I shook my head as we climbed out of the car, and I followed him up a sidewalk lined with cracks. I glanced at the building as Jackson got out his key and opened the glass door, holding it for me to go in first. Inside the lobby, an old orange-and-brown rug covered the floor. The smell in the hallway reminded me of old folks’ homes where I’d performed with Grandpa Joe.
We passed a group of elderly couples playing cards around a wooden table in what looked like a games room. Jackson waved at them but kept walking to the elevators even as they stopped their game and craned their heads to get a look at me.
He pressed the Up button, and the door opened right away but took forever to close. He smiled. “It’s slow so no one gets stuck. Lots of old people live here.” He grinned again. “Grandma will be happy with gossip that I brought a girl home. The whole building will be buzzing.”
The elevator sluggishly headed to the fourth floor. When the doors finally reopened, Jackson waited for me to walk out first.
“Apartment 404.” He pointed down the hall. “We’ve got a two-bedroom, which is quite an accomplishment in this building. It’s mostly the old married couples on our floor. With cats. Lots of cats.”
I smiled but didn’t say anything as we walked down the narrow hallway toward the door with the gold numbers nailed on: 404. Jackson dangled his keys, and I had a sudden fit of nervousness. I’d never been to a boy’s home alone. Who was I kidding? I’d never been to a boy’s home at all.
“Uh. Is your grandma home?” I asked, guessing she wasn’t. I hoped she was. Wasn’t. Was.
“Nope. Friday is poker night at Dorie’s.” He laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. They’re old. Not dead.” Jackson unlocked the door and gestured for me to go inside.
I stepped into a small entrance. Directly to the left was a kitchen, and a long mirrored closet door was on the right. I slipped off my shoes on the entrance mat and dropped my backpack on the floor. I avoided my reflection and tiptoed after Jackson down the hallway to the living room. The apartment smelled like an old lady. Musty and floral at the same time. I smiled at the thought of Jackson living here.
“Go and sit,” Jackson said, pointing to the couch. “I’ll get my guitar. It’s behind glass in my room. You want something to drink? Orange juice or water or something?”
“No, thanks.” I walked to the overstuffed floral couch and sat, putting my guitar case by my feet. “It’s not really behind glass, is it?”
A moment later he joined me in the living room, holding a beautiful acoustic guitar with an amazing design etched into the wood. I jumped up, pressing my hands together and bending forward to inspect the instrument, and forgot my nerves. “Oh, my God. It’s gorgeous. You did the design yourself?”
“Yup. And I picked out everything else too. The bridge-pin setting, neck, body wood, all of it. Official Mandolin Brothers original. Marty is sweet.” He stroked the body of the guitar, touching the strings lightly and lovingly. And then he held it out.
I licked my lips. “You’re sure?” I asked, longing to grab it from his hands. “It must have cost a fortune.”
He nodded. “Drug money.”
I wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not. I couldn’t resist the guitar though. My fingers caressed the wood, longing to stroke the strings and bring it to life.
“Go ahead,” he told me. “Play.”
I went back to the couch and got into position with the guitar. Then with a deep breath, I began to strum. “It’s amazing,” I whispered, and then my fingers plucked out the melody from a favorite song. After that, I closed my eyes and strummed out the first chord to my song.
Jackson sat beside me on the couch.
I kept playing, realizing his opinion meant more than I wanted it to. Then, still in my zone, I quietly sang the words I’d written.
It was you I saw, and I couldn’t close my eyes.
You I saw exposing me to your lies.
What you did makes me bereft
Because instead of facing it I left,
And now I’m alone with no one to trust.
Betray me. Betray you. I must.
When I finished, I opened my eyes. Jackson sat close to me. His dark bangs hung over his face. Without thinking, I reached across the guitar and brushed them back from his forehead.
“You wrote that.” A statement. Not a question. He smiled. “You’re talented. It’s an amazing song. I’m just sorry about what inspired it.”
My eyes filled with tears.
“I’m sorry Simon let you down,” Jackson said quietly, watching me.
