Chapter 39: Be Smart

*Zain*

Carmen hit him on the back of the head. “What are you doing, Zain, bringing her here?” she stage-whispered when Jasmine was safely inside and out of earshot. “You know you’re leaving tomorrow, and you have your career to think about—”
“Believe me, I haven’t forgotten.” He let out a deep breath. “Jasmine doesn’t want me to give up my dreams—”
“Well, I hope you know what you’re doing,” Carmen huffed, cutting him off. “Just don’t forget your promise to Poppy—”
“For the second time, I haven’t forgotten.” Zain shook his head. “Now, do you mind if I get a beer before you continue lecturing me?” He headed toward the house with Sylvia on his hip but stood her on her feet on the front porch.
“I just hope you know what you’re doing,” Carmen’s voice trailed off behind him as he walked inside.
“So do I,” he mumbled under his breath as he headed through the house and out the back door. After nearly decking her father, he needed a beer to calm his nerves.
He walked outside, and Raphael was already in the backyard, manning the grill. “Well, it’s about time you got here!”
Zain took out two beers from the cooler, popped the top on both, and handed him one. “How long have you been here?”
“Not long.” He took a swig of the beer Zain handed him. “But your mother put me to work as soon as I got here.”
Zain chuckled and took a huge swig of his beer. “Tell me about it. Mama caught Jasmine as soon as we walked in the door and put her to work.”
Juan turned a hamburger, and the sizzling sound and aroma filled the air. “Jasmine came with you?”
“Yes, of course.” Zain looked at him as if he had lost his mind. “Why?”
Raphael shrugged as he took another sip of his beer. “I thought you were going to break it off with her before you go back to USC.”
Zain narrowed his eyes at him but said nothing.
“I mean, since you’re not going to marry her.”
Zain took another sip of his beer and looked away.
“So, you are going to marry her!” Raphael stage whispered.
“Shush! Someone will hear you!” Zain sat at the closest picnic table.
“How are you going to manage a long distance... well... marriage?” Raphael turned the hamburgers again.
“We’re getting a divorce.” As Zain took another sip of his beer, he couldn’t believe he was even saying the words.
Raphael scoffed. “Well done!”
“Shut the hell up.” Zain pushed up from the picnic table and finished off his beer. “I’m going inside to check on Jasmine.”
“So, you don’t want a divorce?” Raphael stopped him, motioning for him to come back. “What are you going to do?”
Zain threw up his hands. “Hell if I know.” He headed inside before Raphael could make any more smart remarks.
Even though he loved his best friend like a brother, he was a bit too nosy at times, too. But when Zain walked in and saw Jasmine cooking and talking with his mother and Carmen, he knew that everything would work out. Although he had no idea how, it had to. There was no way he was going to lose Jasmine over geography and lousy timing. He just hoped that the latter wouldn’t be their downfall.
But when Zain stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, watching Jasmine with his mother and sister, all of his worry and doubt faded away. When Jasmine looked up and smiled, everything was right with the world. Carmen frowned as she looked between them.
“Good! You’re here!” His mother waved a large spoon at him. “I need you to take the potato salad that Jasmine made out to the patio. Then come back in and help carry everything else.”
“Juan!” Zain yelled. “Come and help!” There was no way he was going to get stuck hauling everything out to the back patio himself.
Juan appeared a moment later and headed straight to Carmen. “So, how’s the little mama?” He kissed her forehead, and she softened. Even though his sister was tough, Juan had no trouble handling her.
“Juan, I need you to help me carry the food.” Zain lifted the potato salad from the counter and a bowl of Picadillo, a Cuban dish made with ground beef, olives, potatoes, and more. It was one of my favorite dishes. “Come on, man! Leave my sister alone and grab something and help me!”
“Go!” Carmen gave her husband a quick kiss and gently shooed him away. “I’m right behind you—”
“Don’t even think of carrying anything.” Juan gave her a stern look. “You’re going to deliver at any time, and we don’t need you going into labor tonight.”
