Color Me Blind (A Divine Love Story Book 1) (17 page)

Her smile lit up his heart.

“I know right.
It felt amazing.  Your dad’s actually a pretty cool guy.  Who knew?” 

They laughed.

“So, why didn’t Derrick come?” 

“Because he’s out of town and
mad that I did.” 

“Let’s just not go there today.” 

“I’m with you there bestie.” 

“Just so you know, I’m coming back home tonight.” 

She couldn’t hide her surprise. 

“Really? 
How does Amber feel about that?” 

“It’s not going to matter
, but I haven’t told her yet.” 

“You
haven’t told me what,” Amber said from the bottom of the steps. 

Jasmine had to check that quick temper of hers and let Blake handle his own affairs.  Jasmine stood up to leave but he grabbed her hand. 

“You don’t have to leave Jaz. We’re just sitting on the steps catching up.” 

He looked at Amber, “I haven’t told you
yet that I’m moving back home.  I think it will do us some good to have a little space.” 

Her eyes shot right to Jasmine but Blake responded before she could. 

“This has nothing to do with her Amber. It’s a decision that I made all by myself.  If you want to blame someone, you can blame yourself.  Jasmine didn’t even know.  How could she when I’m not
allowed
to talk to her.” 

She sent him a nasty glare. 

“Looks like you’re making up for lost time.” 

“Looks like.” 

Jasmine was about to slap both of them. She wasn’t a pawn to be used. 

“Blake can we talk in private please,” Amber
pleaded. 

“I really don’t want to talk right now.” 

She wanted to scream but remembered where she was. 

“
Fine.  I’m leaving.  Tell your parents goodbye.  I guess I’ll see you when I see you.” 

He didn’t respond.

The moment she grabbed her purse and was out the door Jasmine pounced on him. 

“Don’t you ever
do that again Blake!  I am not a tool to be used to put your woman in check.”

He frowned,
“I’m sorry Jaz. She’s really pushing buttons I didn’t know I had.  Nothing can get under her skin quite like you.  I won’t ever do it again I promise.” 

She hit him o
n the back of his head. 

“Ouch.” 

“That’s what you get.” 

He asked, “So can I have a hug
? I mean it’s been a month.”

She rolled her eyes but opened her arms as he filled them.
  She squeezed him hard after she realized how much she missed him. He pulled back and kissed her nose.  She smiled up at him.

He
smiled too, “Come on, let’s go get some food.” 

He grabbed her hand and led her down the stairs.

A couple months had passed.  T
hey were all falling back into their normal lives.  Jasmine walked into the house excited about her new look.  She had never felt so beautiful and so sexy in her life.  She couldn’t wait to show herself off to her friends.  Maybe now she could have an identity independent of her wild natural curls.  She needed a change. 

When she left the salon she went to her favorite boutique and picked up
a red dress.  Her day was great but she was glad to be home.  No one seemed to be buzzing about in the common area so she headed upstairs to her room to shower and dress for her big anniversary dinner with Derrick. She couldn’t believe it had been three years.

After she showered and dressed she started applying her
make-up.  She took extra care because she wanted everything to be perfect.  She added false eyelashes and dark smoky eyes.  She put on red lipstick to make her full lips pop and then added on a shiny coat to top off the look that would keep Derrick drooling. 

She barely recognized herself.  She had gone from the big kinky curls of her natural hair all over the place to a short close cropped straightened style
.  It was sort of reminiscent of a Halle Berry cut.  It brought out so much more of her face than she was used to seeing but she loved it. 

She examined herself in her full length mirror and admired the way she looked.  She
put on her shimmering gold pumps, picked up her gold clutch and headed down the stairs.  She had just enough time to model her new look for her roommates and then be ready to walk out the door because Derrick was nothing if not prompt.

As
she glided down the stairs, Lucy, Damon, Carmen and Ahmed were sitting at the table playing a game of spades.  Lucy saw her first and let out a whistle.

She
said, “Well my, my, my, aren’t we the bell of the ball.  I’m dangerous with a pair of scissors.” 

“You sure are Lucy,” Jasmine agreed.

Everybody looked up and gasped.

Damon
said, “Girl, what the heck did you do to all your hair?  You know a brotha’s got the hots for your wild curls!” 

She laughed, “Boy hush.  It was time for
a change.” 

Carmen said, “I could never cut all my hair off but
it definitely looks good on you.” 

Jasmine
smiled, “Thanks hun,” and kissed Carmen on the cheek. 

