Bad Cop

by Linda Verji

“My place,” Lucas said simply before getting out of the car to open the gate.

  Yup! This was one of those places where the security guards only came in at night. Twenty-four hour security? Psh! Only people with Jasmine’s kind of money could afford places that offered that. In this place, if you wanted the gate opened, then you needed to open it yourself.

  Once the gate was open, Lucas came back into the car and drove into the tiny parking space. The parking space was so small that only four cars could fit in at the same time and even then it was a tight squeeze. Most mornings, Lucas had to call one of his neighbors to come and move their car when he needed to leave.

  “This is your place,” Jasmine asked as she got out of the car. She wasn’t frowning like he expected her to. Surprise shot through him when all he saw in her eyes was excitement. “Finally, I get to see it.”

  Hah! That excitement would fade once she saw his place.

  After closing the gates, he gestured for her to follow him. “This way.”

  There were no elevators in his building, only stairs leading up to the seven floors. If you lived on the seventh floor, you were bound to lose weight or at the very least get a knee injury. Fortunately, Lucas had found a place on the fifth place.

  “Jeez!” Jasmine panted as they passed the third floor. “Your stairs are going to kill me.”

  Lucas guffawed on the inside. And she still thought they were on the same level? Ha!

  Her building was really quiet. Many times he’d wondered if some apartments were empty. His building? Not so much. Now that it was summer vacation, the kids were all out. Music was blasting from 3A, a crowd of kids were screaming and running around on the fourth floor, and the couple from 4E seemed to be having some kind of prayer session. The voices of people praying loudly in competition to the secular songs playing on the third floor accompanied their climb up to his floor.

  “We’re here.” He stopped in front of his door and pressed his key into the deadbolt.

  Then he opened the door.

  His place wasn’t that bad. Though small, the living room had still managed to fit in one cozy couch, a coffee-table and the large plasma TV. If he was more ambitious, perhaps he could’ve even fit in a bookcase right at the corner. When he’d moved in here, he’d even thought that it was okay, perfect for a bachelor. However, staying at Jasmine’s had brought it home that his place was nothing to brag about.

  He expected Jasmine to recoil, maybe even run screaming out. At the very least, he expected her expression to change. But it didn’t. She was still smiling.

  “Ooh!” She gasped as she bent to take off her heels. “So this is where you live? Nice.”

  Nice? He stared at her like she was crazy. There was nothing nice about his place. Her place was nice. His was practically a cage in comparison.

  Once, her shoes were off, she stood to take in his living room. Her eyes danced with excitement as they swept the room. When her gazed landed on his couch, she grinned. “Hah! You still love black, huh?”

  That’s all she had to say? That he still loved the color black? No comments about how tiny his place was?

  “Oh, that’s nice.” She skirted past him to stare at the large painting behind the couch in fascination.

  He’d picked the painting because it reminded him of New Orleans. The artist’s brush strokes had perfectly captured Bourbon Street with its antique stores, tourist masses and neon signs. Whenever he looked at the painting, he could practically hear the music throbbing on the street and see the gaslights flickering within the pictures.

  “Interesting!” Her tone and gaze were filled with awe as she turned to him. “Where did you get it?”

  This time he couldn’t keep silent. Disbelief in his voice, he mimicked, “Where did you get it? Is that all you have to ask?”

  She frowned. “Was I supposed to ask something else?”

  “Yes.” He gestured towards the whole apartment. “Can’t you see this place?”

  “Yes, I can see it.” Her gaze swept the room before coming back to him. Confusion shone in her eyes. “What’s wrong with it? Is something wrong with it.”

  How could she not see what he was showing her? Pushing his fingers into his hair in frustration, he just stared at her.

  “Luc, what’s wrong?” She frowned. “Was there something I was supposed to see? Is that why you brought me here?”

  “You were supposed to see this place.”

  “And?” She took another look around the place. “It’s nice.”

  “It’s not nice,” he huffed. “And it’s really small. Smaller than your place.”

  “Yeah. So?” She didn’t get it.

  How could she not get it? He tried to explain better. “It’s all I can afford.”

  “Okay.” She shrugged. “So?”

  “So?” He puffed out in frustration. “Don’t you get it? Don’t you see? I’m not good enough for you. I’m way, way below your league.”

  Jasmine blinked. Then she blinked again. In her eyes, he could see that what he really meant was finally sinking in. Good! Now she could run away. Only she didn’t. She just stared at him, and stared, and stared… for so long until it got uncomfortable. Lucas pushed his hands into the pocket of his jeans to keep from fiddling with his fingers nervously.

  She was surprisingly calm as she asked, “Is it okay if I sit down?”

  “You want to sit down?” His eyes widened. She was supposed to be running. When she nodded, he offered, “Okay.”

  He sat down too but on the couch that was adjacent to the one she was on.

  Once she was seated, she turned her intent gaze back on him. “Is that what you really think of me?”

  He frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, do you really see me as the kind of woman who would judge your worth by the size of your apartment?”

  The question startled him, and he had to think for a moment before he said, “Well no, but…”

  “But what?” she prodded softly.

  He tried to think of words to explain what he really meant but couldn’t find any so he answered with silence.

