by Lacey Legend
“You scared me. Are you following me? Hey, are you the same guys that came around the other day?” she asked, even though she knew it was them the moment that she saw them.
“We want to know where Eric Storm is. We’ve done a little bit of digging, and we know that the two of you were seeing each other. So all you have to do is tell us where he has moved to,” the stocky man said.
Jasmine was taller than him, but he had a confidence that was hard to beat. She assumed he was armed; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so sure of himself. She was glad, however, that they still seemed to think that Eric had moved out of his house. But she guessed he wouldn’t be able to hide for much longer.
“I told you. He left in a hurry.”
“Why did you pretend not to know him then?”
“Because I was scared. Okay, that’s the truth. I was scared. But he told me that he liked me and then suddenly he disappeared. I didn’t know what to think. And quite frankly, I don’t want anything to do with him. Why should I be with a man who just runs away without saying a word to me?”
She tried to sound brave, but even she could hear the slight tremor in her voice. Just then, she heard some people talking, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw a group of people walking on the other side of the road. She was close to screaming for them.
“Don’t you dare say anything,” the tall man whispered to her. The group had looked her way to see if anything was wrong, and she quickly looked away.
“I’m not going to say anything. But please stop following me. I don’t know anything.”
Some more people were walking now. The two men were starting to get nervous. They gave each other a look and then looked back at her.
“Look, Jasmine. Yes, we know your name. We know that you are lying. You must know where your boyfriend has run away to. And we will be back again. Next time, you better have some information for us. Or else we won’t be afraid to use this.”
With that, the man opened up his jacket to reveal a gun. Jasmine felt her legs start to shake, and she thought for a second that she might faint. She was just about to say something to them when they quickly walked away. Jasmine quickened her own pace and headed home. She wasn’t even sure why she had stood up for Eric. Why hadn’t she just told these men the truth? Whatever Eric had done had nothing to do with her.
Jasmine was grateful when she saw her house up ahead, but instead of going home, she went knocking on Eric’s door.
“Eric, it’s me, open up.”
Eric opened the door. He looked as if he had been crying. His eyes were red and puffy – not unlike hers.
“Jasmine, what’s wrong?” He tried to hug her, but she wouldn’t let him.
“Just lock the door. Quickly.”
He did as she said and then looked at her again. She had gone over to the living room to sit down. Her legs felt too weak to stand up any longer.
“Jasmine, what’s wrong? Did something happen? What’s going on? Talk to me. You’re freaking me out. Are you okay?”
And suddenly, she burst out crying. She’d tried to be so brave in front of the two men, but she’d held it in for too long and the tears were now desperate to come out. He came over to her and tried to put his arms around her, but she pushed him away. She knew that she shouldn’t have even gone to see him, but she needed to know what was happening. She deserved to know.
“Stop it! Just stop it! Eric, why are you doing this to me? Please, don’t sit near me.” She watched as he went to sit on a different couch. He looked as if he had just been slapped. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that, Eric. I’m just rattled, and I’m feeling completely overwhelmed by everything. Those guys … they assaulted me.”
“What? What do you mean?” Eric asked. He looked like he was about ready to jump up again.
“Not really assaulted. I mean, they didn’t actually do anything, but they followed me today when I was walking back from work. Don’t ask me why I was walking home instead of taking my car – but I guess they would’ve been following me regardless. It was the same two guys.” Jasmine could feel the tears rising to her face again.
“Jasmine! Are you sure?” Eric asked.
“Of course I’m sure! They were right in front of my damn face. I’m sure!” she snapped. “Sorry. I’m just freaking out. Eric, it was the same two guys. Trust me on this one. That short stocky one and the tall one. I had a sneaking suspicion the whole way home. I was walking home these past few days because it helped to clear my head. And the less time I spent at home, the better. When I was at home, all I could think about was you. I mean, you’re right next door. It’s so close. Anyway, I finished work a little later than usual today, which meant that it was starting to get dark when I was walking home. Stupid of me. And the whole way, I kept getting this feeling that I was being watched. Which turned out to be true. They told me that they think I’m lying. They think I know where you are. The good news is that they still believe the part about you running away. So, for the most part at least, they don’t think you live here. Although I’m sure they’ll find out. I didn’t tell them anything. They said they know we were seeing each other. So I told them that I was just as clueless as them as to why you went away. Said I was upset that you just got up and left like that. I don’t know if they believed me, and I don’t know why the hell I lied for you. But there you have it. The guy showed me his gun and said that the next time he wouldn’t be so kind to me.”
She was sobbing now and unable to stop. She looked up and stared Eric in the eyes for the first time. He looked mortified. He’d gone pale, and she could see that his entire body was shaking.
“Jasmine, I’m so sorry. I never meant to involve you in any of this. I’m so stupid. I really thought that I was free from all of this. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Eric, please tell me what’s going on. I need to know. It’s not fair that I stuck up for you and I still have no idea what is going on. It’s not fair, Eric. I thought you liked me.”
