Chapter 27: We Want to Do This Right
Jasmine
Maria crossed the room to her, giving her a sympathetic smile as she placed her hands on her shoulders and kissed her forehead. Then she pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I know you won’t break my son’s heart. I can see now that you love him.” She looked over at Zain and took his hand. “And as long as you make my son happy, you’ll have my full support. It took a lot of courage to stand up for my son like you did tonight. And if you need a place to stay, then come back. I’ll have the room ready.”
Jasmine pulled her in for a hug, wishing her parents could be so supportive. “Thank you.” She wiped a tear from her eyes when she pulled back. “I’m sorry to have caused so much trouble.”
Maria chuckled, lightly patting her cheek. “‘Twas no trouble at all. Come back any time. You’re always welcome.”
Jasmine gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Thank you.”
Zain opened the screen door and stood back, letting Jasmine go out first. “Madre, I’ll be back later.”
Maria nodded, smiling. “Take your time.” She caught his hand. “Just promise me you’ll say goodbye before you leave.”
He nodded, understanding. “I will.”
Pain ripped through Jasmine’s heart as she listened to Zain and his mother. She had broken her parents’ hearts when she just took off like that. But she didn’t regret a thing. She opened the door, and she slid inside. Zain was in the driver’s seat a moment later.
“Mom said to slip my suitcases back into my room and that she would leave the window open. My father knows I left but doesn’t know I took my things.” She let out a deep breath as she watched the scenery pass. “But I’m not going to leave tomorrow. If he tries to force me, will you come back and get me?”
He nodded, stretching out his arm to her. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right by your side, if that’s what you want. And if you decide to leave with me, then we’ll go straight to Las Vegas sooner than we planned.”
Jasmine nodded, suddenly nervous at the prospect. Within a few days, they could be married. It was a lot to take in. “Sounds like a plan.”
He leaned his head against hers. “You don’t regret meeting me, do you?”
She chuckled, looking up at him as if he had lost his mind. “No! What made you ask that?”
Zain shrugged. “I’m not sure. Just checking, I guess.” He held her hand as he drove. “Jasmine, I promise you one thing: I will do right by you. I promise.”
She nodded, smiling as she leaned against his shoulder. “I know.”
They rode in silence the rest of the way, watching the scenery through the headlights. Butterflies beat their wings frantically against the insides of her stomach as they pulled into the beach parking lot.
After Zain took the suitcases out of the bed of the truck, Jasmine reached for one, but he wouldn’t have it.
Zain carried them both. “Are you ready for this?”
She smiled as she took his arm. “Yes. Are you?”
A broad smile spread across his sexy lips. “Yes, of course. I’d follow you anywhere, Jasmine Hunt.”
Jasmine’s smile faded. “I’m sorry for how my parents treated you earlier.”
He shrugged. “It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay. But I’m sure they’ll come around to the idea... eventually.” She shrugged. “But I’m not worried about it.”
He looked up at her and smiled. “So, Las Vegas, if this goes south?”
She nodded, smiling. “Las Vegas.”
Being by his side gave her strength, made her better than she was alone. When they drew near her parents’ condo, the window was open and her bedroom door was closed, just as her mother had promised. Zain helped her, and they set the suitcases inside her room beside her bed on the floor so her father wouldn’t see them. But they were within reach in case she needed to leave in a hurry.
She quietly closed the window and took his hand. “Are you ready?”
Zain nodded, giving her an easy smile. If he was nervous, he didn’t show it at all. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
She nodded toward the front door. “Let’s go.”
Jasmine was proud of Zain, and she wasn’t going to let him sculk off into the night. He was better than that. And if she wanted to date him out in the open, then it started now. She slowly opened the door.
“Jasmine! Thank God!” Her mother rushed toward her and pulled her in for a huge hug. “I was so worried!” Then she looked over at Zain, smiling sheepishly. “Would you like to come in?”
Zain looked down at Jasmine and gave her hand a gentle squeeze as she nodded. “That would be nice. Thank you.”
But before he could sit, her father crossed the room, staring at them both, a stern look coloring his eyes. Then he pulled Jasmine in for a hug and held her for a moment. He kissed the top of her head and pulled back. “Don’t ever do that to me again. Okay?”
Jasmine nodded. “But you’ll need to accept Zain. He is my boyfriend, and I love him.” She squared her shoulders as she looked firmly into her father’s eyes.
He clenched his jaw. “So be it.” Then he held his hand out to Zain. “Thank you for bringing her back.”
Zain smiled as he firmly shook his hand. “I love your daughter, sir. I promise to do right by her. We want to do this right. I respect Jasmine, sir. I want you to know that.”
Her father nodded. “I can see that.” Then he tilted his head to the side. “So, no hard feelings about earlier?”
Here, her father had insulted him in just about every possible way, but Zain smiled and nodded. “Of course, but I want to date your daughter, sir. And we’re not going to sneak around. As I said, we want to do this right.”
Her father sighed, chuckling. “Well, we could do worse than having a baseball player in the family.” Then he gave him a manly slap on the arm and smiled.
“Dad, he’s also majoring in Business administration,” Jasmine reminded him, but quickly added, “so he can manage his baseball career.” She glanced over at Zain and smiled, wanting to make sure he knew that she wasn’t belittling his baseball career in any way.
Zain wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his side. “Well, if everything is okay. I’ll be leaving. Thank you.”
Jasmine’s mother surprised her by pulling him in for a hug. “I’m sorry about earlier.”
“It’s okay, ma’am.” Zain smiled, releasing her.
Her mom smiled. “Welcome to the family.”