Ahmed
said, “I think you’re pretty too. Do I get one?” 

She rolled her eyes but kissed him on the lips.  His blush made her giggle.
 

Damon
said, “Dang girl you’re hot, I would try to holla fa sho.” 

Ahmed
said, “Yeah I would too but I probably would embarrass myself by the time the dress hit the floor.” 

Everybody laughed and Jasmine threw the card box at him.
 

Blake came downstairs.  Obviously
he had been sleeping.  He was rubbing his eyes into focus when he saw her.  His mouth dropped open as he just stared at her. 

“Jasmine, what did you do?” 

She frowned slightly, “Ah B, what you don’t like it?” 

That was not exactly the problem, he loved it.  She looked so
different
.  Without all her big curly hair taking the focus off her face he could see how truly beautiful she was.  Her eyes were so big and brown and her skin was practically glowing.  As his eyes skimmed the length of her the red knee-length dress practically molded to her body.  Oh my God, was she always that curvy?  Her small waist made her curves that much more defined.  She had never shown them like that before.  Did he like curves?  Her hips were begging his hands to be wrapped around them. 

When he focused on those full, shiny, pouting red lips his body betr
ayed him.  For the first time in 25 years he saw Jasmine as a woman.  Not his best friend who happened to be a woman.  Not just any woman though. The most beautiful woman he had ever laid his eyes on.  He could feel his nature respond to his thoughts and the blood draining from his face.  He had never been more embarrassed in his entire life.  What the hell was he in Oz? Since when did Jasmine give him a woody?  He grabbed his stomach like a sudden case of the runs had just transpired. 

He mumbled, “You look fine,” and
ran back up the stairs.

Jasmine and the other girls looked innocently puzzled as Jasmine headed up the stairs behind him.  When she left the room
Damon and Ahmed fell out in hysterical laughter. 

Lucy and Carmen just
stared at them. 

A
fter they regained their composure, they both asked, “What?” 

Ahmed
said, “He totally just boinged!” 

Damon
laughed even harder.  It took Lucy a second and Carmen a second longer to catch his drift. 

Carmen said, “No way, not even.” 

Damon said, “Oh yeah he did and I’m guessing that is the very first time Jasmine was ever the cause of one.” 

He was now wiping tears from his eyes. 

Lucy asked, “Are you guys serious?” 

Damon
said, “Oh yeah.  We know that look.  Now don’t get me wrong, Jasmine is a pretty girl but she has never looked more let’s say, grown up, than she did tonight.  She obviously caught Blake off guard.  He is used to seeing her in his sweats or jeans and a t-shirt.”

Ahmed said, “This moment has forever changed the way he’s going to see his best friend.  Poor bastard is going to be in purgatory.” 

“So much for not being attracted
to her,” Damon laughed. He had no sympathy.

∞∞∞

Jasmine knocked on Blake’s door. 

“Hey love, you okay in there?  What happened?” 

Blake was sitting on his bed trying to think of every non-sexual thing to get himself back under control. 

He yelled
back, “Nothing, just my stomach. Thought I was gonna hurl. I must’ve eaten something bad.” 

She said, “Well can I come in?” 

He yelled quickly and sharply, “No.  I’m fine.” 

If she came in his bedroom he would be all over her. 
She was a little taken aback. Normally she would just barge in anyway but it was something in his tone that made her hesitate. 

“Well ok
ay. I will bring you back some Pepto or something.  Feel better okay.” 

He said, “I’m fine, don’t worry.” 

“Okay, good night.” 

“Have fun on your big date Jaz,
” he said trying to sound normal. 

She struggled against going in becau
se something was definitely off. Since when does Blake push her away?  Yeah, they had been on chill mode for the last few months but not ice mode.  She heard the doorbell and realized this would have to wait. 

“Bye Blake.”

She went downstairs to see Derrick looking beyond handsome in his gray pinstripe suit.  His mahogany skin and dark eyes sparkled.  She smiled that million watt smile and nodded her approval. 

He looked up at her and smiled back, “Wow baby, you cut all your hair off!” 

“Yeah, I did. You like it?” 

“I love it actually.  This style is more appropriate for that dress.” 

She didn’t know how to take that but let it go because she was in such a good mood.  He smiled as he pulled her into his well-defined arms and kissed her passionately.  Her head swam.  She had to refocus when he broke the kiss.  She almost forgot where she was. 

