Love Through Pain (13 page)

Chapter Twenty

“Martinez,” C
hief Mitchell yelled as Javier entered his office. Mitchell was a tall, buff, African-American and his sponsor five months ago when he’d arrived at his new command. He’d helped him look for a home, daycare, and everything else he needed.

“Yes,” Javier answered
, opening his door.

“Are you going to Shirley’s BBQ tonight?”

“If Nicolas is feeling better.” He moved behind his desk.

“Is he sick?”

“He’s teething.” Javier sat in his chair.

Chief Mitchell picked up a picture he had of his son on the desk. “You have a cute baby
. Does he look like his mother?”

Javier leaned forward and took the frame away from him. “Yes
, he actually does.”

“I would’ve never thought you were into sistas
, if I hadn’t seen your son.”

“Why would you think that?”
He leaned back in his chair. “As long as there is an attraction, race doesn’t matter to me.” He turned on his computer. “How’re things with your ex? Did you finally hit it again?” Javier tried to change the subject.

“No, not for lack of trying. We kissed
, and when I went in for the kill she pulled away from me, something’s off.” He sighed. “I want it bad, and she was one of the best lovers I’ve had.”

“She
’s got you whooped.” Javier laughed. “Maybe it’s time to move on.”

Chief Mitchell crossed his legs. “Believe me
, I tried when she was gone, but no one can compare to her.”

“Have you told her how you feel?” Javier enter
ed his password on his keyboard.

“Yes, I was a jerk and took her for granted when we were together.”

Javier moved the mouse around.

“I even have her mom in my back pocket.”

He chuckled. “I guess the mommy card didn’t work?”

“Nope.” Mitchell smirked
. “She only wants to be friends, but after having her, that’s not possible.”

“Once you’re in the friend zone it’s hard to get out.”

Mitchell moved forward, leaning on his elbows. “She went on a business trip, and when she came back, she was a different woman. She asked me for patience, but I was fucking stupid. I really thought she was cheating on me, and I broke it off when she left town again.”

“Dude, if she doesn’t want the things you do, you need to
let her go.” He stared at him.

“Is that what happened between you and Nicky’s mom?”

Javier looked away. “Something like that. We were not what she needed.” He stared at the frame, thinking of Jazmine. He wondered how she was doing. Was she still seeing a therapist? Did she ever think about Nicolas, or him?

“You’re better of
f without a woman like that anyway. What kind of a woman just up and leave her son?”

He glared at his friend. “Don’t ever talk about his mother
, she had her reasons.”

Mitchell raised his hands in a sign of surrender. “Sorry, I guess you still love her.”

“Who said anything about love.” Javier turned to the computer and began typing. “When did we start talking about me?”

Mitchell laughed. “To
o personal for you? I talk to you about my personal shit.”

“Because you want to. I prefer to keep my life private.”

“I don’t care who knows, I’m still in love with her, and she’s the complete package, if I could only make her forget.”

Javier arched an eyebrow.

“I think she met someone when she was out of town.”

“Maybe you can’t make her forget. She sounds like she has issues
,” Javier continued to type his daily report, and pleased they’d changed the subject. He would never allow anyone to disrespect Jazmine.

“What woman doesn’t? I fucked up months ago.”

“What man doesn’t?” Javier stopped what he was doing to look at his new friend.

“Funny, wait until you me
et her tonight. You’ll understand why.” He took a candy from the jar on Javier’s desk.

“How did you pull that off?” Javier
’s curiosity got the best of him.

“She knows Shirley, and I told her we
’re going as friends.” Mitchell stood. “She’s the one dude, and I’m going make her see it.”

“I guess I’ll finally meet the future Mrs. Malcolm Mitchell.”

He strolled out his office. “See you tonight.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Jazmine entered the side gate, hearing laughter and people talking in the backyard. She came around the corner and saw Shirley first.

“Hi Jazmine, I’m so happy you could make it.” Shirley took long strides and hugged her. Shirley was a very nice Asian woman. She’d met her at one of Malcolm’s Command functions, and they’d hit it off.