“Oh God, Jasmine. I do like you. More than that. I think I’m in love with you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Which is why I didn’t tell you anything.”
“Will you tell me now?”
“Okay,” he said, and took a big gulp of air just like it was water. “I got into a bad crowd when I was younger. They were much older than me and took me under their wing. I thought I was so cool. I mean, I had these big guys telling me that I could be like them one day. They were so nice to me at first. I know it’s stupid – but I was so young. And at first it wasn’t anything serious. They were into some serious drugs and stuff, but I didn’t cave in to that for quite some time. I helped them with a few petty crimes. They gave me some money and told me that I was better at it than they were. Of course, they were just using me, but it took me a very long time to see that. And by the time I did see it, I was already in too deep. The petty crimes had turned to bigger ones. Mostly it was just stealing, but still – the jobs got bigger and bigger. And I really was good at it. By then, I’d lost touch with all my friends, and I had stopped seeing my father. I believed that I was doing the right thing. Also, I was scared. They had threatened me with my life if I ever tried to get out of it. Threatened me with my father’s life.” He stopped. “Sorry, hang on.”
He ran out of the room, and Jasmine could hear that he was in the bathroom. She heard him blowing his nose. He came out, tissue in hand.
“Sorry. I haven’t stopped crying lately. I think I’m crying for all the years that I didn’t cry. I thought I was such a tough guy – not crying. Turns out, I’m not tough at all. Anyway, for the last few years, I’ve been wanting to get out of the business. I just couldn’t do it anymore. My father had died, and the guilt had become too much for me. Even though he was not alive anymore, I still wanted to make him proud. I’m getting older, and I’m sick and tired of constantly moving. I’m always on the run, Jasmine. If I do a job, then the people that I’ve stolen from or hurt are out to ge
t me. And if I don’t do a job, then the guys that I work for are out to get me. I always did the job, even when I didn’t want to – because the alternative seemed so much worse to me. But for the last year, I’ve been planning on changing my life. I made a promise to myself that I would start a new life. And I’ve been planning it for quite some time. I found this place, I got a new car, and I left my old life behind. I didn’t go too far. I didn’t change my name. And perhaps those were my first mistakes. But I still wanted to be me, Jasmine. I couldn’t imagine being anyone else other than Eric Storm. I took a chance. I thought I had covered my bases. I really did. That’s why I came with so little when I moved in and why it took me so long to fix up my house. I meant to lay low. I meant to wait it out for at least two months before getting comfortable. But I was sloppy. I haven’t exactly been leading a quiet life, as you know.”
“Because of me.”
“Because of you. But that’s a decision I made, Jasmine. Because I just couldn’t stay away from you. I meant what I said earlier – I’ve fallen in love with you. This was never meant to happen. But I’m an idiot. I put you at jeopardy. I’ve put you in danger. And I’m so sorry. I’m so very, very sorry.”
Now he was crying again and reaching out to blow his nose. There was something so vulnerable about seeing him this way. Jasmine knew without a doubt that she believed him. She believed every word that he was saying to her. Suddenly, she was sitting beside him and her arms were around his neck.
“Eric, you should’ve told me.”
“Jasmine, how could I tell you about that? I wanted you to think I was this amazing guy. And when I found out what that jerk Brendan did to you, I wanted you to know that I would never hurt you. I’m so sorry.”
“Those men… what do they want?”
“They want me to do another job for them. But I’m over it, Jasmine. I’m not doing that anymore.”
“Have you told them that?”
“I’ve tried before. Let’s just say – it didn’t end well.”
“So, what now? You keep running?”
“I don’t know, Jasmine. I don’t know. I’m sick of running. But I might have to. I’m sorry. I’m not a bad person. I just got involved with bad people. Ah, who am I kidding? Maybe I am a bad person. I should never have gotten into all of this in the first place. And you want to know the crazy thing? My life was really good before this. Really good. I had it easy. I had great friends and a father who was so good to me. And I threw it all away. For what? For money? To prove something to people who meant nothing to me? I don’t know – I’m an idiot. And I’m paying for all those decisions now. I really am sorry, Jasmine.”
Jasmine took his hands into hers. “I know you are. And Eric… I’ve fallen in love with you, too.”
His head shot up. “You have?”
She smiled at him through her tears. She wondered what the two of them must look like with their tired and blood-stained eyes.
“I have. Which is crazy because we’ve only just met. But I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. But Eric… what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you scared?”
“A little. I’ve been scared for many years now, so it’s nothing new. But this time, I have something else that’s on my mind. And it has nothing to do with being scared of what those guys will do to me. The only thing on my mind is losing you.”
Jasmine lifted his head up and then leaned forward to kiss him. She kissed away his tears and then moved towards his mouth, which was also damp from him crying. She wanted him more in that moment than she had ever wanted anyone in her whole life. She took off her clothes and then pulled him up so that he could take off his, too. Then they both fell onto the couch, kissing and touching as if it were the last time they were ever going to be together. They both knew that there was a big possibility that it really would be the last time. Jasmine tried to push those thoughts aside, and as he entered her, she could think of nothing but that moment. Eric. Eric. Eric. She was in love with him. She moaned as he pulled her closer and pressed deeper inside of her. She didn’t want it to end, but she was also battling to hold on.
