Marie smiles and nods quickly. “Let’s go now so that we don’t run into them.”

I wake up early Saturday morning and head over to Jasmine’s apartment. I can’t take it anymore and I need to explain to her what happened.

When I arrive at Jasmine’s I knock a few times and no one answers. I lean my back against the door and slide down. I kick my legs out in front of me and wait for her to come home. I can’t leave here without telling her the truth.

An hour or so passes and Summer steps off the elevator and stops abruptly. “What are you doing here?”

I stand up and brush my ass off. “I need to talk to Jasmine.”

Summer narrows her eyes at me. “She’s not here and even if she was she wouldn’t talk to you. Just leave her alone Knox.”

“I’m not leaving until I talk to her.”

Summer glares at me, “You’re going to be waiting a while. She went home.”

“Home?”

“Do you need a hearing aid? Yes, home.”

“This is her home.”

Summer groans, “Knox, seriously you’ve done enough damage. Just leave things be okay. I’ll tell her you stopped by.”

She steps into the apartment and slams the door in my face. I deserve that.

I need to get to Jasmine, why would she go home?

21

I spend the night at Marie’s because I’m mentally exhausted, had a little too much vodka and can’t drive the few hours back to New York.

The first call I make is to Marcus, to ask him to fill in for me tomorrow. I explain that I am dealing with some family issues and he agrees.

The second call I make is to Summer to let her know that I wasn’t coming home.

“Are you okay?” She asks, genuinely concerned.

I bite on my lip hard. “No. Summer,” I cry. “Everything is so messed up. I don’t even know what’s real and what’s not anymore.”

“Oh Jas, what happened? Was your dad involved after all?” Summer questions me.

I spend the next half hour explaining to my best friend that Vivian isn’t my real mother but Marie is. I tell her how my dad manipulated Marie into giving him custody, and him and Vivian claiming I was theirs because Marie had no one way of taking care of me on her own. I tell her that I’ve got family on Marie’s side and then I drop the bombs on her. I tell her what happened to my cousin and that Vivian killed my cousin.

“Holy f**k Jasmine, this is like some Jerry Springer shit.”

I huff, “Yeah well I’m not finished yet. Savanna’s boyfriend’s name was Knox Mitchell.”

Summer sharply inhales, “Get the f**k out of here.”

My eyes tear up again. “I can’t believe it Summer, he knows that Vivian killed his parents and his pregnant girlfriend, but why didn’t he ever tell me?”

“Jasmine, he stopped over earlier and I told him to get lost.”

Figures, now he wants to come over and talk when I’ve just been told something that has changed my entire life. I could really use him right now but that will never happen again until he can explain himself to me. Make me understand what it is that he’s up to.

“Thanks Summer. I’ll be home in the morning.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I get up early the next morning since I didn’t sleep well. Marie sets out two bowls, spoons and a box of Special K when I walk into the kitchen and sit at the table.

“I thought Michael hired Knox to keep an eye on me. I found out the other day that Knox owns the building that I live and work in. I thought it was suspicious and since Knox isn’t speaking to me I thought I would try my dad.”

“Jasmine, I don’t even know what to say. I want to help you but I’m not sure how.” Marie says as she pushes around her cereal in her bowl.

“I’m not sure there is anything you can do to help me. I need to talk to Knox and figure some things out.”

Marie nods and takes a mouthful of cereal. When I’m finished I take my bowl to the sink and clean it out, leaving it in the drain board to dry. Marie is still eating her cereal, staring off into space.

“Well,” Marie twists her head in my direction, “I’m out of here. I need to go find Knox and figure out what the hell is going on.”

Marie stands and wraps her arms around me and sniffles a few times. “Will you come back to visit me? I wish we could spend more time together.”

I squeeze Marie a little harder, “Of course I’ll be back. I hope to have you at my place sometime too.”

Marie places a kiss on my cheek. “Be brave my sweet girl and listen to Knox, he has dealt with a lot.”

I pick up my purse and get into my car to make my way back to New York and demand answers from Knox. When I finally fight through all the traffic I stop at my apartment and take a quick shower. Summer isn’t home so I don’t waste another minute and go right to Knox’s apartment and hope he’s home.

I take a few deep breaths before knocking on the door. My heart is beating like crazy.

When the door opens Knox stands there for a second before he wraps his arms around me and pulls me in for a hug. I don’t return it because I’m still pissed off that he’s blown me off for a month and even more so now I know what he hasn’t been able to share me.

“I’m so f**king sorry Jasmine, so sorry.”

I pull back and hit my fist against his chest as the tears pour from my eyes. “Why Knox? You just up and left me in the middle of the night after making love to me for the first time and I haven’t heard from you since.” I sob.

He grabs my hands from his chest and pulls them behind him, he holds me tightly against his chest as I crumble. I’m so hurt and confused. I thought he loved me.

Once I’ve got a little more control of myself he leads me into his apartment. The apartment is set up like mine with the open floor plan, but his apartment is huge compared to mine. Every room is doubled in size. Everything is so clean and organized. Knox takes a seat on his black leather couch and pulls me down on his lap, laying my legs on the cushion. He reaches up with both hands and cups my face.

“I f**king missed you so much. I can’t even begin to explain how much.” He tries to kiss me but I turn my face away from him. I can’t kiss. He’s lucky I’m even sitting on his lap but I’m only doing it for me. I’ve missed him too and I just want to be close to him even if it’s just for a few minutes.