I do need to enjoy life more than I have.”
“Then maybe your decision shouldn’t be about Carter and more on what you want from this residency, and does it really help push you further in your career?
” She rose from her chair at the buzz from a patient’s room.
“I’ll miss you, but from what I see, you can apply for a job here or anywhere and kill it right now. I gotta check on 10E.”
I flopped my head back and swirled in the chair. Decisions. Decisions. My cell buzzed in my pocket.
Why did some strange woman who has a pet snake come into the clinic, though my sign clearly says an urgent care for all animals except reptiles? Had the nerve to try to hit on me with that snake slithering around, who then tried to bite me.
I chuckled. Carter had an affinity for all animals except insects and reptiles. He hated snakes with a passion.
Please say you didn’t cut up too badly?
I kept a poker face while that damn thing scared me shitless. I need a bigger sign that says “No snakes allowed.”
Poor baby. I’ll give you a nice hug when I see you.
I need that and a kiss. Leaving the clinic earlier than I thought. Can you get off now?
Giddy feelings easily replaced my worry. I loved it when Carter picked me up. The simple act made me feel cared for and wanted. I texted back.
Yes. My home or yours? We can always do the gift baskets later.
Doesn’t matter. Wherever you are is starting to be home for me.
My cheeks burned from the wide grin on my face, and I dreamily rose from my chair to get back to caring for patients. My career was slowly taking a backseat to love.
Usually, a fourteen-hour shift left me exhausted and drained.
Watching Carter, rocking a blue knit cap and brown leather jacket to fight off the evening’s chill, getting out of the car to open my door, re-energized me.
Instead of three weeks, it felt like three years of being together.
No matter how tired I was, I wanted to see him and be with him.
He or I would fall asleep while he massaged my feet or we watched TV, and I didn’t care. We were content with being homebodies.
Carter pecked my lips and hugged me tightly in his strong embrace, and when he tried to pull away, I held on. “Did anyone ever tell you that you give good hugs?”
His deep chuckle reverberated against my ear. “No, but I have heard I give good dick.”
“Facts.” I looked up at him. “All day I’ve been waiting to see you again. Couldn’t stop smiling because I have a new man. That is what you are to me, right?”
“Yes.” He arched a brow. “Don’t know why you’re asking that when I made my intentions clear day one.”
“With men, women need to have it spelled out to us.” I kissed his bearded chin before he assisted me in his Navigator.
Carter peered in the car. “If we don’t work, we break up. If we do, we marry.”
“You make that seem so simple.”
“It’s a relationship. Either it ends in marriage, or we break up.”
I reminded him, “Some couples are together forever and never marry.”
“I don’t want that. I’ve been married and had a live-in girlfriend. Prefer marriage.”
“Me too.” Satisfied that we were on the same page, I settled into the leather and allowed the seat to adjust to me.
After he buckled himself in, Carter stifled a yawn and started the car. “You still need my help with those Christmas baskets?”
I wagged my finger. “Nope. Stop it. Can’t get out of it. All that yawning and it’s not even seven.”
“I wasn’t trying to get out of it. Thinking you and your mama can handle it, while I cook y’all dinner and watch basketball. Your mama like shrimp pasta, right?”
“It’s her fave. You really do listen.” I grabbed his chin and kissed him. “If this is a dream, please don’t wake me up.”
His eyes suddenly shuttered, and he started driving.
“Hey...hey, what just happened?” I tapped his arm.
“I’m not anyone’s dream.” Carter’s jaw tightened. “Just a man who loves hard and treats the woman in my life well because my mother taught me that. I will fuck up from time to time.”
“Duh, you human, Carter.” I looked at him. “Can you let me compliment you? Because I will not hesitate to tell you when you mess up. Trust.”
A reluctant grin spread across his face. “Go ahead.”
“No man has ever treated me like you do, and we’re just getting started.
It feels like a dream because I’m not used to being taken care of.
All my life, I had to work hard for everything.
..and that’s okay... because ain’t nothing wrong with hard work and I wouldn’t be the person I am if I didn’t.
It’s been three weeks, and you act like my comfort is your purpose on this Earth.
Just wanted to tell you I appreciate you more than you could ever know. ”
Carter gripped the wheel in one hand and opened my mouth with his tongue.
“Mmm, baby,” I moaned as I enjoyed his kiss. “I need you to pay attention to the road. People are in the parking lot.”
“Then stop kissing me.” He grinned and captured my tongue with his once more before he entwined our hands and refocused on getting us out of the parking lot safely.
I stared out the window at the passing twinkling lights of the holiday season, feeling unbelievably blessed to have the man by my side. Even if somehow Carter and I were a moment, it wouldn’t be regrettable like my two-year relationship with Bishop had been.
Thank God, I hadn’t responded to any of his texts or calls and finally blocked him. I was totally free of my past with him and more and more ready for a future with Carter.
The sounds of a basketball game blasted from the TV, and Carter’s elated or disappointed yells traveled through the house. Mama and I stood around my table full of red, green, and gold tissue paper and stocking stuffers like hand lotion, fuzzy socks, chocolate mints, and pretty, chunky pens.
Mama whispered, “Does he always watch TV this loud?”
“You don’t have to whisper. He can’t hear you. And yes, it makes him feel that he’s there. He’s worse when we’re watching a football game. If we ever live together, I’m buying earplugs.”