He licked his lips. I stared at them. Moist. Pink. They looked so very, very kissable. Compassion shone in his eyes. For me.
I wanted him to kiss me. And I wanted to kiss him more than I’d wanted anything else in my life. My whole body ached, pleading me to do it. Be brave for once. Kiss him. I leaned forward. Jackson’s eyes widened, but he didn’t move back. I held my breath and kept moving until I touched his soft lips with my own.
The kiss altered my body chemistry. His lips were softer than I’d imagined. Light. I breathed him in, his delicious smell. Tentatively I pressed harder on his lips, and he kissed me back. Almost on its own, my tongue darted out, and I nibbled his bottom lip. My insides quivered, thrilled with the sensation.
And then he pulled away.
Jackson jerked back, ending the moment with a horrible gasp.
My eyes sprung open at the sudden painful parting, as if he’d ripped a Band-Aid off a stinging wound. He jumped up from the couch, glancing around the room like a trapped convict. My body instantly flooded with humiliation even as my lips shook with loss. My head swam. I couldn’t speak.
He hadn’t wanted to kiss me.
“Man. That wasn’t supposed to happen.” Jackson said, reaffirming my horror. He practically ran to the kitchen to get away from me. “Play some more. I’ll get us a drink. Play.”
I touched my lips and lowered my eyes, swimming in shame. In the kitchen Jackson clanked glasses around and babbled. I listened without answering him, feeling empty but horrified. He must think me incapable of friendship with a male. He knew about me and Nathan at Marnie’s party, and now, when he’d offered his friendship and the sharing of music and his awesome guitar, I’d pounced all over him. What was wrong with me? Did I really have a need to mess everything up? I remembered what Lacey had said about screwing up friendships.
With a deep sigh, I placed his guitar down beside me on the couch and stood as Jackson walked around the corner holding two glasses filled with ice and water. Probably he wanted to dump it over my head. Calm down my hormones or something.
“Hey. What’s up?” he asked, glancing at his guitar.
I swallowed a lump. “I, uh, put your guitar down carefully. Don’t worry. I love it. It’s awesome, but, um, I have to get going.” I stared at the ground. “I kind of forgot I was supposed to help my grandma with some stuff tonight.”
“You were?” He walked forward and put the glasses down on the coffee table in front of the couch. “You’re sure? Let’s have a drink of water first. Talk about this. We need to talk.”
I bit my lip and forced a smile. “No. No. It’s okay. Really. I’m late. I totally forgot. I have to get going. My grandma is really strict. She’ll kill me if I’m any later.” I wrung my hands together nervously. “Um. I love your guitar. Thanks for showing me.” I coughed. “Uh. I’ll get my cell from my backpack and call a cab.” I grabbed my guitar case from the floor.
Jackson waved his hand in the air, dismissing me. “Jaz. We really need to talk.”
No. I didn’t want to do that. Not at all. I didn’t need more humiliation. “No. No. I have to go. Now. I’ll call a cab.”
He crossed his arms. “Forget it. I’ll drive you home.”
I nodded, embarrassed. Truthfully, I didn’t have much cash on me or else I would have insisted.
Jackson reached over and grabbed his guitar from the couch. “I’m sorry…I want to tell you…I have to…”
“No, no,” I interrupted. I so did not need an explanation of why kissing me revolted him. I forced a smile. “It’s fine. I just have to get home.” I took my guitar and hurried to the hallway and slipped on my shoes. I opened the door and stepped out into the main hallway, not wanting to be alone with him for another second. I slung my backpack over my other shoulder, clutching the strap close to my chest.
“Shit. Just a sec,” he called and rushed to his room with his Martin. When he came out of the apartment, I dashed toward the elevator as he locked up. I pushed the button and he joined me. I wished I could shrivel up and disappear into a layer of wrinkles, unrecognizable as my seventeen-year-old self and like one of the old people who lived there.
“Hey,” Jackson said. “I didn’t mean to freak you out. It’s not what you think. I have some things to work out.”
