by Ancelli
“You can’t be so naïve. It’s your baby asshole. Now what?”
“You really expect me to believe I got you pregnant.” Javier was the one fuming now. He knew for a fact he couldn’t have kids. “I’ve always used protection with you.”
“Yes, you did, but condoms do break.” She laughed. “Or maybe get tampered with.”
“What the fuck are you implying?” Javier thought back to that night—fuck she’d handed him the condom—regardless of that fact, even if she messed with the condom, it wasn’t his baby.
“You’re about to be a father, and we’ll be in each other’s lives for a long time. I hope your wife doesn’t have a problem with that.” He could hear the sarcasm in her tone.
Javier cracked his neck, feeling his nose flare. “Fuck you, Monica; don’t call me again.” He threw his phone on the bed, and then started getting dressed. Monica was more devious than he thought, messing with the condom. What woman does that? A desperate one, he thought.
He needed to calm down before he went to talk to Jazmine. Now he also needed to tell her what his crazy-ex is up to.
He ignored his phone as it rang. The chimes stopped and started again. He marched over to the bed, and picked it up. “Monica, I told you not to call me again!” he yelled.
“Javy, es tu madre.”
“Sorry, Ma.” He sat on the edge of the bed.
“You’re married?” his mom quietly asked.
“She didn’t waste any time calling you.” He was annoyed, but he knew it was coming. She always ran to his mother when things didn’t go her way.
“Is it true?”
He leaned on his elbows, holding the phone to his ear with his shoulder. “Yes, I’m married.”
“Porque! You didn’t tell me?” He could hear the hurt in her voice.
“Ma, I was going tell you, but when the time was right.”
“Cuando?”
He closed his eyes. “Soon.”
“Who is it? Is it that girl Ivy you were seeing?” He could hear the bitterness in her voice.
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Jazmine.”
“Jazmine,” his mom said above a whisper. “Jazmine!” she yelled.
“Yes… I have no excuses, I should’ve told you sooner.”
The line went silent.
“Ma, I love her … I’m a better man because of her,” his voice cracked.
“Son, you’ve always been a good man.”
“She makes me better. She’s the reason I wake up in the mornings. La amo.”
“Hijo, are you sure it isn’t pity you feel for her, because of what she went through?”
“No, I love her because of the woman she is. When she left after giving birth to Nicolas, my life wasn’t the same. She took my happiness with her, that woman took my heart when she walked out my life. I’m not me without Jazmine.”
“Javy, are you sure Jazmine’s the one?”
“Mom, I’m incomplete without her.”
He could hear his mom sniffing.
“I’m sorry.” This night couldn’t get any worse.
“Javy, these are happy tears. I’ve always wanted you to be happy, and if Jazmine makes you happy and you’re sure, then I’m on your side.” He heard her crumbling paper. “You know I already love that girl, but what are you going to do about Monica and her baby?”
“Ma, that’s not my baby.” He got up. When he looked up, Jazmine was standing there with her hand on the door. He knew she’d heard him.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“How? Unless you take a paternity test, you can’t be sure.”
“I’m a hundred percent sure, that baby she’s carrying is not mine,” he said in a stern voice.
“Monica is very persistent.”
“Ma, I have to go.” He watched the emotions in Jazmine’s eyes as she glared at him, there was no spark in them.
“I’m going to call the family and tell them the good news. One of my son’s is finally happily married.” He finally heard the excitement in her voice. “Are you still coming for the fourth of July?”
Javier gazed at Jazmine; her full lips were tightly shut. “Yes, I’m not sure about Jazz, but Nicky and I will be there.”
“You better bring my daughter-in-law.”
“I’ll ask her. Bendición, Ma.”
“Que Dios te bendiga. Adios mi amor.”
“Adios.” Javier slid his phone off. “Jazz.”
“Why didn’t you tell your family about us?” she asked without moving.
