Chapter 23: Meet the Parents, Too

Jasmine

When they left the restaurant, streaks of orange, pink, and purple shot across the sky, alerting them to the end of the day and the beginning of the night. “When you take me back home, would you like to meet my parents?”
Zain gave her hand a gentle squeeze as his lips curled into a sexy smile. “Is that what you want?”
She nodded, smiling. “Yes, it is. You don’t mind?”
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I’ve been wanting to introduce myself to your father since I first met you, but I didn’t want to be too presumptuous.”
She burst out laughing. “Well, we’re planning to elope to Las Vegas before we go to college. So, no. I don’t think you meeting my parents would be presumptuous at all.”
A crease formed between his eyes. “Would you like to? Elope, I mean?”
She shrugged. “With you? Yes. With anyone else? No.”
Zain burst out laughing. “Well, it’s a good thing because I’d have to kill anyone I saw you with.”
Jasmine’s head snapped up. “But you said you wanted me to date.”
He shrugged, giving her a sly smile. “It didn’t mean that I wanted to see it.” He glanced over at her as he drove. “Are you going to date other guys when you go to college?”
She shook her head as she snuggled close to him. “I thought I already told you.”
He wrapped his arm around her. “I know, but you can, you know.”
She looked up at him. “Why? Are you planning to date other girls when you go back?”
He chuckled. “No. You’re it for me, Jasmine, whether you know it or not.”
Jasmine turned around and kissed his cheek. “Then stop telling me to date other guys because you’re it for me, too. No one will ever compare to you.”
They pulled into the parking lot of the condominiums at the beach, and Zain turned off the engine. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
She nodded. “Yes, of course! Come on.” This time, she slipped out of the truck before he could open her door.
A disappointed look colored his face. “You didn’t wait for me this time.”
She laughed, shaking her head as joy filled her heart. “It’s a nice gesture, but you don’t always have to open my door for me.”
“Says who?” he asked, completely serious. “I’m nothing else if not chivalrous.”
She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “And a gentleman.”
He burst out laughing, arching his eyebrow. “A gentleman who wants to do naughty things when I’m with you.”
Blush colored her cheeks.
“Come on.” He laughed, motioning with his head toward the condo. Zain placed his hand on the small of her back and leaned in and kissed her head. “I was only joking.”
Her head snapped up, giving him a devilish smile. “Oh? So, you don’t want to do naughty things with me?”
“Hey! I never said that.” He burst out laughing as they neared her parents’ condo.
Jasmine opened the door. “Come on in.” She walked in first, and Zain walked in behind her.
Her father was immediately on his feet, his expression unreadable. “Jasmine, you didn’t tell us you were bringing company over—”
“Jasmine, it’s okay,” Zain said, his voice low as he headed toward the door. “We can do this some other time.”
“No! Stay.” She gave him a hopeful look as she took his hand. “Please.”
He nodded, smiling as he turned toward her parents and squared his shoulders.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Zain Perez... officially.” Jasmine smiled as if it was the most wonderful news in the world. “He’s my boyfriend.”
Jasmine’s mother rose to her feet as she clenched her hands. “Jasmine, honey. Perhaps we should talk about this privately—”
“Mom, what’s there to talk about?” She glanced over at Zain and then back to her mother. “I love him!”
“Oh, boy....” Her mother touched her hair as if putting it back into place, when it was still perfectly coifed.
“Absolutely not!” her father bellowed, his voice loud in the small condo. He pointed his finger at Zain. “You cannot date... someone like him!”
“Someone like me?” Zain asked calmly, his arms and stance tightening. “Sir, I love your daughter and I have the best intentions—”
“Dad!” Jasmine yelled. “Zain is going to be a professional baseball player—”
“With a girl in every port,” her mother cut her off, shaking her head. Then she smiled at Zain. “No offense.”
Jasmine nodded. “Okay. I was going to leave at the end of the summer, but I’m leaving now.” She turned to Zain. “Wait for me outside.”
“No! I forbid it!” Her father grabbed her arm, but Zain stepped between them.
“Sir, there’s no need for violence,” Zain replied. “I’ll leave—”
“Violence?” her father yelled. “Against my own daughter?”
Jasmine let out a deep breath. “Zain, let’s go.”
“Young lady, you are not leaving this house... with him!” Her father’s voice rose several octaves.
Zain kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow—”
“No!” Jasmine yelled, slamming the door closed and leaning against it. “Everyone, just calm down!” She scoffed as everyone looked at her. “Mom, Dad, do you know where we’ve been?”
“Oh, boy!” Her mother turned around, shaking her head. “I don’t think I want to hear this—”
“Mom, Zain took me to meet his mother... because he loves me, and he wanted his mother to meet me.” She shook her head, trying to calm down. “His mother was against us seeing each other, too, but Zain stood up for me! And when I went over there today, she treated me very well because she knows that Zain is serious about me!”
Her father placed his hands on his hips as he looked into her eyes. “But he’s older than you! He’s graduating from college this year!”
“It doesn’t matter!” Jasmine replied. “I’m going to apply to USC so we can be together.”
“Jasmine, no!” Tears filled her mother’s eyes. “You have your whole future planned, and now you’re going to throw it away... for him?” She waved her hand at Zain.
Jasmine’s eyes never wavered from her mother’s as she took a step closer. “Mom, whether you know it or not, you’re pushing me away. If you and Dad keep pushing me like this, trying to control me, then I’ll walk out the door now.”
Everyone stared at her for a moment. No one said anything.
“Jasmine,” her father growled. “If you leave with this boy now, then we’re not paying you’re your college. You’re cut off.”
Jasmine scoffed. “After what I just said, that’s all you have to say to me?” She shook her head. “I’ll write to you when I’m settled. You can mail me my clothes and personal belongings. Don’t worry. I’ll send you the money.” Then she turned to Zain. “Let’s go.”
Zain nodded but said nothing as he took her hand.
“Stop!” her mother yelled, running out the door after them. “Your father didn’t mean it! Come back inside, and let’s talk about this—”
“Mom, there’s nothing more to say. You both said enough.” Jasmine shook her head as tears filled her eyes. “I’ll let you know where I’m staying when I’m settled.”
Zain took her hand as she looked into her eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Jasmine nodded. “I’m sure.”
“If you take my daughter with you, then I’ll call the police and tell them that you kidnapped her!” Jasmine’s father said, walking up fast.
“She’s over the age of eighteen,” Zain replied, “and she’s legally free to do what she wants.”
“Over my dead body!” Her father marched toward Zain as he squared his shoulders, looking into his eyes as Zain pulled Jasmine behind him.
“Wait!” Jasmine yelled, jumping between them. Both men looked over her head as she stood between them. “Both of you! Just calm down!”
“You want me to calm down?” Zain asked. “They’re the ones who are yelling!”
“Zain, please,” Jasmine pleaded, tears in her eyes.
He nodded, nodding in understanding as he started walking away. “Okay, Jasmine. I get it.”
“Zain!” Jasmine ran after him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. He kissed the top of my head and started to walk away.
“See you tomorrow?” she asked, waiting for him to answer.
He turned around and stared at her, then nodded. “See you tomorrow.” Then he turned and walked away, leaving Jasmine to wonder if she would ever see him again.