Forever. (This. Is. Not. Over. Book 3) (28 page)

“Of course.” I move closer to her and notice that a strand of hair has escaped her bun. I fix it for her. God, this world would fall apart without me. “Is it about me?”

“It is.”

             
“What?”

“I hear that Marlon handled it.”

What did she just say? “The picture? No. You’re mistaken.”

“Jasmine, I’m telling you, he handled
it. Apparently, from what Nat told me—and let me just say that conversations that go on between a husband and wife should really be private but since it’s about your livelihood and you’re my best friend, that’s the only reason I’m saying something.”

“Of course! What happened?” Girl, shut your ass up and get on
with it! (Oh boy, did I just think that?)

“Malcolm, Nat and Marlon have been working together.
Without
Jacob.”

             
“And?”

             
“And they handled that picture. Actually Malcolm just picked up a contract or something right after the play.”

“Dena
…” I nod towards the envelope that’s now sitting on the counter near me, my mouth opens in disbelief.

“See!”

“What did they do?” Dena’s and my head are nearly pressed together now.

“
All I know is that Nat told me that Malcolm told him that he and Marlon handled it privately … without Jacob.” She raises an eyebrow at me and takes a sip of tea.

“Are you kidding me?”

“No and from what I hear, Jacob is
pissed
.”

“What? Why?”

              “Nat told me that Jacob told Malcolm that he wanted to be the one to handle that journalist guy and that he wanted to do that for you. And then Nat said that Malcolm said, ‘No offense bro, but Marlon wanted to do it for Jasmine, too and in the end, legally, if he were to get cornered, he’d get a slap on the wrist since he’s her husband. The courts would understand his need to protect her as opposed to yours.’ From what I hear Jacob stormed out of Malcolm’s office and they’re not really talking right now.”

“Well
, what did Marlon
do
?” This is so exciting!

             
“I have no idea. Nat won’t tell me the specifics but I know that the journalist who first received the picture is an uber conservative guy named Ronald Evans. Unfortunately, one of his children, Dana, is not so conservative. Apparently, Malcolm had Nat hack some phone lines and email accounts and he came up with some incriminating evidence of his own. Dana is obviously the family’s wild card and there’s documentation of Dana’s partying lifestyle that would cause the journalist to
die
if it ever came out.”

“Like what?”
She smiles.

“Malcolm got in touch with one of Dana’s ex-boyfriends and for the right price, he spilled it all. Produced loved letters, pictures … an entire scrap book of evidence against Dana and this guy.”

              “What’s the big deal? Dana had a boyfriend, she liked to have fun. If anyone knows about that it should be me.” I take a step back and shake my head. “I don’t feel too comfortable with dragging yet another woman through the mud just because she likes to enjoy her life. And tell me one thing, why are women given the bad rap for pictures and love letters but men aren’t? Oh great, now I’m sounding like Danielle. The point is, Dana is a girl who met a guy and had some fun.”

             
“No my love, Dana is a
guy
who met a guy and had some fun.” We both look at each other as our minds conjure up all of the chaotic and erotic possibilities.

             
“Oh, well now that’s different.” I move back towards her, a smile on my face. Now we’re back in action.

“Uh
-huh. Conservatives seem to be a bit more understanding of red wine on their neighbor’s carpet if they’ve accidentally spilled some on their own.” She takes a sip of her tea and gives me a satisfied grin. “Look at Dick Cheney. He hated gay people … that was, until his daughter married a woman. Damn conservatives.”

             
“Wow, so
Marlon
arranged all of this?” I have to make sure I have this right.

“Well
, I wouldn’t say arranged, but he helped, from what I hear. It was Marlon, not Jacob, who was the third man.”

“Wow!”

“Marlon told Malcolm, ‘Listen, I expect you to fix this shit. In Philly we have go-to boys. They fix shit. That’s what they do. Everyone claims you’re the go-to boy in Boston. I’m expecting you to fix this. Or at least help me do it. That’s your job, right? That’s what we pay you for?
’
Or something along those lines.”

“Are you serious! Marlon said that to
Malcolm
?”

“Yep
,” she said with a wide smile. “Nat said Malcolm just slid his hands in his pockets, smiled back at Marlon and nodded.”

“Oh my gosh!”

“Knowing Malcolm, he wasn’t in the least bit bothered that Marlon was speaking recklessly to him. More than likely, Malcolm was thrilled that Boston considers him the go-to guy. But, in Jacob and Nat’s defense, they bring in just as many clients as Malcolm,” she says with her nose tilted upward.

“It’s just that Malcolm hit a goldmine when he took on Rossi … or sh
all I say when he took on Laura,” Dena continues. “But you didn’t hear that from me; that would suggest that Malcolm only dated Laura for her connections, which would make him the biggest asshole to have ever walked the planet. Although, Rossi will tell anyone who’ll listen that Malcolm is his knight in shining armor. But that’s neither here nor there.” She rolls her eyes. “Anyway, Marlon wants his part in this to be hush-hush. He says that he doesn’t want this affecting business. The conservatives may stop coming to him. But more specifically, Marlon told Malcolm that he doesn’t want
you
to know it was him.”

             
“Why?”