“Because I don’t care what people think, not even my family. You’re the only person that counts.” He stood, and then slowly moved forward, stopping in front of her. “I love you, Jazmine.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, pacing back. “Monica is pregnant?”
“Yes, she claims it’s mine.” He fingers brushed through his hair.
He saw the change in Jazmine’s eyes, they were no longer angry, but hurt. “Didn’t you use protection with her?”
“Yes, all the time, but she implied that she’d tampered with the condom.”
“She did what?” Jazmine’s fist balled up.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes it does!” she raised her voice.
“Baby, I can’t have kids.” Javier tried to take her hand, but she moved out of his grasp.
“What if?”
“No, there is no what if.” He raised his voice. “The doctors in Germany said I can’t have kids, I’m sterile and I’ve learned to deal with it.” He sauntered away from her to the window.
“Javy, did you ever get a second opinion?”
He placed his hand on the wall, eyeing the yard. “I didn’t need one.”
He felt her soft hand on his back. “Maybe we should get one. Let another doctor check you out.”
Javier spun, glaring down at her. “Jazmine, is this going to be a problem between us?”
She arched her brows. “Huh?”
“Me not being able to give you a child.”
“Javy, we have a son, and that’s enough.” She took his hand. “What we have is amazing, and what I feel for you is like no other emotion I’ve ever had.”
“Why do you love me?” Javier barely looked at her, his eyes tearing up.
Jazmine touched his chest, making a heart shape with her index finger. “Because of this. I think you’re amazing.”
His heart beat faster under her touch—this is what Jazmine did to him. His body ached for her. She knew everything about him, and she still loved him.
Javier pulled her forward and hugged her tight, kissing her temple. “Every day I thank God for you. You and Nicolas are my life, and no one will come between us. They can try and I will crush them.”
Jazmine embraced him. “No one. We can get through anything together.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
On the road for four hours, and they still had another ten hours of driving until they reached Javier’s parents’ home.
Jazmine was driving him crazy, singing along to Nicky’s Mickey Mouse CD. “The wheels on the bus go round and…”
“Babe, can you please stop.” Javier glanced over at her for a second.
“I’m trying to get Nicky to sleep.” She turned in her seat to look at their son.
“He’s been asleep for the last half an hour.” He laughed. “You just like those songs.”
Nicky’s seat was facing backward. Jazmine caressed his rosy cheeks. “It worked. Oh, before I forget, Dr. Hill would like you to come to my next therapy session.”
“I’ll be there.”
“I mentioned your PTSD.”
“Why? I don’t have those dreams anymore.” Javier slowed down.
“I know baby, but PTSD just doesn’t go away.” She faced him. “If we are going to get better, we need to get better together. I know my trauma brought back memories for you.” Jazmine switched off the radio. “I hope you’re no
t mad at me.”
“Why would I be mad at you?” he asked, concerned.
“Because I violated your privacy.”
“Jazz, you’re trying to help me, and that makes me love you even more. If counseling makes us stronger, I’ll be there.”
She touched his jaw. “What would I do without you?”
He took her hand in his, brought it to his lips, and kissed it. “You’ll never have to find out.”
He started to suck each one of her fingertips.
Jazmine smirked and snatched her hand away. “Stop it.”
Javier’s cell phone beeped. “Answer it.”
She picked it up. “You sure you want me to? It might be an ex-girlfriend,” she chuckled.
“That’s not funny.”
Jazmine placed her finger on the screen and slid it on. “Hello.”
“Hi Jazmine,” Maria sang, her voice coming through the speakers.
“Hi Maria.” Jazmine had a big smile on her face.
“What time will you guys get here?”
“We still have ten more hours,” Jazmine answered.
“You didn’t leave on time did you?”
“No Ma’am, your son made us late.” She smirked, looking at Javier, touching his leg. They were running late because she’d needed some special attention.
Javier glanced at her for a second, and then back at the road. “Ma, that’s not true, Jazmine needed…” Jazmine placed her hand over his mouth.
