For the next four hours, it was nonstop patients needing blood work and we were short so I had to do their insurance paperwork as well. When it was lunchtime all of us took a break together in order to make sure no one would get swamped. Lisa put the sign up saying we’d return in an hour.
Heading toward the cafeteria, some big dude started to follow me. I paid it no mind until he pulled my arm to stop me from getting in line. Forcing me into a corner of the cafeteria there was a long table set up with a nice linen tablecloth and food on a tray that was covered by lids. One guy stood behind the food with a chef like jacket and another guy was at the end with two different salads in front of him.
“What is that?”
“Mr. Romano said you need to eat healthy and that the cafeteria food was shitty and processed.”The big guy responded.
“Hold on. Did you say Mr. Romano?”I was shocked to hear he sent anything for me.
“Yes and he said you can have those three dirty women you work with eat as well so you’re not lonely.” I crossed my arms.
“They are not dirty.” I was offended for them. Cairo didn’t even know those women to say that but then again, he made assumptions on a regular basis.
Lisa had OCD really bad and I’ve been to her house. You could literally eat off her floor. I think it was one of the reasons she was lonely. No man wanted to deal with that.
Tanya had two kids and stayed with her mom who only let the kids play in their room and outside because she had a white living room.
And Halo, well she was a tad bit questionable at times, especially when her clothes smelled like mildew more times than I could count.
“I’m just repeating what he said.” The guy’s hands went up.
“Tell Mr. Romano, I said thank you but this was too much.”The set up was really nice but I hadn’t seen what was inside the chafing racks yet.
“Just eat the damn food. I have to make sure your insides not rotten when we fuck.” Cairo’s voice was loud and when I turned around, there his sexy ass was on Facetime. The guy handed me his phone and stepped away.
“Who said we were?” I tried to play hard to get.
“It’s either eat healthy or hear about me fucking one of those bitches you work with.” I’ve come to the conclusion that he really didn’t give a fuck about no one but himself.
“You make me sick.” I asked the chef guy to lift the lid and my stomach growled while my mouth watered at the sight of how amazing the food looked. There was fried chicken, greens, yams, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and string beans with potatoes.
“That is not healthy.” I took the phone off facetime and answered when the phone rang back.
“It’s healthy enough to cleanse you out. I can’t have you farting and it smelling like shit because you have all those toxins in your body.” I hung the phone up on him for real that time, told the chef what to put on my plate and called the girls over. It was so much food, I had the guard grab a plate, the chefs and a few doctors on duty. I wasn’t feeding none of those nasty ass nurses.
“Your man must love you.” Lisa said, stuffing her mouth.
“He’s not my man.” I smiled thinking about Cairo being my man one day. I wonder if that would ever happen.
“Yet.” Halo joked, getting up for salad to go with her food.
“We shall see.” We stayed there having a good time and once lunch was over, I had them take a plate home so the food wasn’twasted. We helped Tanya make a plate for her kids and mother too. I guess the only thing to do was thank Cairo properly and hopefully he’ll appreciate it.
CHAPTER 16
Sariah
“I knowhe’s your favorite cousin slash best friend but I’m not comfortable going to a party for his mom. What if he gets mad and kills everyone?” I voiced my concern to Raul who in return thought it was hilarious. We were at my house eating dinner that he purchased from a Caribbean place. He knew how much I craved that kind of food.
“I’m being serious and you’re making fun of me.” The baby had me very emotional and I hated that.
“Cairo don’t give a fuck about you enough to wanna kill you.” I became offended. I didn’t want him to commit any harm on me but Raul didn’t have to say it like that.
“Excuse me.”
“I’m just saying, y’all only speak when around one another and that’s barely. He knew about your pregnancy before I did; meaning he’d never kill a pregnant woman. Then again, he really don’t give a fuck.” Raul continued stuffing his face while he watched some game on the big screen in my living room.
My house wasn’t huge yet it was very comfortable and intimate. It was enough for me and my grandmother but with a baby coming, I had to start working more hours to save for a bigger place. Of course it would be in the future because babies always slept with their mommies; I know mine will. At least, I’ll have a few years to find somewhere decent and not be living paycheck to paycheck.