Damon
said, “Okay people, get a room.” 

Derrick smiled and wrapped Jasmine in his arms, “Ok
ay, we’re out of here. Good night.” 

They all said, “Good night.”

∞∞∞

When Jasmine got home from her date her thoughts were in so many places.  Not at all the happy place she was before she left.  She thought this night would be magical, but it turned out to be tragic.  She knew that Derrick had something special planned. 

I
n all her life when she dreamed of the moment a man proposed to her she never thought for one second that it would come with an ultimatum.  She did not take too kindly to that ultimatum. 

That fool had lost his mind, but he was also the fool that had her heart.  She dropped the b
ag of soup and Pepto on her bed, peeled off her shoes and dress as she headed for the bathroom she shared with Carmen. 

She washed off her make-
up and put acne medicine on the two trouble spots that looked to be brewing.  She was experiencing so many emotions that she didn’t know which one was leading.  She thought she should be crying because she had a sick feeling that her once very promising relationship was now a dream deferred.

How serious could she have been about marrying this man if she was willing to make a choice that would essentially mean choosing another man?  She had been
studying marriage in the Bible.  She knew that according to it, she would have to forsake all others for her husband.  She couldn’t do it.  In her heart she knew she couldn’t. 

The only person she could and had forsaken all others for was Blake.  Hmph, wasn’t that something?  Life would be easier if she was with Blake.  That thought made her pause and frown.  Now where did that come from?  She simply wasn’t attracted to him. 
Why is that Jasmine? 

The only reason you say you’re not attracted to him is because he’s white.  Everything else you absolutely adore about him.  Why was her subconscious attacking her? 
She wasn’t prejudice, so that couldn’t be it.  She just wasn’t attracted to white men. It was that simple.

She dressed in her
pajamas and looked at the clock. It was 2 A.M.  She didn’t care if he was asleep.  He would just have to wake up because Amber’s car wasn’t outside.  She put on her slipper socks and headed across the hall to Blake’s room. 

She tapped on the door lightly and was shocked to hear, “Yeah
, what is it?” 

She said, “It’s me love.” 

He didn’t say anything, so she just walked in and closed the door behind her as she leaned against it.  He looked a little off to her. 

She said, “Hey love, what are you still doing up?” 

Blake was hoping she would have just walked away but he knew better.  Well at least she had on baggy pants and a shirt, his pants and his shirt to be exact.  The make-up was gone.  She had girl gunk on her face, but oh God she wasn’t wearing a bra. Why was he noticing this all of a sudden? Did she not wear one at night usually? 

Look at her face, Blake, just look at her face. 

He managed to say, “Huh. What?” 

She frowned, “Ok
ay B, what’s up with you, seriously?” 

She put the Pe
pto and soup on his night stand, climbed into bed with him and lay facing him.  She smelled amazing. He backed up a little bit. 

Blake sighed, “Nothing Jaz.
I’m okay, just a strange night.” 

She said, “Ew
w, your breath stinks.”

He moved in closer to her face and blew his breath all in it. 

She laughed and playfully punched him, “Boy move.” 

He pinched her nose, “So why are you in my bed instead of Derrick’s?” 

“I haven’t been in his bed in several months.” 

She sighed and a tear fell.
Her façade of strength always came tumbling down when Blake was around.  She didn’t have to always be strong with him.  He was strong enough to hold her up. 

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong, what happened?” 

She took a breath, “Well you were right. He did propose.” 

“Ok
ay…but…” 

“
But it came with an ultimatum.” 

“An ultimatum for what?
I thought you guys had finally gotten back on track.” 

She sarcastically laughed, “Yeah
, so did I.  Well apparently he loves me so much he wants to spend the rest of his life with me.  What he won’t do is allow me to spend the rest of my life with you!” 

Blake stared at her for a long moment searching her eyes for laughter and then he blinked. 

“Excuse me.” 

“Apparently he has a severe problem with our friendship and I quote, he will not have a wife who spends as much time with another man as I do with you.” 

“Wait, whoa, there is absolutely nothing going on between us.  Jaz, we have done every ridiculous thing they have asked to make them comfortable.” 

“I know
, but he says his instincts never lead him wrong.  He says he talked to my mom.  She told him that there was nothing going on between us and there never has been.  She also said that I would never date a white guy so he didn’t have to worry about that.  Then she said that we did have a special friendship and I wouldn’t be so quick to walk away from it.  Obviously he ignored that last bit of advice.”