“What did you say, Javy?”
“Nothing Maria, he’s being silly,” she smacked his arm.
Javier’s chuckle was deep. “Bendición, Ma.”
“Que Dios te bendiga Cielo.”
“We’ll be there around two in the morning,” Javier told his mom.
“Jazmine, someone wants to talk to you.”
“Who?” There was a curious thread to Jazmine’s voice.
“My husband.”
Jazmine’s eyes widened, and Javier shook his head. “It’s fine.”
“Jazmine,” a deep voice came through.
“Yes, Sir,” she answered, a little tense.
Javier’s father cleared his throat. “Hey, I just wanted to apologize for the way I reacted when my son told me you were African-American. Color never mattered in this house, and it took a strong woman to knock some sense into my old head. You’ve made my son happy, and that grandson of mine has taken my heart.” He chuckled. “I call him, mi Moreno. I know I hurt Javier, and that wasn’t my intention. I love my son, and all I’ve ever wanted for him is to be happy.”
“Dad, I’m finally happy,” Javier said, a little rattled; his dad hardly ever apologized for anything—even when he was wrong.
“I know son,” his dad’s voice cracked. “I hope you can forgive me. I acted like ass.”
“Dad, you could’ve waited until we got there.” Javier tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.
“I wanted to clear the air before you arrived.”
“Dad, you don’t know how much this means to me.” Javier’s voice was soft.
“Jazmine, I hope you can forgive me, too.”
“Sir, there’s nothing to forgive. You raised an amazing man.” Jazmine leaned over and kissed Javier’s cheek.
“I’m proud of him. I’ll let you two go, drive safe.”
“Bye, dad.”
“Bye,” his dad said before hanging up.
“I’m so excited to meet your family,” Jazmine winked at him with a huge grin. “I was worried about your dad.”
“I told you not to be nervous. I knew my mom would put my dad in check. When I went to pick up Nicky, my dad wouldn’t put him down.”
“What does, mi Moreno, mean?”
“My chocolate boy.”
She arched her eyebrow.
“No, not like that. He means it in a sweet way, something like my chocolate teddy bear.”
“Okay, so Nicky is my Moreno.”
Javier chuckled. “Yes. So basically you’ve met all of my family; well, except for my brother.”
“Jose right?”
“Yes. Have I ever shown you a picture of him? If not, he sent me a current one on my phone.” He picked up his cell.
“That’s okay, Javy, I’ll see him tomorrow.”
He placed his cell down. Javier positioned his right hand on Jazmine’s left leg and began making tiny circles.
Jazmine giggled. “What are you doing?”
“I can’t help it—I told you I’m addicted to you.” He trailed his digits up her thigh.
“The baby’s here,” she gasped.
“He’s asleep, and if he wasn’t, he couldn’t see us.” He reached her panty-line and dipped his index finger under the cotton fabric to graze her clit.
Jazmine moaned, closing her eyes. “Don’t start, what we can’t finish.”
“Oh, baby, I can finish.” Javier twisted his wrist to pinch her pearl between his index finger and thumb. Jazmine arched her back, and her head hit the headrest. “And then you’ll finish me, later.” His voice came out husky whisper. His finger pushed past her nether lips. He spun the wheel to pull over into the emergency lane.
Javier slowly plunged in and out of her pussy while the heel of his palm stroked her clit. He gently caressed her nub. She cried out softly and flexed her hips to the rhythm of his thrusts.
“Oh God, Javy…” she groaned between her teeth, and he knew she was trying to keep it down, not wanting to wake Nicky.
“Call me, Papi.” Javier pushed in deeper.
“Yes, Papi … don’t stop…” she gasped.
He found her g-spot, crooking his digit to hit the spongy area. Her legs started to shake.
Javier could feel her muscles contracting around his finger. “Come for me…”
She didn’t even notice Javier had pulled over to the side of the road. He stared at her. Jazmine’s eyes were squeezed shut, nose flaring, and her mouth agape. Her chest was rapidly going up and down. Her muscles gripped his finger, and then started pulsating.