  She asked, “If the situation was reversed, would we be having this conversation?”

  He didn’t get what she meant.

  “If you were richer than me, would we be having this conversation?” she explained. “Would you think of me as being way, way below your league?”

  “Of course not,” Lucas said. If he earned more than her, he’d take care of her. Give everything she wanted and more. But just then, he realized what he sounded like.

  “Why not?” Jasmine watched him with narrowed eyes. “Because women aren’t supposed to earn more than their partners?”

  “No that’s not what I meant.” He tried to explain, “I just meant that…” His words faded into silence when he realized that there was no way to explain himself without sounding like a chauvinist.

  Still, Jasmine gave him time to answer. Lots and lots of time. So much time it got uncomfortable.

  Looking everywhere but at her, Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. For some reason the skin there felt really hot to touch.

  “So that’s what it’s always been about?” Jasmine finally spoke. Her tone was surprisingly soft as she asked, “You think I’m better than you?”

  She’d hit the nail right on the head. That was exactly how he felt.

  He looked up to meet her eyes. “You’re smarter. You’re richer. You come from a better family.”

  “And you’re braver, more loyal, more patriotic,” she countered. Her eyes were filled with disbelief as she added, “I can’t believe you actually think I’m better than you. For crying out loud Lucas… you spend your days proving that you’re a better human than most people. Better than me. I would never, ever, ever in a million years have thought of enlisting in the army let alone being a police officer. The thought of sacrificing my life for people I don’t know makes me shudder while you save lives every day. How could you possibly think that I’m b
etter than you?”

  This was ridiculous! She was making it seem like he was better than her. But he wasn’t. He really wasn’t.

  “Having enlisted and being a cop doesn’t make me a better human.” He scoffed. “You help others in your own way too. I’ve seen you helping out people you don’t even know. You’re kind and generous.”

  “And having more money than you doesn’t make me better than you,” she countered. “We’re just different. Not better than each other.”

  She made sense, yet he couldn’t bring himself to believe her.

  It was almost as if she could read his doubt because she moved from her seat to come and settle next to him.

  “I don’t know why you’d ever think of me as being better than you.” Jasmine took his hand and pressed into her lap. “Is it something I said when we were younger? Something I did?”

  “Of course not,” he protested vehemently. All she’d done was make him feel like he was accepted, like he was loved.

  “Then stop acting like you think I am.” Frowning, she added, “I’m not better than you. And I hate that you think that. I hate it.”

  Though her words were harsh, the tenderness in her voice was enough to soften their blow.

  “Angel, I can’t give you what other men can,” he tried to explain.

  “And I never asked you to give me anything,” she countered. “I just want you. You’re enough for me. I don’t care how much money you have. The only thing that matters to me is that you’re a good man. And you’re a good man. You know that, right?”

  Lucas had never really thought of himself as a good man. His whole life people had judged him through flawed lenses. They’d told him so many times that he wasn’t quite as good as everyone else that he’d started to believe it too. But the sincerity in Jasmine’s eyes as she spoke left no doubt that she wasn’t one of those people, that she’d never been one of those people. She really believed that he was a good man. And it left him feeling like he really was. A good man.

  “You’re enough for me,” she repeated. When she leaned towards him, Lucas automatically leaned closer too.

  Their lips met. The kiss was as tender as it was heartfelt. Her lips were soft, silky and undemanding. They only asked for what he could give and nothing more. He was enough for her. Relief and satisfaction swelled within him until it felt like he could burst from it. He deepened the kiss, used his lips and tongue to silently tell her how much he appreciated her. How glad he was that he’d found her again.

  When the kiss ended, she kept her palm on his face. Stroking his cheek, she stared at him. “Do you know how much I loved you?”

  “I loved you too,” he said. And I still love you.

  “I loved you so much” she repeated as she stroked a thumb over his lips.

  “Loved. Past tense.” He forced a smile. “I guess that means you don’t anymore.”

  Even saying those words sent pain shuttling through him. Still, he kept smiling.

  Jasmine watched him for a while then shook her head. “No. It means that I’m learning to love you again. We’ve both changed so much that we need to get to know each other again before we can decide if we still love each other.”

  Her words sent immediate relief and excitement pulsing through him. She wasn’t saying that she loved him, but she wasn’t saying that she didn’t either. He counted that as a win.

  This time his smile was genuine. “I can understand that. If you need time, then I’m okay with it.”

  “Is that your way of saying you won’t run again?” Though Jasmine’s eyebrows were raised in skepticism, she was smiling.

  He grinned. “I won’t run again.”

  “Good.” Smiling, she leaned forward for another kiss.

  He could taste her smile in that kiss, feel his own happiness. Since they’d broken up, he’d never imagined that they’d ever be a day like this, that they could get over their past to be together again. He gathered her closer to him, eager to make this moment last longer, last forever. When they separated to breathe, she looked down at her watch.

  He watched her curiously. “What are you doing?”

  “Checking the time so I can note it down as the time we started officially dating again.”

  Lucas laughed. Dating again? He liked that.

