She leaned over and kissed him. “Thank you.” He held out the other box to her, and Jalen shook her head. “No, open one of mine,” she told him, picking up one of them and handing it to him.
She watched as he opened it, biting her lower lip. They’d been dating for several months, and she’d learned so much about him,but she’d been nervous picking out his presents because she wanted to give him something he liked.
As he unwrapped the comic books, Jalen watched him smile. She’d seen his collection twice when she’d come over, so she knew he didn’t have those yet. She’d bought the first five issues of the series to start him out with.
“Thank you, baby. I’ve wanted to read these for a while.”
Rohan placed the comics on the table and handed her the bag he’d been attempting to give her before. She took it from him, pulled the bow, and removed the top; inside, she found a gift card. It was for a spa. Jalen looked at the amount written on it, and she turned to her boyfriend.
“You deserve to relax. So, I want you to do that a few times when you have the chance. Full packages,” he told her before she could say anything.
Jalen picked up the other gift she’d brought for him and handed it to him. Rohan opened it and pulled out the mini projector inside. She knew he liked to watch movies more than television shows, and she figured he could set it up in his bedroom and watch them on the ceiling or against the empty wall in the living room.
“I’m going to use this often, baby. Thank you.” He leaned over and kissed her. “We should hook this up and use it while we relax today.”
“I like that idea.”
She took the small gift bag he was holding out to her and peeked inside before opening it. She took out the small box inside and opened it, finding a pair of earrings. They were emerald, and the luminosity was hard to miss. They were beautiful. She didn’t know how much he’d spent on them, but she knew it was too much.
“Thank you,” she told him, placing the earrings on the table along with the bag, and climbing into his lap.
She kissed him softly, sliding her tongue into his mouth. They kissed for several long minutes, and he wrapped his arm around her waist. Nipping her bottom lip as they pulled apart.
“I love each gift you got me. I wish I’d gotten you another one,” she told him with a slight pout.
“I don’t need anything else. I appreciate what you got me, and if you want to be technical, you got me six.” He kissed her pouting lips. “Now, I’ll set up the projector if you want to put the other things away, and we can watch a movie.”
Jalen nodded, sliding off his lap and gathering everything. She placed his comics on the bookshelf with the others before going to the bedroom and placing her gifts into her bag.
When she returned to the living room, Rohan was finishing setting up the projector and its stand on the table before connecting some cables from the television. It could also be used via Bluetooth. Jalen hadn’t watched a movie on a projector before, so she was excited.
When he sat on the couch, she moved to sit in front of him, settling against his chest as they scanned through movies to watch.
24
Jalen keyed in the vitals for the room she’d exited a few moments ago. Her sisters had gone back to school that morning, and it had been a little hectic since she hadn’t had to get them up for the past two weeks. On the plus side, she was on days for the next month, which meant they would all be on the same schedule for a while.
It was almost time for her lunch break, and she was meeting Rohan at his house. There was a food truck set up a couple of blocks away, and he’d texted her twenty minutes ago, asking her if she wanted to get something from there; he would pick it up and take it to his place. He was only working a half-day and would be off by the time she went to lunch.
She had never tried that truck before, and left it up to Rohan to choose something for her.
When she finished keying in the vitals, Jalen went to another room to check on Emily. The little girl who had come in the day before with appendicitis. Her appendix was removed, and they were keeping her for a few days for observation.
Jalen knocked lightly on the door. “Peeka.” She waited for the corresponding Boo. When it didn’t come, she opened the door, sticking her head in to find Emily asleep. Working quietly so she wouldn’t disturb her, Jalen checked her vitals.
Once she was finished, she had enough time to key the vitals in before lunch. She then clocked out, grabbed her purse from her locker, and went to her car.
Rohan only lived five minutes from the hospital, and she was pulling in behind his car in no time. Getting out, she went to the front door and knocked. It opened a few seconds later.
“Hey, baby,” Rohan greeted, leaning down to peck her on the lips before pulling away and stepping aside.
“Hey, babe,” Jalen replied as she stepped in.
“How’s work so far?” he questioned as he took her hand and led the way towards the kitchen.
“It’s been a pretty calm day. I only have a few kids,” she told him as she sat in the chair he’d just pulled out for her.
Jalen took in the open takeout containers on the table. Everything looked delicious, and the smell permeated the air. He placed a plate and silverware in front of her before taking his seat, and the two made their plates.
