I rolled around on the pillow trying to find a comfortable spot because my body was running so hot I felt clammy. With my arms over my eyes to keep reality out, I inhaled several deep breaths to calm down my stomach. I had to get my mind right. Beyond the legal shit that would be coming up when I sued the fuck out of this girl for lying about me, the biggest issue was that I needed to get back to working on my fitness. I could admit that I’d done a lot of partying and despite only letting loose once a week, it meant I was still taking too many days away from my responsibilities and I needed to shift that. I wasn’t even sure if I could do the normal giving back in my town this year because this bad PR could impede it.
Realizing that just sitting here wasn’t going to do anything for me but further depress me, I rolled to my side with my eyes still closed, using my hand to reach around blindly for my phone. When I felt it buried beneath the pillow on the other side of the bed, I pulled it toward me and attempted to crack open my eyes again. It took a minute for them to adjust to the light. Once it didn’t seem like my eyes would fall out from the brightness, I held my phone up to my face and my mood immediately plummeted again.
There were dozens of notifications, so many that I shot up in bed, ignoring how dizzy I was and glanced around the roomto make sure I was still alone. One look at the hardwood floors revealed only my clothes covering them. I calmed my breathing and listened to the silence that was surrounding me. My ears were keyed up to hear if someone was walking around my place. When only silence answered I tried to release the knot that had formed in my stomach.
I turned back to the phone in my hand seeing all the notifications. I bypassed everything from everyone and immediately went to the one from Billy. Billy Briggs was my agent and had become like family to me since I didn’t have my people out here. She gave me the kick in the ass that I needed to get my mind right and her husband helped me acclimate better to being in the league and on the team. Coby and the group of men I was proud to call my friends had seen it all and I knew the lessons they gave me kept me from bullshit. I knew they were wondering where they went wrong with my ass based on how this shit was going.
I scanned the words on the screen and I had to wonder what she was talking about. Instead of questioning it I explained I’d been asleep. Her response made my irritation flare again.
So much for no more drinking.
I didn’t get a chance to call her before her face was on my screen. Not answering meant she was going to come and find me, so I picked up the call to get this over with.
“Money—”
“Nah, I’m cool. Set the test up, Billy. I don’t care what it costs, I’m ready to get this shit done. She’s not gonna keep this dark cloud hanging over me. I've got goals at work that I won’t let her be a distraction from.” I ran my hand down my face wishing Icould hop a flight to LA and go see my people. Although my ass ran for a living, running away was never my thing.
“I’ll reach out and see how soon we can get it scheduled with our lab. For now, just stay in the house.” Billy’s voice was soft yet firm and I knew her advice was more of a command.
I huffed because there was no way in hell I was going out with this fresh pile of bullshit trying to smear my name.
“If I’m not coming to you or Stew’s I’m staying in.”
“Thank you for following instructions. I promise you no matter what I've got you, Money.”
“My shit can wait until Monday. Enjoy your weekend with Murda and the babies.” Although she didn’t work as much as she used to, Billy always dealt with most Desperados players immediately. Our issues could affect her husband and nobody was going to do that on her watch.
“This is my job—”
“And you know I’m not about to have that man beat my ass because you got pulled away from family time. This is something that’s been going on and she can wait. I promise.” This girl with this claim was already wrecking my life. I wouldn’t let her do the same for my people. I glanced around my room my mind on what I was about to order since I couldn’t leave my house.
“First thing Monday then.” Her giving in so easily wasn’t normal, so I was taking my win and getting off the phone.
“That’ll work. Thank you, Billy.”
“Always, Money.”
STERLING
“NURSE WILLIAMSON, GOOD to see you still settling in.”
I glanced up from where I was charting to smile at the doctor who’d asked the question. He was one of the few that I could stand around here. Folks were always trying to question what I knew because I was a travel nurse. Why they thought I could come and fill in but need to be micromanaged was beyond me.
It was probably their feelings of inadequacy or my arrogance that made their questioning so irritating. I hated feeling like people wanted me to prove myself all the time. I had more than enough of that growing up and I’d done everything necessary to ensure I was well-educated and knowledgeable in my areas of expertise.
“Thank you, Dr. Davis. I wouldn’t say settled since our time is almost up. Here to check on the patient in 414?” Locking eyes with Dr. Tavior Davis always caused me to clench my stomach because he was fine as hell. He had the type of bedside manner that had you wishing he was the one to take care of your family if they were in the hospital. Well, not me because I couldn’t stand my family, but the patients felt that way for sure with their loved ones.
It was hard to ignore how fine this man was but I wasn’t the type to shit where I ate. Even if I were going to be out of here within the next two weeks, I wouldn’t mess up my reputation with the company that I worked for by crossing professional lines. Dr. Davis was one of the nicest people in this facility. My job had me in and out of places so often that I didn’t get thechance to actually befriend anyone where I worked. The same was true here but Dr. Davis and I were cool.I’d met him when a patient he’d gotten stabilized in the ER was transferred up to the pediatric wing. No matter who was on call, he checked on his patients himself. Seeing that I had the same work ethic, he’d befriended me. As much as I would befriend anyone. I’d been in Charlotte, North Carolina for just over six weeks and really liked what I’d seen of the area. It wasn’t enough for me to move down here, though.
He smiled and leaned against the countertop after he nodded confirmation he was going to check behind the doctor on shift. I could see his normal gaggle of nurses were awaiting his attention. They stood off to the side waiting on a chance to speak to him about nothing. As usual, he gave them no attention outside of what was necessary for work. With me, we’d actually had conversations that moved past that. Nothing flirtatious, just friendly. But they apparently hated me for it and I hadn’t made any friends during my time here.
Story of my life.
“Have you ever stopped traveling nursing and come full time to a facility? Charlotte is one of the fastest-growing areas in the south for a reason. We need more healthcare workers who are qualified the way you are.”
Dr. Davis had been working on me to come full time within the first few weeks that I’d gotten here. Charlotte was too far away from home and although there wasn’t much for me there, my house was there and so was my familiarity, so I would stay there for now. The few times a year I actually made it to my house and stayed for longer than a week or two.
“My home is in the north so I doubt moving to the south is something that would interest me in the long-term. Thank you for thinking of me.” I shrugged because I didn’t want him to think I was being obstinate and throwing his offer in his face.I knew he had pull, but I doubted there was anything he could offer me that would tempt me to move to the south.
