Chapter 54: First and Last

*Zain*

Steam billowed around them like a warm, comforting blanket—a stark contrast to the chill of uncertainty that awaited outside the sanctuary they had created for themselves. Zain reached out, his fingers trailing through the condensation on the glass door before pulling it open. The sound of water rushing from the showerhead filled the space with a soothing rhythm, and he stepped inside, eager for the embrace of both the heat and his wife.
Jasmine was already there, a vision of serenity beneath the cascade. Her skin, kissed by water droplets, glistened under the soft bathroom light. She turned toward him, her eyes locking with his with an intensity that spoke volumes of the wordless pact they’d made—to cherish these final moments before parting ways before their love was tested by distance and time.
“Hey,” Zain whispered, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, inviting and genuine. His heart thrummed, a steady drumbeat syncing with the pitter-patter of water hitting the tile.
“Hey,” Jasmine echoed back, her voice barely audible above the din of the shower, a delicate melody that resonated deep within him. She moved closer, and he could feel the warmth of her breath mingle with the steam wrapping around him.
Zain closed the gap between them, his hands finding her waist, fingers splaying over the curve of her hips. Jasmine’s arms wound around his neck, drawing him down to meet her lips. The kiss was slow, tender—a silent promise that their bond would remain unbroken no matter the miles.
He swept her into his arms, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he gently pushed her back against the cold tile. He thrust into her as his lips groped hers, wanting her to feel the depth of his passion and love.
Their bodies pressed together, water streaming down their joined forms, blurring the lines where one ended and the other began. Zain marveled at how natural it felt. The contours of Jasmine’s body fit perfectly against his as though they were two pieces of the same puzzle. He savored her taste, the scent of her hair mingling with the steam and soap.
“Let’s not think about anything else but now,” Jasmine murmured against his lips, her words echoing his own thoughts.
“Only now,” Zain agreed, determination lacing his tone. He wanted to etch every detail of her into his memory—the feel of her skin, the depth of her eyes, the moans of passion mixing with the rush of water.
They moved in harmony, exploring and memorizing each other with gentle touches and lingering caresses. Each drop of water that cascaded over them washed away their apprehensions, leaving only the raw purity of their connection.
As the water turned from hot to lukewarm, they remained enveloped in each other’s arms, reluctant to let go. But the inevitability of their looming departure hung in the air, as palpable as the humidity that clung to their skin.
Zain pulled back slightly, his forehead resting against Jasmine’s. “I love you.” His words held a weight that seemed to anchor him amidst the uncertainty of their future.
“I love you more,” Jasmine replied, her smile bittersweet.
The sounds of their lovemaking echoed off the tiles, a testament to the resilience of their love—a love that would endure beyond the confines of this shower, this hotel room, this city that had been witness to the beginning of their journey together.
He pushed into her over and again until her walls clenched around him. Waves of passion washed over them as they went over the precipice they had been teetering on, going over the edge together.
He kissed her lips, her neck, virtually anywhere his lips could reach as he held her, committing each moment to memory.
Reluctantly, he set her on her feet and reached for the shampoo.
“I’ll do it.” Jasmine reached for the shampoo, but he held it back.
“Let me take care of you… please.”
He poured shampoo into his hand and ran it through her hair, enjoying caring for her. When he was finished, he rinsed it out and then applied conditioner. Then he poured more shampoo into his hands and ran it over her body, exploring every inch of her, committing it to memory.
Clean and rinsed, she reached for the shampoo and smiled. “My turn.”
He smiled as he leaned back into the shower, letting the water rush over him.
“Come here.” She ran her fingers through his hair, passion filling her eyes. Then she washed the rest of his body, exploring every crevasse, every pit and valley.
Finally, they turned off the water and stepped out into the cool air of the bathroom with the knowledge that, while goodbye was imminent, it was not the end. It was simply another chapter in the story they were writing together—one that neither distance nor time could erase.
Zain wrapped a white fluffy towel around her and hitched it between her breasts, then wrapped one around himself.
“We’d better get dressed,” his voice filled the room as he led her back into the bedroom, fighting the urge to take her back to bed.
“Yeah… the courthouse will open soon.” Jasmine dropped her towel and started to dress, but Zain turned her to face him.
“Jasmine, I don’t want a divorce.”
She let out a deep breath, pain filling her eyes. “Zain, we agreed—”
“I know what we said, but let’s stay married.”
She chuckled without humor as she shook her head. “Then, if you sleep with someone else, it’ll be adultery.”
He pushed back the wet hair from her face, gazing into her gorgeous eyes. “I don’t want to sleep with anyone else. From now on out, it’ll always be you.”
“And I’ll never want anyone else but you.” Jasmine bit her lower lip. “I don’t want to tie you down… not now that you’re so close to achieving your dreams.”
“You won’t.”
She shook her head. “Zain, don’t make this any harder than it already is—”
“Please, stay married to me.”
“And how will it work?” Her voice was harsher than she probably realized. “We’ll be married but across the country from each other. Zain, please….”
He let his hands fall, defeated, knowing their separation was inevitable. “You changed my life, Jasmine. From this moment on, it’ll only be you for me.”
And if she dated anyone else, he didn’t want to know about it. He wanted to be her first and her last. Nothing else mattered.

