Chapter 28: A Deal

Jasmine

“Now, let’s not start planning their wedding, dear.” Her father chuckled as he slipped his arm around his wife. Then his expression turned serious. “Zain, I respect you for coming to speak with me, man to man.”
Zain nodded. “Yes, sir.” He started to walk out, but Jasmine stopped him.
“I’ll walk you out—”
“Jasmine,” her father warned.
Then she turned to face him. “Dad, I’ll be right back.”
He stared at her for a long moment, and then nodded and walked away.
Jasmine walked out with Zain, closing the door behind them. “Thanks for that.”
Zain took her hand and swung it between them as they headed toward the parking lot. But he pulled her close when they were out of sight of her parents’ condo.
“Jasmine, I want to date you, and I don’t want to hide it. It was my honor.” Then his lips crushed down onto hers as he took her into his arms. Passion filled them both. When someone walking by whistled, he pulled back, and they both laughed.
“Well, I think I’d better go back inside before my father comes looking for me.” Jasmine chuckled.
“Yeah, I don’t feel like getting shot tonight.” He laughed. “Even though he was being nice, he was showing a lot of restraint.”
“Yeah, let’s not push it.” Jasmine gave Zain one last sweet kiss. “See you tomorrow?”
He nodded, smiling. “See you tomorrow.” Then he turned and walked away, but he turned back, giving her one last glance over his shoulder.
She smiled and then headed back inside, prepared to face the music. But to her surprise, her parents didn’t say anything about it. She sat beside her mother for a moment as her parents watched the news, then her mother reached over and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, smiling.
“I’m going to bed.” Jasmine rose to her feet and kissed the top of her mother’s head.
“Oh, my!” A broad smile spread across her mother’s face.
“That’s another thing I’d like to speak with you about.” Jasmine let out a deep breath. “I’d like us to be a bit more affectionate, if we can.”
Her mother nodded, squeezing her hands. “I’d like that, too, dear.”
“Okay, as long as we don’t all start sinking Kumbaya or something,” her father grumped, never taking his eyes off the screen.
But Jasmine hugged him from behind his chair and kissed his cheek, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Don’t worry. It’ll only make you sing the chorus.”
Her father laughed, patting her arm. “I won’t guarantee what I’ll sound like.”
Jasmine shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.” She kissed his cheek again and then headed to her room, feeling lighter than she had in a very long time. “Good night!”
Her mother and father said goodnight in unison, and Jasmine headed into her bedroom, locking the door behind her. It was going to be hard for her parents. They weren’t going to change overnight, but at least they had made the first step.
***
The next day, Jasmine woke early, dressed in a cute sundress, and headed outside. Zain was already surfing and waved to her when she walked out. She waved back but kept walking.
“Where are you going?” Zain jogged up with his board under his arm, soaking wet.
She shrugged. “To try and get a job.”
Zain laughed. “Where?”
“At your uncle’s food truck.” She gave him a devilish grin. “I want to start saving for Las Vegas.”
Zain pulled her to a stop. “You still want to go?”
A smile lit her lips as she looked into his eyes. “Yes. Don’t you?”
“Yes, of course.” He shoved his board down hard into the sand, standing it on end. “Hold this a minute, and I’ll be right back.”
Jasmine laughed as she watched him run to a beach towel on the sand, and he slipped into a white T-shirt, covering his perfectly sculpted chest. Zain even made the act of slipping on a T-shirt look sexy. She chuckled as he jogged back and took his board. “And where are you going?”
“Well, if you’re going to be working at Uncle Miguel’s food truck, then so am I.” He tucked his board under his arm and inclined his head toward the parking lot, his eyes dancing. “Let’s go.”
“Zain, I don’t want you to waste your summer working.” Jasmine let out a deep breath. “It’s your last summer before you graduate next year.”
“Any time I spend with you is not a waste.” He gave her a quick kiss and wrapped his wet arm around her.
As he had told her before, she would follow Zain to the ends of the earth... as long as they could be together.
When they rounded the corner, Miguel’s food truck was in its usual spot. Zain looked down at her and grinned. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Jasmine nodded. “Sure! Why not? It’ll be part-time anyway, and it’ll be good experience. Then we can spend the rest of our time surfing.”
Zain nodded. “Yes, but you’ll need to spend some time with your parents, too.”
“And so do you.” She smiled happily. “Come on.” She motioned with her head toward the food truck.
“Just a minute. Let me put this away.” Zain slipped his surfboard into the back of his truck and then hurried to where she was waiting and took her hand.
Miguel saw them as they drew near and waved. He had a line and looked pretty busy. “Hey! It’s about time I get to see my favorite nephew!"
Zain chuckled. “I’m your only nephew.”
“Well, that’s beside the point.” Miguel shrugged, smiling unapologetically. “What would you like to eat? My treat!”
“No, thank you. At least, not yet,” Zain replied. “Today, we’re here on official business.”
“Oh? Do tell.” He turned to give a customer a sandwich, talking as he worked. “Thank you and come again!” Miguel handed the woman her change, and she walked off.
“We’d like jobs.” He smiled, nodding toward the line. “And it looks like you could use some help.”
Miguel’s head snapped up. “Both of you?”
Jasmine nodded. “Part-time, if you need the help.”
Miguel chuckled, slipping some meat onto the grill. It sizzled loudly as the luscious scent filled the air. “What makes you want to work here when you could be out surfing? Hell! I’d be out there with you if I didn’t need to feed my family!”
“Feed your cat,” Zain corrected as Jasmine laughed.
“Shush.” Miguel gave him a dirty look. “At least you could have told her I had a Doberman or something. Make me sound a bit cooler.”
“Well, I already think you’re cool.” Jasmine laughed.
“Zain, I like her!” He laughed, making the sandwich for the next customer. “As I said before, you need to keep her.”
Zain looked over at her and smiled. “I intend to.”
Miguel let out a deep breath. “Well, as you can see, I’m short on help, and I’ve been swamped lately. If you two can handle the front, I’ll handle the grill. Sound good?”
Zain looked at Jasmine, raising an eyebrow. “So, what do you think?”
Jasmine looked over at Miguel and smiled. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a deal.”