“Shit … shit … shit…” she moaned, grabbing onto the door handle with one hand, while clutching his wrist with the other. “Yes… Javy…” She bit her lower lip. “Yes…”
Javier smiled, looking at her pleasure filled face, his fingers were locked between her legs.
Jazmine slowly opened her eyes and gazed at him. “You … stopped … driving.”
“I needed to look at you when you came.” He moved his digit from her sweet spot, and then sucked it clean. “Hmm, you get sweeter every time.”
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him. “Javy, please stop. Our son is in the back seat, and I can’t do what I want.”
Javier opened the middle consul and grabbed a wipe to clean his hand, and then handed Jazmine one.
She took it, wiped herself, and handed back to him. “Thanks.”
“You’ll be able to do whatever you want to me soon.” He put the wipes in a trash bag. He changed gears and got back onto the highway.
“Now, I’m so freaking horny because of you.” She rolled her eyes at him and pulled down her skirt. “I don’t like you right now.”
“Well, I love you…”
Chapter Thirty
It was three in the morning when they arrived at his parents’ home.
“Babe, we’re here.” Javier squeezed her leg.
Jazmine’s eyes fluttered open, and she glanced at the clock on the dashboard. “Three in the morning.”
“You kept making me stop to use the bathroom and for vanilla milkshakes.” Javier took off his seatbelt, opened the door, and stepped out. He walked around to her door and pulled it open. He leaned in, unbuckled her seat belt, and started tickling Jazmine.
She laughed, trying to grab his hands. “Stop … stop! I have to pee.”
Jazmine managed to push him out her way, and then jumped out of the SUV. Javier came up behind her, and she started running. He followed after her.
“Seriously, stop… I have to pee. You’re
going to make me pee on myself.” Jazmine ran around the vehicle. “Stop playing.” She stopped at the back gate.
Javier chuckled. “Okay.” He strolled over to her and circled his arms around her waist. “You bring out the kid in me.” He kissed her full lips. He backed away and saw Nicky through the rear window giggling in the back seat. “Cookie Monster is up.” Jazmine turned her head, looking at their son, and then waved at him.
“Da … dy … dy…” He shook his head from side to side. “Ma … ma…” Nicky chattered as Javier opened the back door, and he took his son out of his seat. Nicky stared at his mom. “Bus…”
She giggled, and he started bouncing in Javier’s arms. Jazmine began singing. “The wheels on the bus go…” Javier joined in, and the lights on the porch turned on, illuminating the area.
The front door swung open, and his mother came out of the house wrapped in her robe. “You made it.”
“Bendición, Ma.” Javier kissed his mom on the cheek.
His mom kissed him back, and then hugged Jazmine.
“Bendición, Maria.” Jazmine squeezed her back, and his mom cupped her cheek. “Que Dios te bendiga.”
“Mi gordo.” Maria took Nicky out of Javier’s arms, kissing him.
Nicky grabbed her face and kissed his grandma. “Mi … mi…”
They walked into his parents’ home, and his mom slipped up the stairs. “You’re not visitors.” She got to the top, and looked down. “He’s sleeping with us tonight. See you in the morning.” They heard his parents’ door close.
“Did she just kidnap our son?” Javier chuckled.
“Yep, she did. I’m sleepy, baby. I’m going up.” She strolled to the bottom of the stairs.
“Okay, I’ll get our stuff.” Javier walked back out the door.
~~~
Jazmine entered Javier’s old room, and she couldn’t help remembering, the pain she felt, the bruise on her skin. She took a deep breath and touched the scar on her face. The memories came back from the night she met her husband. If it wasn’t for that awful night, she would’ve never met the love of her life. “He rescued me,” she murmured to herself.
“Cielo, you saved me.” Javier came in and dropped their luggage on the floor. He closed the door, sauntered over to her, and took her hands.