She hugged her back
. “Nice to see you, too.” Jazmine glanced around and spotted Malcolm with a crying baby in his arms.

He finally saw her and ambled up to her, bending to kiss her cheek. “You didn’t call.”

“I had to work late.” She stared at the baby in his arms. The little boy was gorgeous. She smiled, her baby would be around the same age. He had a caramel complexion with brown wavy hair, and big hazel eyes.

Malcolm rocked the baby, but he only cried louder. “Come on
, let me introduce you.” He grabbed her hand.

“Everyone, this is my gi
—” she glared at him, “friend Jazmine.”

She waved her hand in the air. “Hi,” everyone replied in unison.

The baby continued to bawl, and Malcolm seemed indifferent to the little guy’s distress, he just swayed him back and forth. “May I?” She extended her hands to take him.

“Here.” Malcolm handed him over. “He’s a daddy’s boy.”

Jazmine placed him over her shoulder and rubbed his back. “Who’re his parents?” She examined the people in the yard.

“That’s my boy
, J’s, baby.” Malcolm looked at the baby. “Remember the guy I sponsored?”

She kissed his downy soft hair. “Where’s his mom?” The baby rested his head on her chest and stopped crying.

“J’s a single dad.” He opened the cooler, grabbing a beer. “His dad has him so spoiled, but he seems to like you.”

Jazmine sniffed his neck and whispered
, “You smell so familiar.”

“What did you say?” Malcolm t
ook a swig of the beer.

“Oh
, nothing. I think he’s sleepy, but the noise is bothering him.” She rocked on her feet. “Shirley, do you mind if I put him to sleep inside?”

“Girl
, come on.” Shirley led the way. “His playpen is in the living room.”

The baby was now hiccupping.

“If you need anything, holler,” Shirley said, leaving for the back yard.

Jazmine sat
on the leather couch. The baby was now smiling at her, melting her heart.
What does my baby look like, his smile, does he have teeth
? He was beautiful. His eyes were mesmerizing as he stared at her. His eyes reminded her of Javier’s, even his scent. He smelled like Javier’s favorite cologne. He touched her cheeks and started baby talking.

“My son would be seven months right now.” She held back the tears. “But, he is in the best care.” She touched his nose
, making him giggle. There was something so familiar about him.

*
**

Javier entered the backyard with three bags of ice in his hand
s. He immediately looked for his son.

“Where’s Nicky?”
he asked Ivy, a blonde, attractive woman. He’d been out with Ivy a couple of times. Malcolm had introduced them, telling him he needed to get out and date. He tried, but it didn’t work; he still couldn’t get Jazmine out of his mind.

She traced her manicured finger
s on his arms. “He wouldn’t stop crying, so I gave him to Malcolm.”

He moved away from her touch, pissed that she’d passed on his son when he
’d trusted her to take care of him for twenty minutes. “I’ll be right back.” He walked over to Mitchell. “Where’s my son?”

“With my girl.”

“You left him with a stranger!” He raised his voice. “Where is she?” He looked around the backyard.

Malcolm put a hand on his shoulder
. “Dude, calm down. She’s in the house.”

Javier brushed
off his hand, and marched into the house. He was over protective of Nicky. His little boy was all he had left of the only woman he’d loved. He opened the door and entered, rushing into the living room. He stopped dead in his track, his heart raced, and his hands trembled.

Jazmine was holding her son
, and didn’t know it. Javier couldn’t move, he’d hoped and prayed for this moment. When Jazmine finally saw her son and realized that they could make this work. Jazmine was more beautiful than he remembered. Her brown skin looked radiant, and he gawked at her. Jazmine’s hair was cut into a T-boz bob with auburn highlights. Jazmine’s doe-like eyes sparkled, and her smile was alluring as she talked to Nicky. His dick throbbed, his body knew what he needed, and it was Jazmine.

Nicky bounced himself on her lap, and she chuckled. Javier glanced at her wrist
, she still wore the bracelet he gave her.

