Page 78 of Scrubbing In
Shaking her head, she leans a hip against the sink. Laughing along with her, I rinse my hands and arms.
“Okay, I get it. My mama is hot. She looks good in red.”
She’s talking about the long-sleeved red T-shirt Leena is wearing under her scrub top. The pop of red that peeks through the ‘V’ of her blue scrub top makes her usually pinklips look darker. It was a struggle to not spend our time over coffee at the desk this morning kissing her. “Yes, she does. Today is the first time I’ve seen her wear red,” I muse.
Pushing off the sink, we both head for the room, masks already up.
“Oh-ho-ho, over the next four or so months, that will be a very frequent occurrence,” Charlie tells me.
“Why’s that?”
Cackling, she leans closer to me to prevent being overhead. “College basketball season. You are about to witness a whole other side to our girl.”
Her ominous warning had me laughing then, totally unsuspecting. But clearly, she was just preparing me.
Right now, Charlie’s eyes are twinkling with mirth as she rolls her lips between her teeth before turning back to the stove. A muffled “Go Howlers,” is called over her shoulder.
Hands on hips, Leena stares at me expectantly.
“Um, go Howlers.” I lift a hand, imitating her wolf hand sign.
Huffing cutely, she turns to observe the table I’m setting before going to the fridge to pull out drinks for each of us. “Julian, I am disappointed in your alma mater school spirit.”
“Pretty girl, I think you have enough for us all.”
She raises her nose in the air and sniffs. On light feet, I follow behind her. As soon as the drinks are placed on the table, I have her up in my arms and flipped over my shoulder quicker than she can blink.
Squealing and kicking her feet, my hand cracks down on her ass. “I think you're the sexiest cheerleader, especially in these tight little spandex shorts.” I start kneading the cheek I slapped.
“No foreplay before dinner when the child is present.” Charlie sets a serving dish in the center of the round table, wagging her finger at me before going back to the counter.
Leena whacks my ass while sing-songing, “Sorry, Mama!”
With one final squeeze, I carefully set her down and pull a chair out for her. I return to the kitchen and pick up the oven mitts as Charlie finishes sprinkling extra Parmesan cheese over the lasagna. “I’ll get that.”
Once we’re settled and have dug into our food, I wipe my mouth with a napkin and ask my girl, “What time’s the game tonight? You usually go to bed early.”
Snickering from the other side of the table, Charlie purses her lips, and mockingly tells the table, “He really has no idea what’s in store.”
“Oh, hush, Mama.” Rolling her eyes, she turns to me, “Tip-off is at nine.”
“You really weren’t kidding when you said you’re a die-hard CSCU basketball fan.”
“Nope,” she says, popping the p. “Even though the last few seasons have been disappointing, a new wave is coming. I just know it.”
“Their coach has a great record, but I think they need fresh blood to see a change from steady wins but lackluster season outcomes, to consistently high output basketball. A new coach with a high basketball IQ in line with today’s style of playing.”
I look up from my plate to see Leena watching me dreamy-eyed and Charlie completely unamused.
“Typical ortho bro, sport-loving jock.” She shakes her head before taking a bite of food.
“And yet you chose to carve out a spot for yourself with usortho bros.”
Smiling, she tucks a hand under her chin and flutters her lashes. “Someone needs to rein you meatheads in.”
“I love family dinners.” Leena happily bounces in her seat and takes a huge bite, eyes shifting back and forth between her best friend and me.
“Thank god I like your man, Mama. Otherwise, we’d both still be single.”