I cringed, imagining his impending “I only like you as a friend” speech, and attempted a fake laugh. “Don’t worry.” I jumped as my cell started ringing in my backpack pocket. I’d never been so happy to get a call in my whole life.
I made a big production of answering my call, and the elevator finally arrived. We stepped inside as I said, “Hello?”
“Jasmine. Where are you? You didn’t let me know where you were headed after karaoke.” Grandma sounded panicky.
I opened my mouth to calm her, but she kept talking.
“It’s your mom, sweetie. She’s gone into labor. Hard and fast labor.”
An image of my mom pulling the baby out like she’d threatened to flashed in my head, and I made a face. “But she’s not due for a month,” I said stupidly.
“Well, apparently this baby is in a hurry. I’m sure it’s because your stubborn mother doesn’t want a baby shower. Anyway, it’s coming.”
“Is she all right? I mean, is the baby okay?” Fear stabbed me. “Where’s Mom?”
“They’re on their way to the hospital. In Pullayup. Her and Simon. I’m on my way too. I’ll pick you up. Are you at Grinds? Lacey said you probably went there after karaoke.”
I blushed but spun around and glanced at Jackson. He didn’t hide his curiosity. “No. I’m with a friend from work.”
“Does she have a car? Can she get you to the hospital?” I didn’t bother to correct the mistaken gender of my friend.
“Hold on.” I covered the mouthpiece. “Could you drop me off at the hospital instead of home?”
“Of course,” Jackson said.
I lifted the phone back to my mouth. “Yup, I can get dropped there. Where do I go? Where do I meet you?”
The elevator doors opened, and Jackson led us toward the part of the street where he’d parked his car.
“The Women’s Life Care Center. Go to the triage area and tell one of the nurses your mom was brought in and who you are.”
I nodded to the phone. “Is she going to be all right, Gram-mommy?” My old pet name for Grandma slipped out.
“I think so.” Her voice shook slightly. “The baby’s early, but they have amazing doctors and facilities so…” She made a sound like a hiccup.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “She’ll be fine.”
“I know. I know. God. Your mother never does anything according to plan.”
She hung up without saying good-bye.
“The baby?” Jackson opened the passenger door for me and held it, waiting for me to get in.
I put my guitar in the back and climbed in. “It’s early.” I really wanted the baby to be okay. I sat and lifted a nail to my mouth and started chomping it.
Jackson didn’t offer false or empty words. “I’ll get you there fast.” He looked in the backseat. “You can leave your guitar with me instead of dragging it to the hospital. I’ll get it back to you.”
I glanced back as he closed the door and went around to the driver side of the car. I wanted to take everything with me and never have to see Jackson again, but dragging the guitar around the hospital wouldn’t be appropriate under the circumstances. Jackson opened his door, jumped in, and revved the engine.
“She’s going to be okay. Don’t worry.” He sounded a little scared himself though, as he put his foot on the gas and drove me toward the hospital. We barely spoke the whole way there. I quietly worried about my mom and her baby and looked out the window, trying not to think about the kiss. The horrible, wonderful kiss that might have ruined everything with Jackson. But I didn’t even have time to think about that now.
Things were about to change again.
chapter fourteen
I found the triage area in the maternity ward and spotted Grandma slouched over in an oversized chair in the waiting room. She looked older and more tired than usual.
“A boy,” she said instead of hello. “You’ve got a baby brother.”
A surge of happiness at the news took me by surprise. “Already?” I asked.
Grandma smiled a little sadly but nodded. “He’s tiny, and they’re in with him, but he’s a fighter.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat. I think I loved him already. I hadn’t expected that. Grandma wrapped her arms around me. It had been a long time since she’d hugged me like that, but I hung on.
“Your mom’s doing pretty good too.” Grandma pushed me gently away and wiped underneath my eyes. “No tears. This is happy.”
Someone cleared their throat behind us, and I turned and saw that a nurse had approached us.
“You’re Jasmine?” she asked in a crisp voice. She didn’t sound particularly happy about my name. I bobbed my head in response.