She kissed his son on his fat cheeks before bouncing him up and down. “I don’t even know your name sweetie,” she giggled.

“His name is Nicolas Justin Martinez,” Javier’s voice rattled without taking a step.

~~~

Jazmine’s heart sped up, she knew that voice anywhere. That’s why his smell was so familiar, he smelled like Javier. She stared at her son, and tears started rolling down her cheeks. “Nicolas.” She kissed, and hugged him tight. She’d dreamt about this moment for months—he was perfect. She traced his face with her finger, now that she knew he was hers, she saw the resemblance, he had her lips and nose. “I love you,” she whispered in his ear. Jazmine couldn’t stop kissing him, her son. Nicolas wiped her tears with his tiny fingers, and she chuckled. “My son, I’m so sorry…”

She finally stood
. After seven months, they were finally face-to-face. Javier just stared at them. He made her heart skip a beat, standing there looking sexy in a plain T-shirt. She could see the imprint of his muscles. This amazing man had taken care of her son without ever asking for anything in return. He just gazed at them, and as soon as the baby saw his dad, he began to bounce, wiggling his hands.

“Pa
… da … da.”

“Hi
, Jazz.” He moved closer.

She was shaking like a leaf. The tears wouldn’t stop flowing
as she kissed her son’s temple over and over.

~~~

Desire coursed through his body, tightening his muscles.  He couldn’t let her go this time. 

“Javy
.” She trembled as the tears continued. She crossed the room quickly and pressed her lips to his son’s face one last time before gently handing him over.

Nicky smiled
, showing his two bottom teeth.

“I have to go,”
her voice cracked as she hurried over to the couch; she started rummaging through the sofa’s cushions.

“Jazz
.” She ignored him. “Jazmine!” he raised his voice.

She found her purse
. “I can’t do this.”

“So you’re going to run from us again.”

She wiped her tears and ran out the back of the house.

Javier stood there with the baby in his arms. He wanted to run after her, but
this wasn’t the place or the time. He would search for her; he saw it in her eyes—she wanted this as much as he did. She needed them. He just had to prove to her that they could make it work. He heard the screen door open with force.
Fuck, Jazmine’s the girl Malcolm’s been talking about all these months.

Malcolm, Ivy
, and Shirley stormed into the house. “What the fuck did you do to her?” Malcolm roared.

Javier just glared at him. How do you tell your friend the woman he is in love with is your wife?

“What did you say to her? She would never hurt your son.” Malcolm moved to stand in front of him.

“I know Jazz would never hurt him.” Javier picked up the baby bag, and
then turned to Shirley. “I’ll get his playpen another day.”

“What happened,
and why did she storm out crying?” Ivy asked with her hands crossed.

“Nothing
.” Javier rushed out with Nicky giggling in his arms.

He reached his vehicle and began buckling in his son. “You knew that was your mom
my, didn’t you?” The baby just smiled. He finished making sure Nicky was secure. He gave him a teething ring, and then closed the door. His cell beeped; he’d received a text. Javier pulled it out, swiping his finger on the screen and read the message.

He’s beautiful.

She’d texted him; he knew she cared, it was in the way she beamed while looking at her son. He opened his door, got in, and turned the car on. He rested his head on the steering wheel. “Nicky, we are going to get your mom back.”  He straightened up, and texted her back.

I’ll be leaving the state for three days
, but when I get back, you’re mine. If you run, this time I’ll come find you… Javier.

***

“Malcolm, what happened?” Shirley looked out the window.

“I’m not sure, but she was upset when she ran out of here like a bat out of hell
, and now Javier,” Ivy answered.

“She had tears in her eyes.” Malcolm pulled out his cell and tried to call Jazmine. It went straight to voicemail. “She won
’t answer her fucking phone.”

“I hope they’re okay
.” Shirley started breaking down the playpen.

“I’m going find out what the fuck just happened
.” Malcolm clenched his jaw.
Why the fuck did he call her, Jazz?