“My wallet too.”
I nodded again. “Then everything they received should be listed in your property record.”
He ran his hand down his face while staring toward the window. “That’s what they keep telling me.”
The room suddenly felt warmer than it had when I walked in, and I hated that my mind immediately went to the rest of the little money left hidden inside my new apartment. That fifty thousand dollars had already turned into deposits, rent, furniture, dishes, towels, hell, wardrobe, necessities and everything else. I couldn’t put it back even if I wanted to, and truthfully, I didn’t want to. Rome had backed me into a corner, and that money had opened the first door I’d seen in a long time.Still, standing here looking at the man it belonged to made the whole thing feel different than it did when he was unconscious and covered in blood.
“Is something missing?” I asked, forcing myself to meet his eyes instead of looking away like a guilty fool.
Marvelous studied me for a second before he slowly shook his head. “I’m still trying to figure that out.”
I tried to have a concerned look on my face and play the role. I prayed like hell that I was doing a good job too. “Well, my only suggestion is if you have anything missing you may want to speak with the charge nurse, doctor, or security of this floor to see who may be able to assist. Has the police spoken with you?”
He frowned so hard, it looked like he smelled some shit when he looked at me. “Police? Hell nah… well… yeah they did but it don’t matter because I’m not no police ass nigga. I tell them what’s missing and how much, next thing I know, they investigating me and all my people so fuck no. I mean; I may have been out of it but damn, I look like something slow and green to you?”
He asked me that like it was supposed to be a trick question. “Slow and green?” I asked.
“Yeah nurse, slow and green, because if that’s the case you might as well go talk to a turtle.” He said with smirk.
I couldn’t help it but the way I laughed should’ve been a crime. I tried my best to keep it as professional as I could with him. “Now that was funny.” I said using the back of my finger to wipe underneath my eye.
He smiled showing all of his gold teeth. “I knew I was gone get it out of you.”
“Don’t get used to it,” I warned. “I’m not your nurse. I’m just here floating today because of the shortage.”
“Well, as long as I have to be here, I’m requesting you every time Navy.” He replied while focusing on my name printed across my badge.
I didn’t even bother to ask him why me? I was just glad that he wasn’t suspecting me of taking anything from him. I was more pleased at myself for playing it this cool on the outside because Lord knows I literally wanted to puke. Before I could say anything else to him, the room door opened without such as a knock and the tall, handsome, brown skin with a fresh cut, deep waves, gold teeth, and tattoos, walked in filling the entire room up with his cologne. He looked familiar and I instantly remembered he was the same guy I saw the day I was leaving to get my keys, only he was with two other dudes. This time, he was alone and his eyes locked onto mine as soon as the door closed.
CHAPTER 11
Navy ‘Nay’ Prescott
“Damn, look at you sitting up in here flirting with the staff.”
Marvelous looked past me toward the door and smiled. “Man, mind your business.”
“I am minding mine. You my business until you get up out this hospital.”
The fine man I’d previously seen before walked farther into the room without taking his eyes off me right away, and it wasn’t until he got closer that I realized he had recognized me too. I could see it in the way his eyes narrowed just a little before they moved over my face. It only took him a second because the same knowing look that had crossed mine showed up in his and neither one of us said anything about it though, because what was there really to say? We had passed each other in the hallway a few days ago. It wasn’t like we knew each other.
Marvelous looked between the two of us and instantly picked up on it. “Y’all know each other?”
“No,” I answered a little too quickly, and the man looked at me when I said it.
“I seen her downstairs before,” he explained, looking back toward Marvelous. “That’s all.”
Marvelous’s eyes settled on me again. “See, I told you I know faces. I ain’t the only one around here remembering shit. Aye nurse, this my cousin Lev. Lev this my nurse, Navy, with her fine ass.”
I ignored the little meaning behind that and reached for the tablet I had left sitting on the rolling table before I smiled at Lev telling him, “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he replied without doing too much.
I focused back on Marv. “Well, since you have company now, I’m going to finish checking on my other patients. Your medication should be due in about twenty-five minutes, and I’ll be back before then.”
Marvelous frowned like I had told him I was leaving the hospital instead of stepping out of his room. “Damn, you can’t stay for a minute?”
“No, I cannot stay for a minute. I have a whole assignment outside of you.”
