Chapter 26: I Love Him
Jasmine
While he was inside, she checked her cell phone, and her parents hadn’t texted her or tried to call. They didn’t even know she was gone. She hated that she had left without telling them, but there was no way that she was going to leave in the morning with her parents without telling Zain goodbye.
Even though she hadn’t known him long, Zain was the best thing that had ever happened to her, and she wasn’t about to let him go. She sighed, wondering if she would be able to let him go in Las Vegas when the time comes. Pain ripped through her heart at the thought, but she would worry about it then.
If she could be guaranteed that her parents wouldn’t drag her back to Maine in the morning, she would consider going back tonight. If her father knew what she did, that she had left like this, he would never forgive her, and her mother would disown her.
All her life, she had lived her life for them, trying to make them happy. But now, she was about to go to college, and it was her time. Time to start living her own life.
She looked down at her phone one more time, then she looked up, and Zain was standing just outside her window, causing her to jump.
Jasmine opened the door, and he helped her out. “Oh! You scared me!” Her heart pounded as she took him in and smiled.
“Do you want to go back?” Zain asked, his eyes filled with concern.
She bit her lower lip and released it. “I want to be with you.”
“But?”
She nodded, looking down at her phone as she leaned against his truck. “I want to date you and have fun... with my parents’ blessing.” She looked down at her phone, blinking back tears. “I just wish they could be happy for me.”
Zain nodded as he leaned into her and kissed her forehead. “Why don’t you call them? See if they’ll see reason. If not, we’ll leave for Las Vegas tonight.”
Her head snapped up. “What did your mother say?”
“She said you could stay in my sister’s room, but she made it clear that there is to be no ‘hanky-panky going on under her roof,’” he said, imitating his mother.
Jasmine laughed, a devilish smile curling her lips. “And what did you say?”
Zain chuckled, leaning in, pressing his length against her through her clothes. “I told her that you wanted to wait until you were married, so that wouldn’t be a problem.” He shrugged. “It was a piece of cake after that.”
Jasmine chuckled, sniffing as she swiped a finger under her eyes. Then her smile faded as she looked up at him. “I wish this could be simpler.”
He kissed her forehead as he placed his hand on the back of her head, holding her close. “Yeah, me, too.” Then he took a step back. “Call your parents. Then we’ll talk after.” He inclined his head toward his mother’s house. “Come in when you’re finished, and we’ll talk.”
Jasmine raised on her tiptoes and kissed him. “I love you, Zain. Nothing’s going to change that.”
He nodded, smiling. “I know. I love you, too, and I always will.” He backed away as he held her hand and then then her go and walked back inside.
Jasmine hated this, but it was better to get it over with now. If she left with Zain without talking to her parents, she might not ever speak to them again. The longer you’re away, the longer you wait, the harder it is to return. Before she lost her nerve, she texted her mother, Can we talk?
Jasmine, where are you? her mother texted back. Your father and I are so worried! We checked your room, and you were gone... along with all your things!
Jasmine let out a deep breath. I’m not going back to Maine with you in the morning. But if you’d like to wait until the end of the summer as we originally planned, then I’ll come back. Otherwise, I’ll spend the rest of the summer with Zain, and will go to college at the end of the summer. If you don’t want to pay for my college, then I’ll take out student loans. But I’m tired of you using money to dictate my life, to control me.
There was a pause at the other end, then her mother texted back, Okay. Just come home. I’ll speak with your father, and we’ll work it out.
Mom, just so you know, I love Zain, and I won’t stop seeing him.
I know, she replied. Just do me a favor and leave your suitcases outside or put them back in your room through the window. Your father doesn’t know that you took your things. He’s in the living room now, having a drink, thinking.
Is it safe to come back now, or should I wait until the morning?
No! her mother texted. Come back now. I’ll open your bedroom window, and you can slip your suitcases inside. But please. Don’t bring Zain back with you tonight. Let’s talk this out as a family.
Jasmine let out a deep breath, shaking her head. No. I want Zain to come back with me, and we can talk about this together. He’s important to me, Mom.
There was another long pause, then she texted back, Very well. I’ll see you both in a minute.
I’m on my way.
Jasmine clicked off. Then she slipped her phone into her back pocket and headed toward the house. She walked up the front steps, and the front door was open, but the screen door was closed. Jasmine wasn’t sure what to do, so she knocked on the screen door.
Zain opened the door a moment later and took her by the hand, leading her inside. “Is everything okay?”
Jasmine nodded, tears welling up in her eyes again. But she held her head up so she wouldn’t cry, and then looked over at Maria and smiled.
“Mrs. Perez, thank you for offering to let me stay in your daughter’s room, but I’m going to go back and work it out with my parents.” Then she took Zain’s hand. “But I want Zain to come with me to speak with them. I promise you that no matter what happens, I’m not going to stop seeing him, not unless that’s what he wants.”