Chapter 56: I’ll Hold You To It

*Jasmine*

“If this is casual, why does it hurt so much?” Jasmine asked Zain as the taxi pulled up in front of the courthouse.

Zain bites his lower lip, tears in his eyes. “We don’t have to do this. We can stay married and get a corm room together at USC.”

“I know, but I don’t want to hold you back.” As tempted as that sounds, she could never forgive herself if he quits baseball to support a wife and family.

“You’re not.”

They 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 officials 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.”

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 a rental car place.

Instead, Jasmine got out of 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 heard 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 his gorgeous eyes. “Ready?”

He nodded as he reached for the luggage, but his smile was gone. “Let’s go.”

Walking up the steps of the courthouse was the hardest thing she ever had to do in my life. Zain walked beside her, neither of them speaking as they stood in line.

“Next!” the middle-aged woman behind the glass called out and 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 int their eyes. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Jasmine shook her head. “No, but it’s necessary.”

“No,” Zain said, reaching for the certificate. “We’ve changed our minds.”

“Zain, don’t do this.” Tears rolled down her 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 it was necessary.

He studied her and then nodded as a lone tear rolled down his cheek. Then he silently slid the certificate back to the woman and walked out.

Alone, Jasmien cried so hard that her shoulders shook.

“Sweetie….” The woman’s eyes were sympathetic. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“No, but it’s necessary.”

The woman nodded, stamped the marriage certificate and slid it aside. Then she hit some keys in her computer and handed her an annulment paper. “Congratulations,” she said flatly. “You’re divorced.”

Jasmien 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 Jasmien could walk away, she stopped her. “If you love that boy, it’ll all work out… no matter what anyone says.”

Jasmine nodded, unable to speak as she stepped away from the window and the woman called the next customer. Jasmine looked at their marriage certificate one more time, wishing she could take that awful stamp off of it, 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 was gone, but he was sitting on the stone steps beside their luggage, waiting for her. 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, the let the pieces fly away in the wind. “Jasmine….” He held her shoulders firmly, willing her to her to believe. “You will always be my wife, not matter what the courts or anyone else says.”

Jasmine cried openly as he pulled her close, holding her while she cried. She wrapped her arms around him, holding on to their love as she inhaled his manly scent. 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 into Zain’s eyes 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 never forget this weekend, or the love they shared. 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 with a broad smile and bright white teeth approached. “So, where to?”

“I’m going to Knoxville, and he’s going to Los Angels,” Jasmine replied.

The porter’s smile faded. “I see.” He lifted his chin. “May I see your tickets to make sure I get them 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 porter 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, 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.”

“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.”