***
*Jasmine*

“If this was supposed to be casual, why does it hurt so much?” Jasmine asked Zain as the taxi pulled up in front of the courthouse.
“Nothing is casual between you and I.” Zain bit his lower lip, tears in his eyes. “We don’t have to do this. We can stay married and get a dorm room together at USC.”
“I know, but I don’t want to hold you back.” As tempting as it sounded, she would never forgive herself if he quit baseball to support a wife and family.
“You’re not.”
They had had the same conversation for the last hour. And before that, every time one of them had brought it up.
“Jasmine, we could rent a car and speak with the registrars at USC when we get there.” He sighed, his eyes pleading. “Then we can call our parents and let them know what’s going on.”
She chuckled. “At least they would have a year to get over being mad at us before we see them again.”
Zain gave her a small, heartbreaking smile. “Or until Christmas.”
“Let’s go.” Jasmine knew if they didn’t get out of the cab now, she’d take Zain up on his offer and have the cab driver take them to the nearest rental car place.
Instead, Jasmine exited the car as Zain followed, and the taxi driver set their luggage on the sidewalk.
“Here.” Jasmine handed him a bill that more than paid for the cab ride. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks, lady.” His voice was soft, his eyes sympathetic. Obviously, he had overheard enough of their conversation to piece together what was happening.
One of them had to be strong, so she plastered a smile on her face and looked up into Zain’s gorgeous eyes. “Ready?”
Zain nodded as they both reached for their luggage, but his smile was gone. “Let’s go.”
Walking up the steps of the courthouse was the hardest thing Jasmine ever had to do in her life. Zain walked beside her, and neither spoke as they stood in line, waiting.
“Next!” the middle-aged woman behind the glass called out.
Jasmine stepped up to the window and slid their marriage certificate to the woman. “We’d like a divorce.”
The woman looked down at the paper. “Well, since you just got married Friday, technically, it’s an annulment.” Then she studied them, spotting the tears in their eyes. “Are you sure this is what you both want?”
Jasmine shook her head. “No, but it’s necessary.”
“No.” Zain pulled the certificate off the counter. “We’ve changed our minds.”
“Zain, don’t do this.” Tears rolled down Jasmine’s cheeks as she gazed into his eyes, unable to hold them back any longer. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”
His eyebrows lifted, tears rimming his eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Yes,” she lied, knowing it was the last thing in the world she wanted, but she had no other choice.
He studied her for a moment and nodded as a lone tear rolled down his cheek. Then, he silently slid the certificate back to the woman and walked out.
Alone, Jasmine cried so hard that her shoulders shook.
“Sweetie….” The woman’s eyes were sympathetic. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“No, but we have to.”
The woman nodded, stamped the marriage certificate, and slid it aside. Then she hit some keys on her computer and handed her an annulment paper. “Congratulations,” she said flatly. “You’re divorced.”
Jasmine nodded, swallowing to force down the lump in her throat, but it was no good. “M-may I have the marriage certificate, or do you need it for your records?”
The woman softened, giving her a sympathetic smile. “Here you go.” Before Jasmine could walk away, she stopped her. “Honey, if you love that boy, it’ll all work out… no matter what anyone says.”
Jasmine nodded, unable to speak. She stepped away from the window, and the woman called the next customer. Jasmine looked at their marriage certificate one last time, wishing she could take that awful stamp off, but it was done. She folded it up and slid it into her purse, knowing that Zain would always be her husband… and no piece of paper in the world could state otherwise.
Jasmine thought that Zain had left, but he was waiting for her outside on the stone steps beside their luggage. She showed him the annulment paper. “It’s done.”
Zain took the paper as he stood and tore it up in front of her, never taking his eyes from hers, then he let the pieces fly away in the wind. “Jasmine….” He held her shoulders firmly, willing her to believe. “You will always be my wife, no matter what the courts or anyone else say.”
Jasmine cried openly as he pulled her close, holding her while he cried. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on to their love as she inhaled his manly scent, committing it to memory. A moment later, she pulled back and placed her hand on his cheek. “I love you, Zain. Always and forever.”
A small smile lit his lips. “I love you, too. Always believe that.”
Zain hailed a cab, and the driver helped him load their luggage into the back of the taxi.
“Where to?” the driver asked, looking Zain in the eye in the rearview mirror.
Zain cleared his throat. “To the airport.”
Neither of them spoke on the way, but Zain held her hand firmly as if willing her to come with him.
She etched Zain into her mind, knowing she would never forget this weekend, or the love they shared, for as long as they lived. Zain had engraved himself onto her heart, ruining her for all other men. At that moment, she knew there would never be anyone else for her but him.
All too soon, the taxi stopped in the loading zone, and the driver set their bags on the walkway as Zain paid him.
A porter approached with a broad smile and bright white teeth. “So, where to?”
“I’m going to Knoxville, and he’s going to Los Angeles,” Jasmine replied.
The porter’s smile faded. “I see.” He lifted his chin, his voice kind. “May I see your tickets to make sure I get your luggage on the right flights?”
“Yes, of course,” Zain replied, clearing his throat. He wiped a tear away from his cheek as he showed the porter his ticket, and the man looked up at him sympathetically.
Jasmine said nothing, unable to speak as she showed the porter her ticket.
“Thank you.” He smiled, looking between them. “You two can go inside and wait. You don’t want to miss your flights.”
Jasmine nodded and started inside but felt Zain slip his hand into hers. Inside, he pulled her into his arms, and his lips descended upon hers as passion overtook them both. She opened for him as his tongue swiped over hers, willing him to feel the depth of her love no matter what the courts said or what any paper stated.
“I love you, Zain,” Jasmine whispered onto his shoulder as she held him close.
“I love you, too.” Then he looked up, tears filling his eyes. “Goodbye, Jasmine.”
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Don’t say goodbye.” Even though she smiled through her tears, her heart was breaking. “Say you’ll see me soon… even if you won’t.”
Zain nodded. “I will, Jasmine. I’ll see you soon.”
“I’m going to hold you to it.”