“Something about you thinking he’s turning rogue and you being skittish about
it if you were to find out. He doesn’t want to make you nervous. But I told Nat that every woman likes a bit of a bad boy.” She gives me a grin. “I don’t know what Marlon’s done but I think the possibility of it is a little sexy.” She takes a sip of her tea. “But I am married to Nat and being skittish is what he does for a living. And if you ask me, Jacob is not only mad that Malcolm didn’t let him help, he’s also mad that Marlon may have a little bit of rogue inside of him. Jacob has always capitalized on being the bad boy out of the group. So heaven forbid that there’s another man alive with both heart
and
gumption. And heaven
forbid
if this man is the husband of Jasmine Harlow.” She grins again and I can’t help but grin back. Together we clink our tea and coffee cups together and take a sip.

“Well hi there, ladies.” Dena and I turn to see Winnie standing there, big and pregnant, a little smirk on her face. “How’s life treating you two?”

              Winnie. Fine, I’ll admit it—she’s gorgeous! Just leave me alone about it! She really is a nice-looking girl: dark and sultry looking, and those eyes … a striking hazel color. And she’s always smiling and happy and singing and rapping and life seems to be wonderful for her and when she’s not pregnant, her waist rivals Scarlett O’Hara’s and she always smells like some form of Egyptian Musk, (though I know her perfume is Narcisco Rodriguez’s
Her
because I saw her dab a spot of it onto her pulse point with a rollerball one summer in Hilton Head and then Jacob leaned over and ran his nose along the spot and she gave him this sassy look before tilting his chin up and biting his bottom lip) and she has full lips and they’re always perfectly red and her nails are always neatly trimmed and are always a shiny red apple color and … God, I hate her!

             
“We’re doing fine,” Dena says, all bright and cheery. Dena doesn’t hate Winnie but because she’s my best friend she has to act funny when I’m around. “And you?”

             
“Exhausted.” She puts a hand on her stomach and her eyes immediately drop to my neck. “Your pearls.” She lifts her eyes up and looks at me. “You’re not wearing them.” She and I lock eyes. The currents of our thoughts are coursing back and forth between each other…

             
Where are your pearls?

Don’t you always wear them?

              Aren’t they a gift from my husband?

             
Didn’t you name your daughter Pearl and Tiffany after them?

             
Aren’t you still in love with my husband?

             
Are you still upset that he loves me and not you?

Yes, Winnie. I do love your husband. But guess what? I also love mine.

So yeah, I’m in a sticky situation. And no, I don’t know when I’m going to dig my way out of it.

But the fact is that I’m not the first person to love two men at the same time. And guess what
? I won’t be the last.

No, I’m not wearing those pearls. And, as a matter of fact, since you’re so concerned about them
…

I look to the counter and grab my clutch. Opening it, I immediately locate the little robin blue box and pull it out. This box, these pearls, are the last tangible items of Jacob that I have. I turn to Winnie and push the box towards her hands. She grabs it, looking down at it and then up at me, her eyes more troubled than surprised. Notice I said troubled and not angry. Strange … why would returning these pearls, cutting Jacob off, trouble her?

“Getting some fresh air,” I say to Dena as I grab my clutch and the envelope.

“I’ll come too
,” Dena says quickly.

“I just need a second.”

“Okay, my love. I’ll be here,” she says as I walk away.

Yeah … that was tough. Giving those pearls away was
tough
.

But I finally took the first step.
There’s no going back now.

Jasmine

(
just
.
breathe
.)

Me 4:31 pm:
I need you two. Drinks, tonight, just us.

Danny 4:32 pm:
Where are you? What’s wrong?

Rena 4:32 pm:
Who do I have to fuck up?

Me 4:32 pm:
I’m fine. Just taking a breather outside. It’s just that, I have found out that I thought I was strong, but I am weak. Weakly in love with another man … for more than a decade, I’ve put my entire virtue, my reason for living, my very essence, my dignity, my only self-redeeming quality in jeopardy so that I may burn in the depths of hell for all of eternity.

Rena 4:33 pm:
I’ve done worse.

Danny 4:33 pm:
Rena, do NOT tell me about this experience. Jasmine, tell me when and where you want to meet.

Me 4:33 pm:
Piranha’s, 8:30. We’ll talk.

Danny 4:34 pm:
There.

Rena 4:34 pm:
There.

Breathe in.

The picture scandal has been handled and after tonight, I’m going back home to Marlon and the girls.

Breathe out.

I don’t know what’s going to happen next week. No one knows. Anything can happen next week. Anything.

Breathe in.

But I’ll be home for Christmas. 

Breathe out.

I’m Jasmine Kyles, I love Marlon Kyles and I’m going back home with my family.

Breathe in.

Resolving to end something always starts with the first step.

Breathe out.

Marlon is my husband.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

I close my eyes and take steady breaths. In. Out. I’m standing on the side of the house, away from the cameras and reporters and I’m breathing my way through this.

Breathe in.
             

             
Breathe out.

             
Marlon’s still hurt.

             
Breathe in.

             
But he
does
love me. That much is obvious.

             
Breathe out.

             
It’ll take time. Of course it’ll take time.

             
Breathe in.

But life is full of time. I love Marlon. He loves me. I love Jacob. He loves me. But Jacob is not the one. Jacob is not my guy.

Breathe out.

And it’s not because he’s married. It’s not because he’s bad. It’s just because … he’s not the one. He’s just not it.