“I’m going to come,” she whispered, almost an apology for releasing herself so soon.
“Me too,” he whispered back as she felt him shudder.
It was the most exhilarating and devastating moment of her life. And afterward, she scooted up to lie next to him and started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“What’s up with us having sex on couches all the time? Have we not heard of that little thing called a bed?” She giggled again.
He was laughing now, too. “Yeah, I had no idea my couch would be this comfortable.”
Jasmine looked around the room as if noticing it all for the first time.
“I like what you’ve done with the place, by the way. Is that your photo? The one of the tree? Or was that whole photo shoot at the park a lie?”
“I told you, Jasmine – I didn’t lie about those things. Yeah, I took that photo. I mean, I wanted to put one of you up, but I thought that might be a little creepy.”
She smiled. “It’s beautiful, Eric. You really should look into doing photography.”
“You know what – I think I will. It would make my father happy, that’s for sure. Oh, I must show you the photos that I took of you. They came out perfectly.”
“Oh no, I don’t want to see them! That’s so embarrassing,” Jasmine said and cringed at the thought.
“I knew you’d say that. But I’m going to show you anyway. I have them in the box that I keep my camera in. It’s my very special box that I take with me everywhere. You look beautiful in the photos, Jasmine. But then again, I knew you would. I have an eye for these things. Trees and Jasmine. The two most beautiful things in the world.”
Jasmine could feel the heat rising to her face from the compliments.
“Come on, let me show you.”
He took her hand and led her to the bedroom where they looked through the photos together. He must really be a good photographer because she didn’t actually mind them. Then after a quick shower, they crawled into bed together and fell asleep. They were both exhausted, and it was the best night’s sleep that she had had in days.
In the morning, Jasmine woke up feeling refreshed. Eric was already up and was in the kitchen making her coffee. She took the cup from him and kissed him.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said.
“Good morning. I slept so well.”
“Me, too. I feel like a whole new person.”
“Same. Eric… there’s something I need to say.”
“Yeah?” he asked, and she saw a look of concern cross over his face.
“I can’t see you again.”
He nodded. “I know.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. It’s not safe for you, Jasmine. I know it’s not. I’m not the sort of man that you should be with. You deserve more than this.”
“I want to be with you, Eric. But it’s not fair for either of us. You’re right. I deserve more. But so do you. As long as you’re here and we’re together, someone is going to be after you. And if they’re after you, then they’re after me, too.”
“I know. This is the hardest goodbye of my life, Jasmine.”
“Mine too, Eric.”
“I love you, Jasmine Harris.”
Jasmine smiled up at him, her heart breaking at the words. “And I love you, Eric Storm.”
Chapter10
Eric looked around the house one last time. There was one brief moment when he truly believed that this was the house he was going to live in forever – or if not forever, then at least a good few years. He was glad that he had allowed himself that dream – because he’d been happy. And he had forgotten what happiness felt like. Now, the house was all packed up. He’d told the landlord that a family member had died, and he’d paid in an extra month so that they had time to find someone else. He’
d left the extra furniture that he had bought. He simply couldn’t take it to his new house. The rest he packed back into boxes and piled them into his car – just as he had a few months ago when he was leaving his last place. Again, everything fit neatly inside. He even found space for the two potted plants. The only thing that didn’t fit was the big canvas of the tree. He wrapped it up in brown paper and then placed it in front of Jasmine’s house. It had been two days since she had slept over, and as promised, they had not met up again. He knew that she would be at work and that she’d only discover it when she got back. He needed her to have it. Jasmine and trees, my two favorite things in the world.
He hated that he had to leave again. He hated that he was never going to see Jasmine again. It might not have been long, but he had never loved anyone as much as he had loved her. Jasmine had made him a better person, and he was adamant to sort his life out – because it was the one thing that she would want him to do. Everything he did now would be to make Jasmine and his father proud. He knew that his father would be happy if he were to see him now. He might be running away, but he knew that it was only because he wanted a fresh new start. He was stupid to have moved so close. Silly to have not changed his name. And careless to have met friends and fallen in love. But he didn’t regret one moment of it. This time, he’d be smarter. He already had the whole thing planned. It hadn’t taken him long – he knew exactly where to go and what to do. It was what he should’ve done all along. He looked at the empty house and knew that he would always consider it his one true home.
“Goodbye,” he whispered and then climbed into his car.
He saw the canvas lying in front of the house, and he pictured Jasmine’s face when she received it. He smiled sadly as he drove away to his new life.
*
“Hello, my darling!”
“Betty! Bob!” Jasmine exclaimed as she opened the door. Her heart soared with happiness. There was no greater sight for her very tired eyes, and they were just the thing that she needed on this dull and dreary day. She squeezed them both in a tight embrace and then ushered them inside. “Come in, come in!”