“Why not?” Zain gave his sister a devilish smile. “At least I’ll get to see my new nephew before I leave. It’ll be entertainment.”
Carmen threw a dishtowel at him as Jasmine laughed. “If I go into labor tonight, you’re postponing your flight tomorrow.”
“Nope!” Zain teased. But then again, it would give him more time with Jasmine. He gave her a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll help—” Jasmine jumped to her feet.
“No, I think you’ve done enough.” Zain smiled against her lips. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’ll be right here.”
After Zain gave her a quick kiss, he headed outside and set the bowls on the table, ignoring Raphael’s pointed looks and sly smile. If he said anything to ruin this, Zain was going to kill him. He rolled his eyes and went back inside. Luckily, Juan didn’t seem to notice. And if he did, Raphael was ignoring him.
“So, are you excited about leaving tomorrow?” Juan asked, concerned. He was a great guy. Always worried about everyone.
“Yes, and no.”
Juan arched an eyebrow. “Just one more year, man. Don’t blow it now.”
Zain rolled his eyes. “Why does everyone think I’m going to ruin it?”
Juan pulled him to a stop. “Because we can see the way you look at her. At Jasmine.”
Zain let out a deep breath. “And how’s that?”
Juan chuckled. “Like you’ve seen your first Corvette.” He gave him a gentle punch on the arm. “We all know you’re in love with her. Just be smart about it.”
Zain nodded once. “Come on, man. Let’s get the rest.”
Soon, we had everything set out on the picnic tables, and Mama had put Jasmine to work helping her cover the picnic tables with plastic tablecloths.
“How many people have you invited, Mama?” Zain shook his head in disbelief as he took in all the food and decorations.
“Everyone,” his mother said, gently snapping him with a dishtowel. “Now. Make yourself useful and turn on the lights.”
Colorful exterior lights adorned the inside of the porch. When Zain plugged them in, the green, red, blue, and orange lights came alive. They flickered and flashed, some popping and sizzling.
The porch and poles were decorated with a half dozen strands of multicolored lights, too, illuminating everything.
“Wow,” Jasmine said, standing beside me. “Everything’s gorgeous.”
Zain slid his arm around her. “It’s home.”
“I want to have something like this one day, when we have our own home.”
Zain’s eyebrows shot up. “You mean it?”
“Yes, of course.” She slid her arms around his waist and leaned in close. “After all, I am marrying you. Aren’t I?”
Zain nodded, but his heart sank, wishing it was going to be real. But whether they were married three days or three hundred years, it would still be just as real to him.
“I’ll be right back.” Zain headed off to the kitchen, needing a minute. If it were up to him, he’d marry Jasmine and never let her go. Ever.
“Zain, what’s wrong?” Jasmine followed after him, not wanting to catch anyone’s attention.
“Nothing.” He picked up a roast pork his mother had been baking all day and carried it toward the back.
“Zain, talk to me.” Her eyes were filled with concern.
“It’s just that I want it to be real.” He stepped close, his voice merely a whisper.
She placed her hand on his cheek. “It will be.”
“There you are!” Juan headed toward them and took the roast from him. “Come on out and talk to your sister. She’s getting anxious because she doesn’t have anyone to talk to. I think it’s pregnancy hormones.”
“But we need to help—” Jasmine objected.
“Go sit down,” Juan cut her off. “Like Zain said, I think you’ve done enough. We’ll take it from here.”
“Uncle Zain!” Sylvia ran in and jumped into his arms with unabandoned trust. “Dance?”
Zain chuckled as he looked over at Jasmine. “I think we’re being summoned.”
“You are.” Jasmine laughed. “Go. Dance. I’ll talk to your sister.”
He arched an eyebrow. “But the next dance is yours.”
Jasmine chuckled. “I’ll hold you to it.”
***
**A/N: Thanks for reading! More chapters to come Wednesday! Leave a note and let e know what you think! **