“Your mom is asking for you. Come.” Without another word, she turned and started to walk the other way.
Grandma marched beside me. The nurse glanced over. “No. Just her. She wants to see her daughter. Alone.”
Grandma stopped. “Oh.” Her expression stayed neutral. “Oh. Well, maybe I’ll go to the gift store then. See if I can pick up something for the baby. You’ll stay with your mom until I get back, Jaz?”
I nodded, nervous. Why’d Mom want to talk to me all alone? The nurse tapped her toe up and down so I followed her white running shoes. From behind, I studied her dyed blond hairstyle, which was glued to her head with hair spray. Her body looked angry, bulging out of the burgundy nurse uniform. The corridor we went down smelled like a doctor’s office. Same muffled sounds and baby cries.
We passed the nurses’ station and then stepped into a hallway lined with numbered rooms. Women in blue hospital gowns lay in beds in the rooms or sat in rocking chairs beside the beds. Many held tiny babies in their arms. All of them looked tired.
The nurse stopped outside the room at the end of the hall. “She’s in there.” She gestured at the room with her thumb and scrutinized me. “Your dad is with the baby,” she said through pinched lips.
“He’s not my dad.”
I nervously peeked around the doorway, looking for my mom inside the room.
The nurse tsked and clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “I guess that’s not a surprise.”
My insides reeled with unease. “What?”
She crossed her arms, and her lips disappeared into a thin line. “Nothing.”
She couldn’t be implying what I thought.
“Can you please explain what you mean?” She stepped back at the ferocity of my tone. It stunned both of us.
She glared at me. I glared back.
“You know, it’s not like I’ve never seen that look before. But a tiny little baby doesn’t deserve that from someone like you.”
“Someone like me?”
“You think because he has a black father and a white mother, the baby is bad or evil or something?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The nurse turned up her nose, but her cheeks got splotchy.
“You know what? I think you do. But it’s your problem. Not his.” The tiny baby I hadn’t even met brought out a protective side of me I hadn’t even known existed. I wasn’t about to let a stupid nurse label my baby brother
.
I stood taller. I decided right then that I’d have to teach him how to handle people like her. Meanwhile, until he was old enough, he’d need someone to stick up for him. I stepped up to the plate. I wouldn’t let him deal alone. He’d never be alone. I’d protect him.
Without acknowledging the nurse, I tiptoed inside my mom’s maternity room. A blue curtain separated two beds. One was empty, but the bed by the window looked lumpy. I crept toward it.
“Mom?” I whispered.
Her eyes opened, bloodshot and watery as if she’d been on a serious bender.
“Hey,” I said, overcome by strange almost motherly feelings for her. I saw the hospital bracelets on her wrist. Two of them. “So you had a baby.”
She laughed, but it sounded dry and humorless. “Either that or I got hit by a truck.” She sighed as deeply as one of Aretha Franklin’s soul-searching songs. “Don’t tell Grandma I said that,” she told me. “She’s probably mad I was only in labor for an hour.”
“I hardly think that’s what Grandma thinks.”
Mom closed her eyes. “Even though he was tiny, it hurt.” She paused for a minute. “I hope he’s going to be okay. He’s really small.”
I reached as if to pat her hand, but I pulled back before I touched her. “He’ll be okay.”
“Simon’s in there willing him to good health.” She opened her eyes. “He weighs over five pounds. He’ll be fine.”
Her robotic voice worried me a little. “What’s his name?” I asked softly.
She turned her head, looking out the window. “We don’t know yet. We haven’t agreed on a name. We’re talking about it.”
I waited, trying to think of something to say. It was like talking to a stranger.
“I wanted to talk to you about something.”
I held my breath, waiting to get shit for hitting Simon.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been a better mom.” Her voice stayed flat, which kind of canceled my relief at not getting in trouble.
“Mom. Forget it. You were young when you had me, and things turned out okay. I mean, I knew you cared and stuff. It was just different.”
If I Tell Page 14