  CHAPTER 23

  “You want to spend the night here? No way.” Jasmine shook her head. They were in his car in front of her building. She urged, “Just come in.”

  “Your mom won’t like that,” Lucas reminded her.

  “So?” She rolled her eyes.

  “Jasmine!”

  “What?” She huffed in frustration. “I don’t like that you have to spend your night out here in the cold just because she has issues.”

  “It’s not cold, and I can crank up the heat anytime I want. I’ll be fine here.” He reached across their seats to squeeze her hand. “Angel, you and your mom need to talk anyway, and my presence will just be a distraction.”

  He was right! That didn’t mean she had to like it. She suggested, “If you’re not coming in, then go home. I don’t think anyone will be coming after me anyway.”

  Lucas shook his head. “Not until we catch the person who killed York.”

  “Luuuc!” she whined.

  “Aaaangel!” he mimicked her with a grin.

  She kissed her teeth. Obviously, he wasn’t going to listen to her. She opened her door but when she tried to get out of the car, Lucas pulled at her hand. She turned to him with narrowed eyes. “What now?”

  “You’re just leaving like that?” He dragged her closer to him. “Without even kissing your man?”

  Your man! The reminder about their changed relationship was enough to melt her irritation. She leaned closer to him and sealed her lips to his. The kiss was soft and tender. She was smiling when the kiss ended. “Bye.”

  “Bye.” He leaned forward for another quick peck. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Okay.” She got out of the car then waved at him through the window before making her way towards her building. It was too bad that she was too old to skip because everything in her wanted to jump up and down in excitement. Lucas was hers again.

  She still couldn’t believe that he’d actually thought she was better than him. It was ludicrous. Considering his background, Lucas had obviously been through way more than her. It was a miracle that he’d turned out as well as he’d done. In his position, other people would be yelling out about how strong they were. Yet, there he was downplaying his accomplishments. He was crazy.

  Still, it was good that they’d sorted things out and could now move past their past. This time she’d make sure that they worked. There’d be no more interference from other people – even if those other people were her mother.

  When Jasmine finally got to her apartment, she took a deep breath before opening the door. She walked in expecting to find her mother in the living room breathing fire and waiting to tear into her. But Yolanda wasn’t in the living room. She wasn’t in either of the bedrooms either, or the bathroom. Also, her bag was gone. Had she left?

  Frowning, Jasmine grabbed her phone from her purse. As soon as she swiped her finger across the screen, she saw several missed calls from Kenny. Still, it was more important to find her mother. She dialed Yolanda’s number. The call went through and rang for several seconds, but the older woman didn’t pick up. Jasmine tried several more times with the same result. Had Yolanda really left?

  Just as Jasmine was about to dial her number again, Kenny called.

  “Yeah?” Jasmine answered.

  “Ooh giiiirl,” Kenny immediately started with a gasp. “What you done to your mama?”

  Jasmine’s eyes widened. “You know about what happened?”

  “Of course I know.” Kenny lowered her voice as if afraid that Yolanda could hear. “She’s been here for the last half hour giving me an earful.”

  “She’s there?”

  “Mm hmm.” Kenny added, “She came in carry
ing her luggage and breathing fire. Now she says she wants to sleep here and has even told me to set up the guest room for her.”

  “Don’t set up the guest room!” Jasmine grabbed her purse and a jacket. “I’m coming to get her.”

  As soon as she was done talking to Kenny, she rushed out of her apartment. Lucas’s car was where she’d left it. The moment he spotted her rushing out of her building, he got out of the car and started towards her.

  Frowning, he met her. “What’s wrong?”

  “My mother has run away from home.” It sounded ridiculous even to Jasmine’s ears. “She’s at Kenny’s.”

  “Get in.” He started back towards his car. “I’ll drive you there.”

  This was so like Yolanda; throwing a tantrum when she didn’t get her way instead of discussing issues calmly. The woman had practically invented the term drama-queen. Jasmine could still remember the day she’d told her mother that she and Lucas were dating. Lucas didn’t know this, but her mother had kicked her out of the house in her pajamas.

  In the middle of winter.

  If it wasn’t for Wallace’s intervention, Jasmine would’ve turned into an ice sculpture. The woman was crazy!

  Fifteen minutes later, Lucas brought his car to a stop a house away from Geoff and Kenny’s place.

  “I’ll wait for you out here,” Lucas said. “She might refuse to come out if she sees me.”

  “Okay.” Jasmine exited the car.

  This whole situation was ridiculous. Worse, Jasmine knew that while angry, Yolanda was being strategic. She could have gone anywhere, but she’d chosen to go to the one place where Jasmine would definitely go to bring her back from. If she’d stayed at a hotel, Jasmine would have let her have the night to cool off. But she couldn’t let her stay at Kenny’s and Geoff’s. Yolanda would spend the whole night whining to the couple about Jasmine’s sins. Jasmine couldn’t do that to her friends.

  “You came fast,” Kenny greeted when she opened the front door.

  “I got a ride,” Jasmine said. When her friend gave her a questioning look, she explained, “Lucas. But he’s parked next door.”

  “Is it true that you two are back together?” Kenny asked as she ushered her into the house. “Please tell me it’s not true.”