ICU TOO

Chapter Twenty-One

Crystal

"Is this necessary?" Devale asked putting another flower vase on my coffee table.

"Yes it is. More flowers, more happiness." I said making him rub his nose.

"Shit it's triggering my allergies." He said sniffling.

I smack my lips as I finish sweeping the floor. Denise and Brian are coming to visit us and I'm excited. It's no secret that I don't really have friends here in Chicago. So when Denise said she'd been missing me, I had to invite her here to Chicago. Plus, she can keep me company while Devale goes to work. He's been pulling doubles all week and I've been lonely.

I'm ready to be fully able to go back to work. No pain physically or mentally, but until I feel good enough to go into my office, I'm just gonna work from home. The only good think that comes from working from home is spending time with DJ.

"I actually haven't heard from Brian in a few weeks. Is that strange?" Devale asked looking at me.

"No, you of all people should understand his busy schedule." I say as we both organized the couch pillows.

"I do, but he almost is isolated. You think him and Denise are fine?" He asked me.

I sigh and shrug my shoulders, "Denise hasn't said anything to me and they're coming to Chicago together, so I'm gonna assume they're fine." I say softly.

Devale's phone started ringing and he pulled it out of his pocket. He declined the call and I looked at him over my shoulder.

"Everything okay?" I ask him.

"Yeah, it's nobody." He said shaking his head.

"One of hoes don't know we're back together?" I ask jokingly.

Devale chuckled and shook his head. "The new head nurse." He announced.

"Rochelle?" I ask for clarification.

I know because I hired her.

"Yeah, it-- it's nothing serious though. It was just light flirting, she gave me her number so we could get dinner. I didn't go through with it." He explained to me.

"So you stood up the new hire?" I ask making him sigh.

"I told her that I had to be here for you. She said she understood." Devale said sitting down.

"If we would've gotten divorced that's who you would've went for?" I ask sitting down next to him.

"Hell no." He said. "And if I'm being honest, you need to fire her." He said making me squint.

"Why?" I ask confused.

"She something about you sleeping with her husband and she really fucking hates you." Devale abruptly announced. "Who is she talking about?" He asked.

I roll my eyes and take a deep breath. "You remember Shemar?" I ask him.

"How can I forget the man you had in my house while we were together?" He asked looking at the ceiling.

"Yeah well they were married. I started dealing with Shemar, he said they were done, getting a divorce and the entire time they were just on a little break. Still living together too." I told Devale shaking my head. "The whole situation literally is the reason I left LA. But, we needed a good ass nurse so I hired Rochelle--"

"That was not the smartest think you've done." Devale said making me hit him.

"Shut up. I know. Imma deal with it when I get back." I said softly.