CHAPTER 32

'For real bitch? So why didn't you accept his offer and I thought he didn't know about mom?" 'He knew she's in the hospital but I wasn't specific with her condition. And I didn't accept because Bradley was already taking us, duh!" I said, giving her an obvious look. 'To hell with Bradley!" 'How could you say that after he paid for mom's....'. She didn't let me finish. 'Yeah yeah yeah, I know." I gave her a playful push and continued to watch the show, The Parkers. I loved me some Mo'nique. A knock on the door made us a bit startled. I looked up at the wall clock. It was 7:01 pm. 'You're expecting company?" I asked Zenia, thinking it had to be one of her college friends. 'No. You know I don't invite anyone over here," she answered. We got off the couch and I went to the door with Zenia tailing me. I opened the door slowly. I couldn't believe my eyes of who I saw standing outside my door. He flashed a bright smile. 'What are you doing here Bradley?" Zenia asked, taking a stand right by my side. Jasmine's POV 'What are you doing here Bradley?" I asked too. 'I came to talk to you," he answered. Zenia left my side and I allowed him inside. 'How can I help you?" I asked, folding my arms to my chest. 'That's the welcome back I get?" he asked with a silly smirk on his face as his eyes roamed my body, causing me to get a bit uncomfortable in my skimpy shorts. I wasn't expecting him to show up so soon again. 'Where have you been? I've been trying to get a hold of you through phone calls, internet, emails, twitter, facebook, but I couldn't reach you." 'I'm sorry I left so suddenly without you knowing about it but I had an emergency with my family at the last minute, so I had to leave immediately. Dad isn't in the best of health," he explained, taking a seat on the couch. 'Oh I'm sorry to hear that," I sympathized. I knew what it felt like to have a sickly parent. 'But thank you Bradley, for everything you've done. You kept your words. My mom, sister and I are grateful for it." I found myself sitting next to him and pulling him into a big hug. 'You're welcome baby," he said back sweetly. 'Can I take you out somewhere? Maybe get something to eat? I promise I wouldn't keep you because I know you got work in the morning. I just want to talk to you about something really important." 'Umm, sure," I accepted. I wasn't about to reject the man who saved my mother's life at the last minute. I had already showered so I simply changed into a black off-the-shoulder dress. I let down my hair which fell bra strap length on my back with loose curls. I applied a very light face powder and lip gloss. Placed simple sandals on my feet then left my room to inform my sister I'll be going out with Bradley for a bit. We drove to a small diner which served some of best muffins I've ever had. I liked it here when I was in community college. It was nice that he remembered. 'So what was it you wanted to talk about?" I asked him, breaking the silence. 'Jasmine, I'll be straight with you. I miss you, I miss us. I miss what we had when we were in college. I know I hurt you, I hurt you badly and I'm still paying for that today because every day when we're not together is a day wasted on this earth. I'm not asking you to just come right out and forgive me and take me back into your life, though I wish you would, I just want you to know that I'm sorry for everything I did wrong to you. You're a very beautiful and amazing woman. You turned out to be exactly what I thought you'd be. I've never stopped loving you. I know you may find it hard to believe that, but my love for you will never die. I was really foolish to have left your side as soon as we were about to graduate and finish off with college. You did nothing wrong to me. I was such a clown. But I'll have you know that I'm a changed man now and I'll do anything to get you back into my life." His words made my heart skipped several beats, I couldn't refrain from that. I had never heard Bradley expressed himself like that before to me or anyone else. I looked at him in the eyes, searching for the truth. He did sounded sincere and he did a great deed for my mother. I cannot be ungrateful or harsh towards him. 'Bradley..." I started, trying to find the right words without putting my guard down, I still had trust issues with him. 'I understand everything you're saying and if we were to start over, it's going to take some serious time and serious work." I sipped on a glass of ginger ale. 'I understand. But thanks for taking it into consideration."